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$30 / night
$30 - $48 / night
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: https://www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/
Welcome to the Crippled Spider RV Park & Campground, located in Thermopolis, Wyoming at 423 Hwy. 20 N. close to the Big Horn River, Hot Springs State Park & Boysen Reservoir.
We have scenic mountain views with friendly hospitality. Our RV Park offers short term or long term parking, with 20/30/50amp pull thru full hook-ups, which accommodate large RV’s. Tenting is available with 8 large tenting sites.
You can spend a memorable night under the stars in our restored 1920’s Sheep Wagon. This retro sheep wagon is perfect for your glamping and off the grid adventure.
$15 - $100 / night
The first white men through the Wind River Canyon were the Ashley Fur Party in 1825. The original dam was built by Asmus Boysen in 1908, for whom the park and reservoir are named. Part of the original dam can still be seen adjacent to the tunnels on the Lower Wind River Campground. Mr. Boysen also built a 710kW power plant at the site. Operations ceased when in 1923 a major flood filled the plant with silt.
The CB&O Railroad went through the canyon in 1911 and the state highway went through in 1925. The existing dam was completed in 1951. Boysen became a state park in 1956.
$18 - $32 / night
$18 - $32 / night
Guide
We camped here in early October. The skeletal remains of the buildings were on private property, however the roads and such were on BLM land so we parked right across from the buildings and set up the Truck Camper. There’s a plaque that explains the history of the town up the road from the buildings, and just beyond that a ways is the cemetery. It was sad to see all the graves as they were children and infants who died from the Spanish Flu or Diptheria. One gentleman we ran in to said the town wasn’t merely bulldozed but also buried! We had fun walking around and camping there for the night. There were no sounds! It was VERY quiet! No birds, crickets, insects, or wildlife. Just the gentle breeze, and one lone coyote at about 2 am.
There are no toilets or water, so prepare accordingly.
There was also a burn ban in effect so we used our portable camping stove. Make sure to check burn bans before you camp! We had so much fun, and hope other people visit too. Please be respectful of this historical relic so it can be around for as long as it can! Don’t damage your History!
Definitely recommend 4 wheel drive to traverse this area. The roads are rocky, rutted, and worn down!
Guide
Beautiful spot by the lake. Large sites well away from neighbours. We visited after the end of the season and just paid on entry.
Legend
This is an amazing free BLM campground. It’s about 5 miles off of Hwy 16, gravel with occasional washboarding, but overall doable for most vehicles. We had intended to drive a bit further east before looking for a place for the night, but decided to pull off the road to check out the Castle Gardens, for which we saw a sign on the road. We didn’t even know it was a campground until we got there, and wow. What an amazing, beautiful, peaceful, quiet place. There are 4 sites in a loop, each with a shade structure, picnic table, grill, and fire pit. Spot #1 is better suited for tent campers, as you park your car along the loop and then walk a little bit up to the camp area. #2 (the one we chose) has a long driveway leading to the site, so you feel even more secluded, even though the entire campground is pretty secluded. #3 is a shorter driveway that backs to the campsite, and #4 is a pull through. None of the sites were very level.
There is a single vault toilet here, but otherwise no other amenities. No trash service so please keep the area clean. 14 day stay limit. Cell service is existent but iffy. Verizon went between zero service to 3 bars. Up on the hill overlooking the campground there’s good service for both ATT and Verizon. We didn’t see a single other person while we were here on a weekday in late September.
Guide
This is a great RV park with access to Worland and all it has to offer. If you’re in an RV it’s super convenient, very easy to find, and affordable with average size lots. Tenting wise, if you don’t have any other tent choices it’ll do, but tent sites- while cozy grass and intended to be private- were close together, between two busy lanes, somewhat distant from bathrooms/shower/laundry (which were all immaculate), and towards the front of property where highway traffic, train, and downtown noise were a factor. If you want space and quiet keep heading out of town an hour (nearly any direction) to make it to a USFS campground, but if you can’t Worland RV Park will be fine for an overnight stop. Staff was very friendly and all facilities, including WiFi, were secure also.
Traveler
We recently stayed at Crippled Spider Ranch, and it exceeded all my expectations. Nestled in the beautiful landscape near Thermopolis, Wyoming, this ranch offers a truly unique camping experience that caters to adventurers, families, and solo travelers alike.
Campsites & Amenities: The ranch has 71 spacious spots, including full and partial hookups for RVs, and plenty of space for dry camping. The sites are well-maintained, and the full hookups provide everything you need for a comfortable stay. For those looking for an extended stay, they even offer 15% off for bookings over 7 days!
Activities & Attractions: One of the best parts of Crippled Spider Ranch is the variety of activities on-site and nearby. There’s something for everyone—whether it’s hiking on the BLM land that borders the property, petting zoo visits for the kids, or even learning to ranch and milk cows! The property is also a great base for rock hounding and exploring Wyoming’s natural beauty. You can even hunt (seasonal) or target shoot, making it perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.
For those interested in history, the ranch is near the historic Oregon Trail, and there are great opportunities for treasure hunters like metal detecting and exploring old ghost towns.
Staff & Hospitality: The hospitality here is second to none! The staff are friendly, welcoming, and go above and beyond to make sure your stay is enjoyable. You’ll feel like family from the moment you arrive. They even offer fresh, free-range eggs from their chickens and have a fun “catch-and-cook” option if you’re into farm-to-table experiences.
Sustainability & Eco-Friendly Focus: Crippled Spider Ranch also takes pride in its sustainable practices, from responsible livestock management to preserving the surrounding wilderness. This ranch is a great choice for eco-conscious travelers who want to enjoy nature responsibly.
Overall Experience: Crippled Spider Ranch is the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and Wyoming charm. Whether you’re a family looking for a weekend getaway or a solo adventurer seeking peace and quiet in the great outdoors, this place is a must-visit. I’ll definitely be back for more!
Tip: Be sure to book early for special events, and don’t forget to check out the nearby mineral hot springs in Thermopolis!
Ranger
Booked what looked like a decent site by the river and found it to be unusable when we arrived. I was considering just occupying a different site since the place was nearly empty. Thankfully a sheriff's vehicle was driving thru (which I mistook for a park ranger). He told me he'd try to help us get a different spot by calling the park office but on realizing that he had no cell service, he volunteered to drive to the office to see what he could get done for us. He returned after a short while with instructions for us to camp in an empty pull-through spot. We were very thankful for his help.
The good-
Beautiful canyon!!
Shade from big cottonwoods (it was 97 degrees!)
Some sites well spaced
Vault toilet was clean and supplied
There's good fishing there for big trout but unfortunately I was fishing this time around
The bad-
No cell or WIFI
A lot of strangely laid out sites, some ridiculously close to one another and unlevel
Sprinklers in some areas that sprinkle your site, tent or whatever's exposed
Highway noise is bad - in a canyon sound bounces off the walls, many trucks on the road with much use of jake brakes and to top it all off, the occasional 2AM freight train rolling by on the other side of the river
Scout
Most of the sites are flooded the pit toilets are good not sure if they are holding back the water as it is controlled. Only spent one night as we had a very strong wind and did not crank up our top on our slide in camper
ScoutThis was a cute little spot! We arrived early evening on a Thursday and it was empty. Good lake access and view of sunset. The GPS location from the app takes you to 4 spots, one ADA, but there are a couple more around the lake. Well maintained pit toilet. The two spots closest to the lake were flooded so watch out for that. Good service for Verizon. Make sure your GPS is taking Bass Lake Rd in from 26. Ours found a "shortcut" down the gravel ranching roads. Not sure why the info here says showers and hook ups, we did not see that. Not sure a tent camper would enjoy this spot.
Scoutlevel sites. laundry room and bathroom was immaculate.
Traveler
Stayed right at the lake for one night with my small RV. No hookups, but ok if self contained. Campspots are spread apart enough that running generators from other campers ( it was a hot day) weren’t to noisy.
TravelerFriendly owner, water, no restrooms.
Traveler
Nice free spot but mostly for RVs as there are lots of rocks/gravel. Spot to put in a boat too. They have picnic tables (most covered) and fire pits.
We didn't end up staying because it was too rocky for tent stakes and it was incredibly windy. The wind was everywhere though so not necessarily the location. We had heavy wind all day throughout our drive across NE and WY.
We found the spot on the west side by reading a previous review but there is another spot on the north side maybe.
Guide
Basic sites, both drive through and back in, as well as several tent sites. Each site has picnic table and fire pit. Essentially just boondocking for $32.25 a night. Pay station takes credit cards. On the plus side, it is next to a lake and the surrounding scenery (sagebrush country) is nice, like many BLM areas. Good Verizon connectivity.
Guide
We stayed here 3 nights in our RV and rented a cabin RV for family. I will start with the rental RV. It is pretty run down with no heat, hot water for a two minute shower and a wobbly toilet. Definitely disappointing fir $85 a night. While the showers and restrooms are dated they were clean and worked well. At one point the manager was going to have a very large bus RV with slide outs next to us which would have blocked our table and grassy area. The manager said we could just sit in the front of our camp. Well after a bit of discussion he moved them to a larger slot. We were not bothered by the road noise. There are a few full time residents who were very nice. I would recommend Eagle RV down the road if you can otherwise this is good for a quick stop.
TravelerWas the only person there when I stayed on a Sunday night. Rough road to get out there, but my Rav4 with no 4WD made it. Will be on your right with some wooden posts around the gravel area. Felt very remote which made me a little nervous as a solo female traveler, but would be a great spot with others or as a confident solo camper.
Scout
If you want Cleanliness, organization of the camp, functionality of facilities, availability of staff, provisions for toilet facilities, upkeep of grounds THEN THIS IS NOT THE PLACE THAT YOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR MONEY. THE TOILETS WERE FILTHY , THERE WAS NO TOILET PAPER, THE TOILET LEAKED AT ITS BASE AFTER FLUSHING, THE GROUNDS WERE UNKEPT, OF THE FOUR LAUNDROMAT NONE FUNCTIONED . TWO OF THE FOUR SHOWERS AVAILABLE WERE IN OPERABLE, AND THE OTHERS WERE FILTHY. I had booked for two nights, but I went to the office at 10 AM and no one was there. I came back later in the afternoon and requested a cancellation of the second night, and I explained why I was leaving. I do give them credit for giving me a refund.
It is unfortunate that this park is in such a state of disarray as its location and pool facilities made for a an attractive setting. Due to the overall filthiness of the facilities, I did not bother to swim in the two pools that were there. I could not recommend this facility for Camping.
Traveler
My family stayed here for a night on a long road trip around the NW of US/Canada. We booked site 1 with the intent of being on an end with privacy on at least one side. We arrived to find that there were some newly created sites on the supposed-to-be-private side of our camper. Not originally a big deal. We had a great time at the brewery which was less than 100 yards away listening to live music, eating from the food trucks (2), and sipping on beers. Coming from a craft beer heavy town, the beer here was just alright. bud did the trick! The space was very family friendly with lots of outdoor seating. There was a sandy playspace with toys for the kids. The staff was fantastic... friendly and accommodating. Unfortunately, and not the fault of the brewery/site managers, the folks camped in new site # -1 ended up coming and going all night with loud rumbling vehicles pulling in and out next to us with tons of noise at 3am.... so none of us got much sleep. Being at a brewery, even with quiet hours established, one probably can't be that upset with this... comes with the territory and luck of the draw.
TravelerI was not expecting much. I was in a rush, on the road, and just trying to get settled. I was expecting a flattened patch of grass. At first, that's exactly what I saw: a bathroom that looked like maybe it had a vault toilet, and a couple of campers in makeshift spots. I didn't want to be too close, so I figured I would see where the road led. I'm so glad I kept going! I couldn't believe my eyes when we ended up with what looked like an ocean view. Each spot had a building with a picnic table and a grill. It was very peaceful. We had the place to ourselves until some others rolled in around midnight. There were signs up saying that the algae in the water could be toxic (the sign was posted on the bathrooms, not near the boat launch, so I'm lucky I saw it when I did). My boys were disappointed to not be able to swim, but I didn't want to risk them getting sick on our trip. I'm assuming the algae is what makes this water the beautiful color it is, and I'm guessing the heat of summer makes it bloom to toxic levels. There are no garbage, so pack out. Watch for cows when entering and leaving, they are wandering across the road.
ScoutI had reserved site 54 through recreation.gov but at the time I thought it odd the site would not let me put in my rig size. So I just went with it. Mistake. My 30 footer wouldn't begin to fit since the pull off the road is shared between 54 and 55. I've never seen a CG where a pull through is split into 2-3 'sites'. So I drove around the park (which was mostly empty) and in spite of the giant signs screaming RESERVATIONS REQUIRED MAY 1-SEPT 30, I parked in very large site 71 which had midday sun for my solar and some shade in the late afternoon. Did the kiosk sign in thing and no one has bothered to check me out. The signage here is ridiculous, even in the bathrooms - lists of fines for everything! I guess they've had to put up with stupid, rude and inconsiderate people. Sad. No dump station (there's one at park HQ down the road south) but there are several water hydrants through the park. Mosquitoes were quite annoying along with a plethora of nonbiting flying critters my dogs enjoyed hunting. The Wind River runs along the park with a railroad on the other side. The 2x trains a day were NOT that loud and were gone in about 3 minutes. Road noise from the highway is moderate but most city folk won't notice it. Fishing isn't much fun because the river bank is steep with only 3-4 sets of stairs to the water. The birds, however, are numerous and very happy to be here. Had a momma turkey and 8 fledglings walk up to and under my trailer! I would stay here again but at a cooler time of year. The frequent breezes ameliorated the heat to a survivable level. No T Mobile here at all.
Scout
The owners go out of their way to make your stay as nice as possible. I was requested by my Dr. to get a chest xray and needed add an additional day to my stay, the staff did everything possible to make this happen. I can't thank them enough to make my stay here great.
GuideWe went in the winter so traffic was super low. Mostly just us at the park so we got the 2 giant hot spring pools to ourselves. Soak in mineral rich waters up to 110 degrees in some areas. Full hookups, but no water in the winter due to frozen lines.
Legend
This is a fairly cheap place to stay for a night.
The mornings are amazing as the sun hits the mountain just spectacularly.
Firewood is free and the showers cost around $5
This is one of many places you can stay on this road but just a few miles west to toward Yellowstone is an indian reservation. Not too many places to stop there.
There is a dump station and some spots have just electric or just water. I think the spots with both may cost more. but it’s $10 a night for just one without the other. Tent sites are the same.
I would have liked to stay more than one night so we could have experienced more of this beautiful area!
We are all about primitive camping but this one was a must see.
RangerGreat place to stay if you can work around the mosquitoes. We stayed for a week and a half and it was very quiet and the water is very clear. Is very easy to find. GPS got us there no problem.
Ranger
Military campground on FE Warren AFB. I believe they have about 40 sites, some full hookups. Right in the middle of Cheyenne, WY. Had a great stay.
LegendWe stayed in site 51, we tried to get site 53 but it said it was already reserved, turned out it wasn't. Some things are out od the parks control, rhe trains foe instance that sound like they are coming through your tent. Traffic is horrid and goes on moat od the night. But these two sites have a much bigger problem that the park can do something about. There is a giant light that makes it like noon at the dead of night, all night long! The only thing the light is good for is the bugs, which there are so many bugs, go to the light when it comes on. The bugs weren't of the biting type, most anyway, they just liked to fly into your face. Then there were the wasps. My son got stung and the neighboring site also got stung, all in a 20 minute span. They were everywhere. Even worse, shortly after 9 am on Monday, sprinklers came on! In the sites, 51 was OK, possibly due to a plugged sprinkler but site 53 was soaked. Their tent, their chairs, their concrete picnic table where they were cooking breakfast! Quite hours are not really enforced, leashed dogs aren't always enforced. They do have a giant list of fines for breaking rules but I don't see enforcement. We did visit the lake and didn't see a lot there that would have been better. We won't return to this campground though.
Traveler
I was lucky to find one of the sites that did not require a reservation available (only 2 tent sites are available this way). There is no reception here so quickly making an online reservation is not an option.
This campground has spacious sites for tents. I stayed on one of the sites on the ledge just above the water. The toilets are clean and the campground host is a great guy.
At 32.25 dollars it is definitely not the cheapest state park, but the location makes it worth it.
Would recommend
LegendFountain of youth RV park definitely has its charm, but also could use some amenity upgrades.
Pros:
Huge hot spring pools open daily from 7am- 9:30 pm. Lots of space and can use floaties even kayaks on the pools. Free use of staying here. Cleaned pools one of the days we were here. Awesome to use at night under the stars.
The views from the pools are gorgeous.
Sites have enough space from one another and full hookups. The owner is really amenable and lets you choose your site.. this is great if you’re looking for more shade or space from neighbors.
There is laundry, showers, and toilets available for use.
Location is awesome—right near the state park, close to the dinosaur center, grocery store is less than a 10 min drive, lots of water activities close by (we went kayaking)
WiFi worked very well the entire time!
Cons:
The owner is definitely nice but runs the establishment by himself and therefore is hard to get a hold of initially and is very busy.
The showers are coin operated. So you have to pay one quarter for 2 1/2 minutes of showering. You can also hop over to the hot springs state park for a free soak in the bathhouse and free shower afterward!
The amenities themselves aren’t anything to write home about—laundry is fine, toilets are not amazing, nor are the showers—but everything works and there’s hot water!
Close to the road and a railroad so you can hear sounds of traffic, but it’s not crazy disruptive. Nothing earplugs can’t solve.
No Verizon or ATT service at the site.
Ultimately, I think the hot spring pools and location are well worth the $$ and loved my stay.
Camping near Thermopolis, Wyoming, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for hot springs or a quiet spot to unwind, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Thermopolis, Wyoming, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're soaking in hot springs or exploring local attractions, there's something for every camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
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