West Tensleep Lake

Really pretty scenery and nice camp spots, there are toilets

There was still snow when we were there

No cell service

Spacious sites. Stayed in off season so no services, but no cost either. Had a moose walk right through our camp and go down to the lake.

There are a ton of gravel and off-road opportunities for bikers. Pay attention to the trails rules because some trails do not allow bikers, so obey the trail rules. Some of the off-road trails are also shared by horses so be respectful of space. I met some friendly riders during my exploration ride! The campground is also close to a paved road, which could be a fun road ride tour. The snow-capped mountain views from the campground are beautiful! There are some more private campsites that have a dispersed and primitive vibe even though you are still pretty close to the running water and toilets. There are gravel roads that connect the different campgrounds which would be fun for exploration and introductory gravel riding. If you are not reserving a spot ahead of time, make sure that you show up early (before noon) in the busy summer season because the spots fill up quickly.

I’m giving this 5 stars but my review still comes with a warning. Campsite #9 is next to the outhouse and you can definitely smell it when the wind blows or if it is getting heavy use. That being said, you are camping in the high country. I used my campsite to day hike trail #63 to Lake Helen and back. It was an 11.3 mile hike from my tent. I was not lucky enough to see any moose or elk BUT there was much evidence of both. People with campers that are on the large side definitely struggled to park and level them. This sometimes required help from multiple other RV folks that were already onsite. Just like the reservations say, you pack in and pack out your own garbage. Some campers were unaware. The facilities were clean and my camp was clean. The camp host was lovely. Wood is purchased from the camp host miles away at the Island Park Campground. It’s easier to stop on your 7 mile dirt drive up, than it is to drive 5+ miles down and back for it. I camped here in a tent alone. I felt completely safe and secure in my surroundings. I was the only camper that didn’t live in Wyoming. Generators are allowed until quiet time. There were a lot of bats to watch at dusk. The wildfire smoke sadly blocked the views of the night sky.

We took a motorcycle trip from Missouri to Yellowstone and stopped here for 3 nights on the way. This is an excellent Primitive campground with unbelievable views.

Although it has minimal services, it makes up for it with the views. Make sure to wake up early and walk to the lake, there was moose hanging out when we were there. Even the drive into the campground is nice. The high elevation makes the evenings cool.

I would go back here in a heartbeat, if I’m ever in the area, I will plan to stay here.

Pros: Very primitive feel, nice toilets for being so far out, shady campsites with plenty of room,

Cons: The long 7 mile gravel road on cruiser motorcycles is a pain.

This was our first trip to this campground. My friend reserved the site for us so we did not know anything about this area. 

PROS -Very small campground- 

Cleanest & best smelling toilets I have have ever encountered.

Lake at Campground

Great Hiking area's

Lake is clean & beautiful (Go for Kayaking & Fly Fishing)

Moose in area 

CONS:

7 miles of Gravel road to get to Campsite -Very bumpy ride for 3500 ton Truck

Campsites are small. We have a 27 Foot bumper pull -No problem but some sites smaller & uneven. (Research your site)

No Camp Host on Site-Have to drive about 4 miles to buy wood bundles.

Dry Camp-No Electric 

Dump Station about 13 miles away

campground is a little rustic and at a high elevation. best part of the week was watching happy tourist pitch a tent and leave after freezing to death at night.

Early fall, perfect night

At first we couldn't find this place because Google Maps will take you to the entrance of Sitting Bull Campground down the road. Follow the directions on reserveamerica.com or just head west from Sitting Bull Campground about 4 miles and turn on West Tensleep Lake Road.

It's a dirt/rock road and you'll be on it for 7 miles. Along the route is a half dozen other campgrounds. Each time you approach one you'll get excited thinking it's yours but it isn't. Don't worry. West Tensleep Lake Campground is better than those campgrounds.

Finally, you'll arrive at the last campground on the road which is also the trailhead. It is only 10 spots that are tent only. Half along the lake-side and half road-side. If you can take a lakeside spot (you can reserve these). The road side ones aren't bad but they are more exposed and a bit less wooded. Each site has a parking spot, picnic table and fire-pit with grill. Camp is at 9000+ elevation so when you search for weather reports they will not be accurate. The nearest town, Tensleep, is about 4000 ft lower in elevation so the weather can be dramatically different.

There are vault toilets which are probably the cleanest toilets I/we have ever seen in a campground. They were clean when we got there, cleaned while we were there and still clean when we left. There is a by the book Park Ranger who will sell you wood (if you arrive at a weird hour or don't want to wait stop by the second campsite on the road and you can buy wood there). He will also give you a speech about bears and a massive hefty bag for trash which seemed like major overkill, not to mention a lot of wasted plastic.

The lake is shallow (snow dependent?) but beautiful and teeming with beavers, fish and usually at least one canoe. It is deceptively large, and you can see Big Horn National Forest surrounding it and mountain peaks in the distance. There is a trailhead where you need to fill out some paperwork when you leave on a hike and then trails heading off for miles in a few different directions. We followed the lake to the northern end and then followed the path along creek/river into the woods. It was easy hiking, but really beautiful and worth the effort to get down that long road at the beginning.

On a 5625 mile road trip through forests and parks this campsite was a highlight. Stop in Tensleep on the way out of town. It is worth a visit.