Desert camping in Wyoming with climbing
Monumental landscapes, epic outdoor adventures, and a taste of the Wild West await in Wyoming.
- Wyoming
Popular camping styles for Wyoming
Under $50
5 top desert campgrounds in Wyoming with climbing
Dog-friendly getaways
Available this weekend
Nearby parks
Explore the area’s public lands.
Desert camping in Wyoming with climbing guide
Overview
Wyoming’s headline acts—Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Bighorn Canyon—make the bucket list of most adventurers, where world-class hiking and epic views are all in a day’s camping. Whether you’re driving your RV along the Beartooth Highway, getting your powder fix on the ski slopes, or cooling off at the lakes in summer, the Cowboy State has enough national parks, forests, and wilderness areas to suit any outdoor activity you can dream up. Popular hiking trails and campsites can get busy through July and August, so time your trip for spring or come after Labor Day to dodge the crowds.
Where to go
Northwest Wyoming
Sweeping mountain ranges, jagged canyons, and vast forests dominate the landscapes of northwest Wyoming, the stomping ground of hikers, rock climbers, and backcountry campers. Once you’ve marveled at the kaleidoscopic hot springs and geysers at Yellowstone National Park, tackle the peaks of the Grand Teton National Park or saddle up for a horseback ride through the Shoshone National Forest. For winter campers, Jackson Hole has world-class skiing and snowboarding, plus cozy cabins and mountain lodges.
Northeast Wyoming
Storied Wild West landscapes stretch east through the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, where you can hike through red rock canyons or fish for trout on Bighorn Lake. Continue through the Bighorn National Forest, where moose and black bears roam the glacial valleys and alpine lakes, or set out on an RV road trip through the Badlands, stopping by the Devil's Tower National Monument enroute to the Black Hills.
Southwest Wyoming
Desert plains, gleaming lakes, and rocky ravines stretch north from the Utah border to meet the wilderness of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Venture off-road for a taste of the Sahara desert at Killpecker Sand Dunes, admire the colorful cliffs of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, or park your RV in sleepy towns and lakes along the Green River.
Southeast Wyoming
It's all about the rodeo in Wyoming's capital, Cheyenne, especially during the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days—the largest rodeo & Western event of its kind in the world—held each July. For those who fancy exploring further afield, Wyoming’s eastern plains are dotted with time-stood-still western towns and fishing lakes, while the Medicine Bow National Forest has plenty of options for campers, along with eight boating lakes, and miles of hiking, biking, and OHV trails.
