Bow River Campground (WY)

Medicine Bow-Routt Nfs & Thunder Basin Ng

Bow River Campground hosts 13 campsites and is located on the upper Medicine Bow River. The campground is located next to Bow River in a wooded forest of Lodgepole and Spruce pines and some young Aspen. The campground is quiet and tranquil. This is a pack-in pack-out campground. No trash service in the area.

OHVs can explore the Campbell Lake Loop after July 1, approximately 9 miles south of the campground. Pick up a motor vehicle use map for free at the Ranger station in Saratoga or call to have one emailed to you.

Nearby hiking trails include Rock Creek, Sheep Lake, and Crater Lake.

Bow River Campground has sites able to accommodate tents, trailers and RVs. Sites are equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings. The campground also offers vault toilets, and potable water.

Need to Know

Check-in time is after 2:00 p.m. on the first day of the reservation.

Check-out time is 12:00 p.m. on the last day of the reservation.

If the reservation holder doesn't show up on the first day of the reservation, the campsite is released at check-in time (2 pm) the next day.

There are no hookup services.

Maximum length of stay is 14 days.

Fires are only allowed in USFS approved metal fire rings.

Campsites are limited to 8 people and 2 vehicles per site.

Only 1 RV/trailer per RV campsite.

No RVs or camper trailers can park in parking spaces for walk-in tent campsites. These campsites and associated parking are for tent camping only.

Dogs must be on leash.

Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.

You are responsible for reading the site descriptions and booking a site that will accommodate your equipment.

Check the elements

-What is in the skies? Check the weather report before you leave home. When you arrive at the site, keep on eye on the skies for changes and, if possible, carry a compact weather radio. In inclement weather, take shelter until the bad weather passes. Stay dry - wet clothes contribute to heat loss. Also, keep sleeping bags and important gear dry at all times.

-Are there forest or grassland alerts? Forest and grassland home pages post alerts you should know before you go. Many of our forests and grasslands also post alerts on Twitter. The latest fire information may be found on InciWeb.

Survey your surroundings

-Arrive early. Plan your trip so that you arrive at your actual campsite with enough daylight to check over the entire site and safely set up camp.

-Check for potential hazards. Be sure to check the site thoroughly for glass, sharp objects, branches, large ant beds, poison ivy, bees, and hazardous terrain.

-Avoid areas of natural hazards. Check the contour of the land and look for potential trouble spots due to rain or snow. Areas that could flood or become extremely muddy can pose a problem.

-Inspect the site. Look for a level site with enough room to spread out all your gear. A site that has trees or shrubs on the side of prevailing winds will help block strong, unexpected gusts.

-Pitch your tent in a safe spot. Make sure your tent is made of flame-retardant fabric, and keep it a safe distance away from campfires. Keep insects out of your tent by closing the entrance quickly when entering or leaving.

-Build fires in a safe area. Your open fires and fuel-burning appliances must be far enough away from the tent to prevent ignition from sparks, flames, and heat. Never use a flame or any other heating device inside a tent. Check to know whether there are fire restrictions in place before starting a campfire. You could be fined if you start a fire in a restricted area.

Be fire safe

-Keep fires small and bring firewood purchased in the local area. Firewood brought from another area could also bring invasive pests.

-If you have to collect firewood at your campsite, collect dead and down wood only.

-Check at the local ranger station for current fire restrictions, which can change on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis.

-Use existing fire rings. Scrape away litter and any other burnable material within a 10-foot-diameter surrounding the ring.

-Make sure all wood fits inside the fire ring. Do not feed a large log into the fire ring.

-Have a shovel, axe, and bucket of water available before lighting your campfire.

-Never leave a campfire unattended, even for a few minutes or even if there are no flames present. Many wildfires start because of abandoned fires or because someone thought a fire was out.

-Put out a campfire by slowly pouring water onto the fire and stirring with a shovel. Continue adding and stirring until all material is cool to touch.

-Do not bury your fire. The coals can smolder and re-ignite.

Be bear aware

Being outdoors means being with wildlife. Many people never encounter a bear. But if you do, here's some simple advice:

DO NOT RUN.

*Remain calm.

*Group together and pick up small children.

*Continue to face the bear and back away slowly, talking calmly to identify yourself as a human.

*If the bear continues to approach, try to scare it away by making yourself as large and imposing as possible by stretching your arms overhead and making loud noises.

*Carry and know how to use bear spray, which is available at many outdoor retailers and can be used to deter a charging bear.

Food Storage

Bears are always searching for food. Bears are curious, intelligent animals that have great memories. Their eyesight is similar to humans and their sense of smell is seven times more powerful than a blood hound’s, enabling them to smell food from miles away. Those are the very traits that can sometimes get them – and us – into trouble. Most bears are wary of humans and try to avoid them. However, bears can learn to associate people with food and be tenacious in their pursuit of something to eat. Even if humans are around.

Everyone in bear country must do our part to store food and other attractants in bear-resistant containers at all times, and dispose of trash in bear-resistant dumpsters.

Natural Features

This High Elevation and remote campground is surounded by lodge pole pines, alpine firs, & sprous trees. campground is also home to deer, elk, moose, beer, mountain lions etc. Bow river campground is a quick to Bow river where the name of the campground comes from.

Nearby Attractions

The Snowy Range rises from sagebrush and lodgepole pine forests in lower elevations to spruce-fir forests and alpine areas in the high country. The area offers views of rugged peaks over 12,000 feet, gorgeous snow-melt lakes and stunning displays of native wildflowers

Recreation

The Snowy Range offers endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. Specifically, the Snowy Range contains a network of hiking trails suitable for day hiking and for extended, backcountry trips. Additionally, Streams and over 100 lakes in the area provide a variety of challenging recreational-fishing opportunities in the area. Popular attractions near this campground include Silver Lake, Lake Marie Falls, Mirror Lake, Medicine Bow Peak Trail, French Creek Canyon Trail and Miners Cabin Trail. Winter activities in the area include snowshoeing and skiing.

Changes & Cancellations

If I book this reservation today, what are my options to change or cancel?

Please remember that reservations at these facilities prevent other visitors from using these sites. Planned changes to your stay should be made as far in advance as possible. You can make changes to your reservation ahead of your arrival date in My Reservations.

Changes

If your new stay dates are completely different from your original stay dates, there is a $10 change fee (per reserved site). There are no additional fees for:

Adding or removing nights to your stay.
Changing to a different campsite.
Balances will adjust based on your new stay's nightly rate.

Cancellations:

You can cancel the reservation any time before the date of your scheduled arrival. You will receive a refund for your stay, minus the following fees:

$10 cancellation fee
Any reservation fees (only if paid when booking)
Any previous change fees
Late cancellation penalties may also apply

What is “Late”?

For individual campsites, a late cancellation applies starting from midnight 1 calendar day before your scheduled check-in. For cabins and group sites, a late cancellation applies starting from midnight 14 calendar days or fewer before your scheduled check-in.

Late Fee

In addition to the fees listed above, a late cancellation will also subtract your first night's recreation use fee from any refund owed. As of the expected check-in day, cancellations or changes to your stay are not possible through My Reservations. It is at the facility's discretion to support additional Late Cancellations, No Show, or Early Departure updates – on-site personnel may not be able to assist. These changes carry penalties and may forfeit recreation use fees.

Contact Information

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 307-326-5258

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

Directions:

From Saratoga, WY take the Snowy Range Highway east 20 miles to Forest Road 100. Turn onto Forest Road 100 and drive approximately 20 miles to the Bow River campground. This is a slow drive.

From Elk Mountain, WY take Carbon County Road 101 south to the National Forest boundary. Continue on Road 101 to Forest Road 100, approximately 2 miles. Turn onto Forest Road 100 and watch for the campground in less than .5 mile.

Available Campsites

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