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Established Camping

Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park

Description

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.

Map: https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php?preview=1&option=com_dropfiles&format=&task=frontfile.download&catid=404&id=38&Itemid=1000000000000

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Location

Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park is located in Wyoming

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

43.431240920969316 N
108.17896554347084 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
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Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

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Reviews

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3.5

out of 5

6 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 18, 2024

Convenient for 1 night if you're traveling or fishing, otherwise no.

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

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park by Bill R., August 18, 2024
  • Review photo of Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park by Bill R., August 18, 2024
Reviewed Jul. 14, 2023

too many signs!

I 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.

Site71
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Sep. 5, 2022

Never returning

We 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.

Site51
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Sep. 30, 2021

Fun family camping

There are lots of campsites at Boysen State Park. I called the phone number and talked to a nice ranger. She suggested Upper Wind River campsite since we did not have boat and wanted to have a nice tent spot. We camped 1 week before site changed from reservation to FF. We planned on staying 2 nights but it was so relaxing we ended up staying 4. 1 day we went to Marina and swim beach. Another day we went to Thermopolis and checked out Dino museum and hot springs. Last day we just hung around camp and relaxed. Campsite had a park for kids. No showers but plenty of water so we set up privacy tent and we’re able to shower when we wanted. If we were there during peak season I bet it would feel a little crowded but was perfect the time of year we went because there were maybe 10 sites filled out of the 80ish there.

Site72
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park by eli R., September 30, 2021
  • Review photo of Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park by eli R., September 30, 2021
  • Review photo of Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park by eli R., September 30, 2021
  • (5) View All
Reviewed May. 3, 2021

Relaxing Weekend

Coming from Casper this trip was a quick and easy drive for a weekend out of town. We stayed at upper campground and there were a lot of spots that overlooked the river. There’s a good amount of open space in the middle of campground, surrounding the playground. Also, stairs for easy water access down to the river for fishing. We were there in the early spring, but you can tell the trees provide lots of shade for the summer months. Overall we loved our experience and will definitely be going back again!

  • Review photo of Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park by Zach R., May 3, 2021
  • Review photo of Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park by Zach R., May 3, 2021
  • Review photo of Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park by Zach R., May 3, 2021
Reviewed Oct. 31, 2016

Several sites in this state park

There are multiple sites throughout the park. All have water, tables and BBQ's or pits. Each one also has a playground for the kiddies. I prefer the camps along the river, the fly fishing in the tail waters of Boysen Reservoir is spectacular! There are more trees and there are launch sites. We wade fished, but if you float you need a permit to float through Wind River Indian Reservation.
The lake is huge and has excellent fishing I'm told. Sites are self pay and I've included a photo of the pricing. Enjoy!

  • Review photo of Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park by Carrie C., October 31, 2016
  • Review photo of Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park by Carrie C., October 31, 2016
  • Review photo of Upper Wind River Campground — Boysen State Park by Carrie C., October 31, 2016
  • (6) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

What facilities and amenities are available at Upper Wind River Campground?

Upper Wind River Campground offers several amenities including water access, picnic tables, and BBQ pits or grills at each site. The campground features a playground in the central open area for children. Many sites overlook the river, and there are stairs providing easy access to the water. The campground operates on a reservation system for part of the season before switching to first-come, first-served. Some sites have pull-through options, though dimensions can be tricky for larger RVs, so checking site specifications before booking is recommended.

What activities are available near Wind River Canyon Campground?

The area around Upper Wind River Campground offers excellent fly fishing in the tailwaters of Boysen Reservoir, which is particularly noted for its quality. The Wind River provides various water activities with convenient launch sites available. The open space in the middle of the campground is perfect for group games and activities. For those wanting to explore beyond the immediate area, the campground serves as a good base for visiting nearby attractions in the Wind River region and is relatively close to Thermopolis. Hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities are also available in the surrounding area.

How does Upper Wind River Campground compare to Boysen State Park camping options?

Upper Wind River Campground is one of several camping areas within Boysen State Park, distinguished by its riverside location. Park rangers often recommend it specifically for tent campers and those without boats who are seeking scenic spots. While other areas of Boysen State Park may cater more to boaters with direct reservoir access, Upper Wind River offers more trees and shade compared to some other sites in the park. Each camping area in the park has similar basic amenities including water, tables, and BBQ facilities, as well as playgrounds. The riverside sites at Upper Wind provide a different experience than the reservoir-focused campgrounds elsewhere in the park.

Where is Upper Wind River Campground located in Wyoming?

Upper Wind River Campground is located within Boysen State Park in Wyoming. It sits along the Wind River, near the outflow of Boysen Reservoir. The campground is accessible via a fairly straightforward drive from Casper, making it a convenient weekend getaway destination. Its position along the river provides scenic views and easy water access. The campground is situated near enough to roads and train tracks that some traffic and train noise may be noticeable, particularly at night.