• Red cliffs descend into the water of Bighorn Canyon

    Bighorn Canyon

    National Recreation Area MT,WY

Campgrounds

The Afterbay has free campgrounds on both sides

There are free campgrounds on both sides of the beautiful Afterbay.

NPS

Afterbay Campground

  • Open All Year!
  • Near Fort Smith, Montana, on the south shore of the Afterbay
  • 28 RV and tent sites are located around a line of nice shade trees
  • Composting vault toilets, RV dump station, and drinking water available.
  • There are no RV hookups.
  • Additional 12 sites without water, available on north shore of Afterbay.

Camping is free and on a first come first serve basis. No reservations will be taken.

 
Black Canyon slips await boat-in campers

Black Canyon slips await boat-in campers

NPS

Black Canyon Campground

This boat-in-only campground, five miles south of Ok-A-Beh boat ramp, is along the lake shore in Douglas fir/ponderosa pine forest.

  • Open All Year
  • The 17 tent sites are sometimes visited by black bears
  • A floating, vault toilet is available, but no drinking water is available
  • Lake level affects the proximity of the boat moorings to campsites

Camping is free and on a first come first serve basis. No reservations will be taken.

 
Horseshoe Bend Campground with Sykes Mountain in the distance

Horseshoe Bend Campground with Sykes Mountain in the distance

Loner Collection

Horseshoe Bend Campground

  • Open All Year-Utilities are shut off between Oct. and May
  • Uphill from the Horseshoe Bend Marina boat docks
  • Swim beach and picnic area, nestled in sagebrush
  • 48 campsites overlook the lake and the red sandstone cliffs of Sykes Mountain
  • The campground is 14 miles north of Lovell, Wyoming via WY Hwy 37
  • Modern restrooms, RV dump station and drinking water are available
  • 19 sites have been remodeled to accommodate larger RVs and boats
  • There are 3 pull through sites

Beginning May 1, 2009, a utility fee will be charged at Horseshoe Bend to recover the cost of electricity at the improved sites. Please see the Horseshoe Bend Campground page for more details.

 
Tent camping at Trail Creek campground

Tent camping at Trail Creek campground

NPS

Trail Creek Campground

  • Open All Year
  • Primitive campground 27 miles north of Lovell, Wyoming, via WY Hwy 37
  • 10 RV sites for small RVs 16 tent sites 4 RV sites just off Barry's Landing parking lot
  • There is no drinking water or RV hookups
  • Most of the sites are small

Camping is free and on a first come first serve basis. No reservations will be taken.

 
Beautiful sunset on Bighorn Lake

Beautiful sunsets can be seen while camping at Medicine Creek

NPS

Medicine Creek Campground

  • Open All Year
  • Boat-in or hike-in only to access
  • Six sites on lake shore of side canyon
  • Vault toilet available when lake level is at 3635 feet above sea level
  • No drinking water
 

All camping in Bighorn Canyon is on a first come first serve basis. No reservations will be taken.

Lake levels and seasonal weather can affect the proximity of the boat moorings to campsites at Black Canyon Camprground and Medicine Creek Campground. Docks to these campsites are removed in the winter.

Did You Know?

Fishing the Bighorn River, photo by Doug Haacke

Prior to the completion of Yellowtail Dam, the Bighorn River was a muddy, warm water prairie stream.  The dam transformed the river into a cold, clear tailwater ideally suited to rainbow and brown trout, and aquatic insects.  The Bighorn River now draws visitors and anglers from around the globe. More...