U.S. Forest Service · Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG · Wyoming

Bow River Campground

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

More like this: reservable in Wyoming · pets allowed in Wyoming

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Bow river1bow river2Bow river3BowRIverMap
Photos courtesy of U.S. Forest Service, USFSMatt · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups13
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

13 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
001Back-in34GravelNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
002Back-in24GravelNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
003No / –8 / 2YesStandard
004Back-in24GravelNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
005Back-in24GravelNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
006Back-in22GravelNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
007Back-in20GravelNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
008Back-in20GravelNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
009Back-in26GravelNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
010Back-in26GravelNo / –– / 2YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesThere will be a few site that can be reserved on Recreation.gov, only those can be paid with card. first come first serve will use the self pay service at the campground and there you will be able to use Cash or Check. $14 per night per site. Self Services Fee area. Cash & Checks only.

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.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Bow River Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.28 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.32 inches of precipitationMarch: 0.48 inches of precipitationApril: 1.04 inches of precipitationMay: 1.75 inches of precipitationJune: 1.49 inches of precipitationJuly: 1.34 inches of precipitationAugust: 1.14 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.11 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.83 inches of precipitationNovember: 0.42 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.32 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 21.9°F averageFebruary: 23.8°F averageMarch: 31.8°F averageApril: 37.9°F averageMay: 47.5°F averageJune: 58.0°F averageJuly: 64.8°F averageAugust: 62.8°F averageSeptember: 54.3°F averageOctober: 41.9°F averageNovember: 30.2°F averageDecember: 21.5°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 in2 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Laramie Rgnl AP, 2 miles from the recreation area point at 7,266 feet, station USW00024022 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 11 inches a year.

Getting there

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.

AreaRecreation.gov lists no exact point for this campground. The recreation area is at 41.31° N, 105.63° W. Call the office before you drive.

Good to know

  • Pick up a motor vehicle use map for free at the Ranger station in Saratoga or call to have one emailed to you.

Charges and 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.
  • 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 t

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Magic Feather Broadcast Rx

    39 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Explore

Video

Bow River Campground Canmore, Canada

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.

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.

Nearby

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

Guidebooks for Wyoming

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Camping Wyoming and the Black Hills
    Kenneth Lee Graham, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon Montana, Wyoming and Idaho Camping
    Becky Lomax, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Wyoming's Wind River Range
    Ben Adkison, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Bow River Campground?

Sites at Bow River Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Bow River Campground?

There will be a few site that can be reserved on Recreation.gov, only those can be paid with card. first come first serve will use the self pay service at the campground and there you will be able to use Cash or Check. $14 per night per site.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Bow River Campground?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Bow River Campground?

$10 cancellation fee

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Bow River Campground have?

13 sites, including 13 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Bow River Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Bow River Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Bow River Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Bow River Campground?

The Snowy Range offers endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation