Within Bighorn National Forest, Owen Creek Campground operates as a Forest Service site that accommodates RVs up to 50 feet alongside tent campers. The campground sits adjacent to Owen Creek, with sites scattered between forested areas and open terrain at $18 per night during its early June through mid-September season.
Campers find the access road requires attention, as reviews note rough conditions that demand careful navigation. The campground's position over a small hill from the main road reduces traffic noise, though nearby ATV activity from an adjacent 4-H facility can increase during peak periods. "Nice clean campground with a nice little creek for the kids to play in," describes vanessa G..
Wildlife encounters happen regularly here, with moose spotted drinking from the creek and deer moving through the area. The forest provides direct access to hiking in the Bighorns, though longer trails typically require driving to designated trailheads. Sites near the creek fill first, offering proximity to the water feature that defines much of the camping experience.
The campground includes vault toilets, drinking water, and picnic tables, with a camp host present during operating season. Reservations are available through the Forest Service system. For those exploring the broader region, campgrounds near Wolf provide additional options 13 miles east.
Description
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 Rustic Freedom / Gallatin Canyon Campgrounds; e-mail: support@rusticfreedom.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.
Facilities
The campground offers single-family sites each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided.
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.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (307) 431-7446.
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 $10.00/day fee at the campground. Firewood bundles may be purchased from the campground host.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundOwen Creek is located in Wyoming
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
Connectivity
T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
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
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 25 min from Billings, MT
- 2 hrs 55 min from Casper, WY
- 4 hrs 9 min from Bozeman, MT
- 4 hrs 20 min from Rapid City, SD
