Katherine B.

The Dyrt Pro

Victor, ID

Joined July 2017

Not quite living the vanlife, but home base is in the Tetons so the options close to home are endless!

Riverside delight

We camped here the night before launching on the Green along with another private group and NPS rangers. Was absolutely wonderful chatting and trading stories with other groups while rigging! Rangers are super helpful and there is potable water but it can be a bit warm in the evening, best to fill jugs in the morning. If you’re not running the river, there is a nice hike that goes up and looks into the canyon. Great access to the river, although be careful around the boat ramp as there is a lot of activity while trips are getting ready. There are volunteers in the morning to help manage parking too; as it can get a little congested.

I have heard it can be a little buggy and it wasn’t too bad for us, but mosquitoes did exist. Not too bad but you might want a tent instead of cowboy camping just so they don’t annoy you while you’re trying to sleep.

The last little bit of road to the site is a bit washboard-y but take your time, you’ll get there.

Sounds of water

Small spots by Aquarius rapid. She’s a class III wave train and the sounds sent me to peaceful sleep. In high water some of the spots may be inaccessible, however there are other campgrounds nearby if it doesn’t work. Do not recommend large rigs in here, it would be hard to turn around if the campground is full, again better options up or down river.

Rest and recharge

Nice flat spots with room as well as cabins. Can get busy in summer but worth it if you’ve never been; it is a real cool spot.

Riverside retreat

Nice campground along the North Fork of the Clearwater. There are stairs by one of the vault toilets to walk down to the water but be careful, it is cold and fast! Several riverside spots including one group site as well as shady groves. Water was shut off when we were there June 2024; unknown when it will be back on.

Simple but pretty

More of a primitive type of campground, although there are vault toilets. Plenty of spaces along the river; however there is a river take out that may be used to back trailers up to, so the flat spots across from it may not be ideal.

Big trees and shady groves

Great sites big enough to back a trailer in. Sites are close but feel secluded with trees and ferns. Running water was a bonus, after rafting for a week it felt luxurious!

Relaxation only steps away

Come for the hot spring and stay steps away in a great tent or RV site! The RV sites have water and electric hook ups, and there is a portable toilet by the tent sites. The sites are close together but are divided by trees and lattice fencing. There is a bit of traffic on the nearby road, be ready with earplugs if you are a light sleeper.

At this time; campsites can only be reserved online, so be sure to check the website for availability and call ahead to make sure the pool is open. Campsite rules are also listed on the site.

Base camp for Snake River recreating

Stopped here before a 5 day rafting trip on the Snake River. There were plenty of shaded RV and tent sites for our crew, and also had trailer parking for our rigs. It’s a beautiful spot right on the river. We spent hours playing lawn games at the picnic tables! While not in the campground, boat ramps are nearby. I had very good LTE signal on my phone which was very handy for getting the group together and organized. For supplies, Scotty’s market is about 15 minutes away; he also runs a shuttle service.

One reservoir, many options

Ultimate lake camping; bring your boat for wakeboarding, tubing, or just relaxing. Even human powered vehicles can be enjoyed; especially close to shore. So much to explore! There are so many places to get out and camp, many of these dispersed camping areas include vault toilets at the entrances, although not much else besides a boat ramp. Some of them are better than others, so be sure to check it out before launching your boat. The ground near the reservoir can get very silty and muddy if there has been recent wet weather, you risk getting your vehicle stuck if you back in too far. Even the dirt roads can get that way - but pay attention and you'll be fine. There were several toy haulers and RVs that made it in and made it out without incident; my group managed to get in and out ok too. 

In late May, it still gets cold at night yet there are mosquitos in this marshy area. They're not too bad, but if you're sensitive to the bites be prepared. I was fine in long sleeves and pants, they mostly left me alone. Fires are allowed most of the time, unless there is a red flag warning. Its your responsibility to know what isn't allowed, there are typically signs posted at the entrances if there are restrictions. Pets are fine too. I think the camping limit was 14 days, but that may have been at the site we chose. Others may be less. 

We stayed at one of very many sites along the reservoir. With 70 miles of shoreline, you're bound to have your own unique experience.

Brave the road, be rewarded with a view

If you're looking for something out of the way, but with a great view of the Tetons, this is your place. 

Once you drive through the back of the Elk Refuge; possibly sighting some of the native wildlife; you will reach a wooded campground with vault toilets, picnic tables, bear proof food storage, and a site dumpster at $15 a night. There are some RV pull through sites, be sure to ask the camp host if an appropriate site is still available for your camping style.

But, if you drove up this far, have a high clearance vehicle (or good insurance on your rental car), the means to be self contained with adequate bear proof food storage, why not drive up a little further and see what else lies ahead? There are also 15 dispersed camping sites, each of them with their own special features. Some shaded, some meadow, and all of them with striking scenery. When the road forks after the campground, either direction includes designated sites, however road 30445 (left fork) is a little tamer of a drive than 30440 (right fork), but that also gets you closer to the Goodwin Lake trailhead.

On our visit in late May, the flowers were just popping. We saw a few big horn sheep on the way in and out, and a few pronghorn. There were mosquitos, but they were small and they went away once it got cold at night. The Tetons at sunset though - so breathtaking. 

Take care to only use a designated camping site, store your food safely, and pack out what you brought in. These sites are all first come first serve; so have a back up plan if you come during the busy season and all the sites are full. I'm not kidding recommending a high clearance vehicle; we saw a sedan get pretty beat up traversing the ruts that had formed on the forest road. Also please drive safely - it is a steep, narrow, unpaved road. This same weekend another driver rolled her car down the canyon several times, luckily she was not seriously injured.

Bring the water toys

Spacious dispersed camping on the edge of the Palisades Reservoir, but no amenities so come prepared! The road is a bit narrow and rutted, but those confident in their driving skills will be fine. There are so many options here!

There is a dirt “boat ramp”, but due to the amount of driftwood I would not recommend anything with a trailer until that’s cleaned up. Further down the road is a proper ramp if you need it, but we put our kayaks and floats right in there.

On a hot July weekend, this was a very popular spot. Not for those looking for peace and quiet in the campsite, but if you get in the water you can peacefully float around for hours, unless you kept your cellphone on! This area has pretty good service.

Despite previous reviews, I did not see toilets. There’s a few fire pits, the large one is a communal one of sorts. Bring a backup solution if fire cooking was your meal prep plan. Mosquitoes were definitely present also.

Ranger Review: Éclipse Sun Protective Clothing at Mammoth Cabins

Campground Review:

Camping in Yellowstone is a bucket list item for many, but in the spring and summer, campgrounds fill up fast! Many are first-come first serve, and a fun family vacation can turn into a stressful search for a campsite. Then there's the weather…winter conditions can occur anytime of the year. One fantastic solution: the reservable Mammoth Cabins in Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park. 

The scenery around the cabins in other-worldy. Plus, we were there during elk calving season, with elk and their babies wandering through the area… although stay away from those mean mammas! I had one stalk me around the bathrooms during the night; she was none to pleased I was moving around in her area! Owls and pygmy rabbits are just some of the wildlife you'll also see here without venturing too far. 

On one hand, you do have to reserve pretty far out to get your cabin for holiday weekends…but you're guaranteed a reservation in a WARM cabin, no matter what the weather (June-u-ary exists in Wyoming, it snowed 17inches this past weekend). Since I was made aware of these, I have noticed that they are available from time to time if you want to make a last minute trip. Some of the more pricy options have bathrooms and showers in the cabin (such luxury), but there are three separate bathroom building complete with showers. Reserve cabins here: https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodgings/cabin/mammoth-hot-springs-hotel-cabins/

Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. On this trip, I tested the Eclipse Equinox Hoodie. 

https://eclipseglove.com/collections/frontpage/products/equinox-hoodie-beach-cover-up

As I mentioned, weather can be variable at any time of the year - but the sun is pretty strong at high elevations and sunscreen can be a pain to reapply; and who really wants to once you have that wolf family in your spotting scope??? No, you're going to want to watch the action and not worry about your sizzling skin. This is where the hoodie comes in. Soft, cool fabric protects your arms while allowing air circulation when the temperature heats up. The hoodie itself can protect your neck too on this particular garment. Plus, it can fold up into an easy to pack bundle with a hidden pocket on the front. I spent hours watching wildlife in the sun with no adverse affects. 

The main downside is their sizing. For adults, there really isn't any on any of the cover ups or shirts. The hoodie did not fit my 6 foot 7 inch tall husband I'm afraid. I'm only 5 foot 8 inches, and I felt it fit me great.

So much to see nearby

Great side on the Colorado, just a few miles from Canyonlands and Arches. Even on a busy weekend there was still space to be found at this campground. There’s a nice hike at the trailhead across the street, and I saw a few rafts put in at the nearby boat ramp. On the way in, there’s plenty of opportunity to climb, and a nice trail to see rock art and dinosaur tracks.

Ranger Review: Aftershokz Trekz Air Headphones at Horsetheif Campground

Campground Review:

Great access to two National Parks, plus mountain biking for all skill levels! The trails from the campground are considered "easy" but more intermediate and advanced trail systems are not far away, including the amazing trail system at Dead Horse Point State Park. Gravel/sand riding is also an option, there are several jeep trails that are quite enjoyable. After you burn your legs out from all that riding, make sure to check out Arches and Canyonlands for breathtaking scenery and an amazing cultural experience.

This campground has an amazing family friendly and welcoming atmosphere. If you're lucky to snag a spot before its full, I highly recommend this campground.

Product Review

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I occasionally have the opportunity to test out gear from time to time. On this trip, the conditions were perfect to test out the Aftershokz Trekz Air Headphones. These are THE headphones for active sports. They are bone conducting and sit on the edge of your ears. This allows you to hear noises around you while listening to music. This is fairly important while mountain biking; e.g. when your partner yells "SHARP LEFT" to you to avoid crumpling into a juniper tree while listening to "Hooked on a Feeling" (ooga chaka ooga chaka).

It did take some trial and error to figure out the right part of my head for the headphones to work the best (my husband on the other hand had no problem when he gave them a try). They hook over the ears, but the sound mechanism itself needs to sit on the bones that are in front of your ears. Once I figured that out, operating them while wearing sunglasses and a bike helmet was no problem. They are so lightweight, they were unnoticeable aside from the sound of the music I was playing. Yet they were still secure: they stayed in place even while making a bumpy, rocky descent.

Pros: Lightweight; can hear other humans, cars, etc; great sound quality; ease of use; water/sweat resistance; easy to clean; fits under helmet; fits with glasses; ability to take calls; stays in place.

Cons: Optimum sound quality may take a few uses to dial in; not noise cancelling (but earplugs were included if you need this).

I will be making the Aftershokz Trekz Air Headphones a part of my kit for biking, climbing, running, and skiing. Their small size and convenient carry case makes them ideal for travel.

Great access to motorsports

There are plenty of FREE spots available in this general area that is a stone's throw from Canyonlands, right outside of Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area. There are a few "campgrounds" along this road, on both sides of the highway. Pay attention to BLM signs and camp only in designated spots. Also, make sure you have a portable toilet or be prepared to pack out your and your pet's waste. There are no toilets and digging of cat holes is NOT allowed!

There are some washes and tricky spots, but several sedans were able to make it in. Obviously the Jeeps here for the rally had no problem at all, and it was fun watching them zoom around. Great place for dirt bikes and ATVs as well. Wish we had one to join in the fun or do some more site seeing!

This was a fairly popular spot, but the sites are all spread out so its not too bad. Make sure you bring everything you need, there are no amenities other than fire rings.

First to Review
Free and open

This is a great FREE site; however there are no amenities. Bring everything you need. If you don't have a portable toilet, visit the rest area down the road for a last minute bathroom break before settling in for the night.

There is plenty of open, level space. Not a lot of privacy, so during the busy season you'll most likely make friends with your neighbors.

Remoe and relaxing

The best thing about this campground is not even the campground - the scenery, the creek, the hot springs! Of course the campground itself is wonderful, with nice spacious sites and plenty of accessible vault toilets. Being October, the hook-ups were off, although that should be expected late season in Wyoming.

The paid pool stays open until the end of October, we made sure to use it. The hot pools in the creek are also an option.

Be aware the road does close to cars in winter.

Endless recreation close to town

Fantastic biking, hiking, and wildlife viewing just a few minutes from town amenities. Rough it all week, or head up the road to get a slice or just do laundry. Maybe even at the same time?

This is a great spot, only downside is the highway is fairly close. Chances are though you'll be so busy on the trails you won't even notice. Our campsite looked recently renovated; picnic table, bear box, and fire ring looked brand new. We hiked up towards Oliver peak on a clear day and could see for miles.

Great late season spot

A few sandy campsites by the Platte River - had we gotten there earlier, we could have parked on the river's rocky shore. Someone beat us to it though!

There are actually two separate camping areas of this access - when you get to the fork, there are sites in either direction. Both are denoted with the Foote Public Access area signs, so you know you found it. There was also a boat ramp. I am not familiar with this section of the Platte, but I would imagine fishing and hunting are probably great activities if you're staying here for a few days. Wildlife appeared abundant in September - luckily, mosquitos and flies were not!

It is a road through private land, which is relatively well maintained, but please respect private property. Also be aware of current fire restrictions - there are no fire rings here, and open fires are not permitted. A firepan or fuel-based cooking system would be good to have.

Near the water

Right off a "thumb" on the Palisades reservoir, this is an amazing site with many recreational options. Paddling, hiking, bird watching - saw an osprey with an enormous fish and then later a pair of bald eagles. It was fun floating around on our kayaks and paddle boards; there were a few smaller boats and jet skis around as well.

We were there on a busy weekend, but the sites are all nicely separated so it still felt secluded! Plenty of vault toilets and a few group site options as well. The group sites are reservable, but the remaining are first-come first serve.