U.S. Forest Service · Bighorn National Forest · Buffalo, WY

Middle Fork

Middle Fork Campground is located 14 miles west of Buffalo, Wyoming, adjacent to the Cloud Peak Skyway (scenic byway), near the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area. The Bighorn National Forest offers a wide variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, scenic driving and a number of historic sites.

More like this: reservable in Wyoming · big rigs in Wyoming · pets allowed in Wyoming · group sites in Wyoming

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
MF-CG-HeroMF-CG-PreviewMiddle Fork Campsite with CreekMiddle Fork Campsite
Photos courtesy of Esther Fishbaugh, GCC · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups8
Group sites1
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 80 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001GroupBack-in25GravelPartialRiverfront16 / 3YesYes
002StandardPull-through80GravelPartialRiverfront8 / 2YesYes
003StandardBack-in50GravelFullRiverfront8 / 2Yes
004StandardBack-in45GravelPartialRiverfront8 / 2YesYes
005StandardBack-in45GravelFullRiverfront8 / 2Yes
006StandardBack-in45GravelPartialRiverfront8 / 2YesYes
007StandardBack-in45GravelPartialRiverfront8 / 2Yes
008StandardBack-in40GravelPartialRiverfront8 / 2Yes
009StandardBack-in40GravelPartialRiverfront8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length80 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesTwo non-towed vehicles allowed per site. The first vehicle is included in the basic fee; the second vehicle will be charged an extra $10.00/day fee at the campground. Site #1 is a double site. Double sites can be reserved as either a single (1-8 people) or a double site (9-16 people).
AccessibilitySites 001, 002, 004, 006 are listed accessible

The campground offers single-family sites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided.

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

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMemorial Day - Labor Day
ForestBighorn National Forest
BookingThis site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line.
Fees$22 per night. Additional vehicle $10. Limit 2 vehicles per site and 8 people per site. 8 sites reservable. Double site (site #1): $44 for 1-16 people.
Rules14 day stay limit

Bighorn National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Middle Fork20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 0.23 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.24 inches of precipitationMarch: 0.73 inches of precipitationApril: 1.46 inches of precipitationMay: 2.73 inches of precipitationJune: 2.07 inches of precipitationJuly: 1.63 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.75 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.17 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.01 inches of precipitationNovember: 0.36 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.17 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 27.5°F averageFebruary: 27.3°F averageMarch: 35.9°F averageApril: 42.9°F averageMay: 52.0°F averageJune: 61.9°F averageJuly: 71.3°F averageAugust: 69.9°F averageSeptember: 59.8°F averageOctober: 46.2°F averageNovember: 35.0°F averageDecember: 27.0°F average0 in1 in2 in3 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Buffalo Johnson Co AP, 13 miles from the campground at 4,967 feet, station USW00094054 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 13 inches a year.

Getting there

From Buffalo, Wyoming, take U.S. Highway 16 west 13 miles.

Nearest townBuffalo, Wyoming
Coordinates44.3017° N, 106.9492° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • The administering organization is Rustic Freedom / Gallatin Canyon Campgrounds; e-mail: [email protected]

Charges and cancellations

This cancellation processing fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Pk

    34 mi from the campground · 1,645 acres · 85% contained

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

Supplies & services

Dump stationLeigh Creek RV Dump Station ↗12.6 mi
Outdoor gearSportsman's Warehouse ↗32.6 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

  • 0.4 mi
    Camp Roberts
    1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Circle Park ATV
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.1 mi
    Parallel Us 16 ↗
    6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.6 mi
    Tie Hack
    1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.1 mi
    Elgin
    1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 2.2 mi
    Oliver Creek
    2.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Bighorn National Forest begins about 3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground sits on the banks of the Middle Fork of Clear Creek, within pine and aspen forests. Tie Hack Reservoir and numerous additional creeks are found nearby.

Recreation

Nearby Tie Hack Reservoir is a non-motorized lake offering a great location for canoeing and fishing. Anglers cast for rainbow, cutthroat, brown and brook trout. The Circle Park Trailhead is 3.5 miles from the campground. This beautiful trail accesses numerous alpine lakes and two 12,000' peaks within the Cloud Peak Wilderness. Many additional hiking trails are available in the area. Scenic off-road driving is available on nearby Elgin Park, Pole Creek and Crazy Woman Canyon Roads. Hiking and mountain biking are allowed on these roads as well. Mountain bikes are allowed on the trails up to the Cloud Peak Wilderness boundary.

Nearby

South Fork Lodge is located within 10 miles and offers dining option, lodging, guided horseback riding, a fishing pond, and a small store with fishing and camping supplies. A dump station is available 18 miles away at Powder River Pass.

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 Middle Fork?

Sites at Middle Fork are reservable on Recreation.gov. This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Middle Fork?

Two non-towed vehicles allowed per site. The first vehicle is included in the basic fee; the second vehicle will be charged an extra $10.00/day fee at the campground. Site #1 is a double site.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Middle Fork?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Middle Fork open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Memorial Day - Labor Day.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Middle Fork have?

9 sites, including 8 standard sites without power and 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Middle Fork?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Middle Fork?

Yes, pets are allowed at Middle Fork. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Middle Fork?

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. 14 day stay limit

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Middle Fork?

Sites 001, 002, 004, and 006 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Middle Fork?

Nearby Tie Hack Reservoir is a non-motorized lake offering a great location for canoeing and fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Middle Fork?

Buffalo, Wyoming. South Fork Lodge is located within 10 miles and offers dining option, lodging, guided horseback riding, a fishing pond, and a small store with fishing and camping supplies.

Source: Getting there

What if Middle Fork is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Hettinger Group Area (0.3 mi), Tie Hack (1.3 mi), and South Fork (Wyoming) (1.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby