Best Dispersed Camping near Thermopolis, WY
Dispersed camping near Thermopolis, Wyoming includes several primitive sites on public lands, with Lake Cameahwait and Castle Gardens offering the most established free camping options. Lake Cameahwait, located west of Boysen Reservoir near Shoshoni, features multiple lakeside camping areas with covered picnic tables and vault toilets. Castle Gardens, situated on BLM land about 5 miles off Highway 16, provides four designated primitive sites with shade structures, picnic tables, and fire pits. Ocean Lake Lindholm and Lower Sunshine Reservoir also permit dispersed camping with minimal facilities.
Access to these remote sites varies considerably across locations. Lake Cameahwait can be reached via paved roads, though some areas around the lake may flood during high water periods. Castle Gardens requires travel on gravel roads with occasional washboarding but remains accessible to most vehicles. Many visitors note the roads are generally well-maintained despite being unpaved. Most areas enforce a 14-day camping limit. Cell service is inconsistent but often available at higher elevations. Fire restrictions may apply seasonally, particularly during summer months. None of these areas provide drinking water, and most lack trash service, requiring campers to pack out all waste.
These backcountry camping areas offer exceptional solitude and natural beauty. Lake Cameahwait provides mountain views and clear water for fishing and paddling, though visitors should prepare for mosquitoes during warmer months. Castle Gardens delivers particularly scenic camping with unique rock formations and excellent stargazing opportunities. A visitor described it as "an amazing, beautiful, peaceful, quiet place" with sites that feel "even more secluded, even though the entire campground is pretty secluded." Ocean Lake Lindholm features abundant wildlife viewing, with one camper noting the lake was "teaming with birdlife, and saw fish jumping. Great dark sky." Lower Sunshine Reservoir provides elevated camping spots with panoramic views and consistent breezes that help during hot summer days.