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Established Camping

Owen Creek

Owen Creek, near Dayton, Wyoming, is a charming campground tucked away in the Bighorn National Forest. It’s a great spot for those who appreciate the beauty of nature, with a lovely creek nearby and plenty of trees providing shade and a sense of seclusion.

The campground is pet-friendly and allows campfires, making it perfect for cozy evenings under the stars. Visitors have enjoyed the clean facilities, including vault toilets and drinking water, which are conveniently located. One camper noted, “Nice clean campground with a nice little creek for the kids to play in,” highlighting the family-friendly vibe here.

For adventure seekers, Owen Creek is close to numerous ATV trails and offers easy access to diverse hiking opportunities, though you might need to drive to reach the best trailheads. Wildlife sightings are a bonus, with campers sharing experiences of spotting moose and deer right from their sites.

If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat with a touch of adventure, Owen Creek is a solid choice. Just remember, it’s a first-come, first-served setup, so plan accordingly!

Description

National Forest

Bighorn National Forest

Overview

Owen Creek Campground is located along the Bighorn Scenic Byway (U.S. Highway 14) near the Burgess Overlook and Woodrock areas at an elevation of 8,400 feet. The Bighorn National Forest offers a wide variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, scenic driving and a number of historic sites. The administering organization is Gallatin Canyon Campgrounds; e-mail: gccampgrounds13@gmail.com

Recreation

Off-road vehicle trails, scenic jeep roads, hiking, fishing and canoeing are available in the surrounding area. Diverse hikes vary from loop trails to treks along creeks and over mountain peaks; many trails access the Cloud Peak Wilderness. Nearby Sibley Lake is open to non-motorized craft and offers an accessible fishing dock on the shoreline. Anglers fish for rainbow, brown and brook trout.

Natural Features

The campground is situated on the banks of Owen Creek in the Bighorn Mountains, where craggy granite peaks rise over 13,000 feet above sea level. The area is forested with a mix of pine and aspen trees. An abundance of wildlife lives in the area.

Nearby Attractions

Shell Falls Visitor Center, at the overlook of Shell Falls, is about 22 miles southwest. This center offers interpretive trails, scenic views, and educational displays about natural features such as flora and fauna and area history. Bear Lodge, Elk View Inn and other nearby lodges provide guided horseback riding and fishing adventures, off-road vehicle rentals and fishing supplies, as well as dining options, showers and general stores. The Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite, near the town of Shell, is the largest of its kind in the state and one of only a few in the world from the Middle Jurassic Period. The tracks found here are approximately 167 million years old.

Charges & Cancellations

Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This cancellation processing fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

Fee Info

Two non-towed vehicles allowed per site. The first vehicle is included in the basic fee; the second vehicle will be charged an extra $9.00/day fee at the campground. Firewood bundles may be purchased from the campground host.

Location

Owen Creek is located in Wyoming

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Dayton, Wyoming: Travel 27 miles on U.S. Highway 14 west, turn left (south) at Burgess Junction and continue on Hwy 14 for 5 miles until you reach Forest Road 236. Take a right on Forest Road 236 and continue about .2 miles to the campground.

Address

FOREST ROAD 236
Dayton, WY 82836

Coordinates

44.7066667 N
107.4980556 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
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Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

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5 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 24, 2024

Well kept and kind hosts

Great hosts at this campground, interesting and beautiful National Forest, lots of ATV trails. A bit far from good hikes, would likely need to drive to a trailhead instead of just setting out from the campground if you wanted to make good time.

Site8
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Owen Creek by Ellery K., July 24, 2024
  • Review photo of Owen Creek by Ellery K., July 24, 2024
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Reviewed Jul. 10, 2023

Nice stay

Nice last minute spot find, when we arrived a moose was drinking from the creek right across from our spot! Saw a momma and baby moose not long after, and plenty of deer as well. Beautiful forest behind out spot and beautiful wildflowers in front. We enjoyed our stay!

Site3
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Owen Creek by Melissa S., July 10, 2023
  • Review photo of Owen Creek by Melissa S., July 10, 2023
  • Review photo of Owen Creek by Melissa S., July 10, 2023
Reviewed Jul. 6, 2018

A roadside camp right in the Bighorns

I saw this national forest campground right after going through construction. It was a welcome find. It’s over a small hill the road noise is minimized.

There was a site open for the night and I grabbed it. Another camper walked by and said it’s his favorite place to camp. Walk right out into the Bighorns and you’ll find diversity. There are different forests on each side.

We camped in the spot next to the host. It offered plenty of shade in this quiet abode. The vault toilets and water were nearby. It’s a small campground so nothing is really far.

The one drawback is the 4H campground just down the road. It’s free to anybody when they aren’t using it. This meant an endless line of big camping rvs and atv traffic. I would have stayed longer if it weren’t for this. That also might suggest a free camping site if you are set up for it.

Site4
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Owen Creek by Art S., July 6, 2018
  • Video of Owen Creek Campground
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  • Review photo of Owen Creek by Art S., July 6, 2018
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Owen Creek?

    Owen Creek allows vehicles up to 50 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Owen Creek?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Owen Creek, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Owen Creek?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Owen Creek. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Owen Creek, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Owen Creek?

    There are 8 campsites at Owen Creek and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts