Hunter Campground
Hunter Trailhead is a campground constructed with the equestrian camper in mind, but available for all users. The campground is located in Johnson Country, Wyoming, just two miles off the Cloud Peak Scenic Byway on Highway 16. The winding drive to the campground travels two miles west of U.S. Highway 16 on Forest Road 19 and is an easily accessible gravel road offering views of wildlife, mountain streams, and abundant wildflowers.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Wyoming · reservable in Wyoming · big rigs in Wyoming
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
active
Site mix
| Equestrian | 9 |
Site guide
9 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 002 | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 003 | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 004 | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 005 | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 006 | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 007 | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 008 | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
| 009 | Back-in | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
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
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
The non-fee portion of the site provides access to the trailhead and includes parking for 15 single vehicles and 18 vehicles with trailers, and a separate area for Outfitter/Guide parking. Of the 11 sites, nine are reservable, one is used by the host during July/August and the remaining two are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each campsite has a 20 by 20 foot hardened use pad with a picnic table, utility table, fire ring and an individual livestock corral. The spur for each campsite is 65 feet long by 20 feet wide. Potable water is available at the facility through a pressurized solar water system. The entire facility is ADA (Americans with Disabilities) accessible including the ramp for horse mounting.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | Memorial Day - Labor Day |
| Forest | Bighorn National Forest |
| Booking | This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or online. |
| Fees | $22 per night. 8 reservable sites. |
| Rules | 14 day stay limit. Wilderness Regulations apply within nearby Cloud Peak Wilderness. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Buffalo, travel west on Highway 16 for 13 miles. Turn off Highway 16 west onto Forest Road 19, where you will travel approximately 2 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Buffalo, Wyoming |
| Coordinates | 44.3342° N, 106.9736° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfirePk
31 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 station | Leigh Creek RV Dump Station ↗ | 13.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 30.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miDitch1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miSeven Brothers ↗5.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miFrench Mesa1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miBuffalo Park Cutoff0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miFrench Creek ↗8.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miSwamp1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
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
Bighorn National Forest begins about 0.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.6 miBighorn National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,112,948 acres
- 2.7 miCloud Peak Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 191,914 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Schunk LodgeHistoric district · Big Horn · 13.4 mi
- Methodist Episcopal ChurchBuilding · Buffalo · 13.5 mi
- Blue Gables MotelBuilding · Buffalo · 13.6 mi
Natural features
No region in Wyoming is provided with a more diverse landscape - from lush grasslands to alpine meadows, from crystal-clear lakes to glacially-carved valleys, from rolling hills to sheer mountain walls. The campground is situated high in the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming, at an elevation of 7,800 feet, so be prepared for all types of weather. A dense forest of lodgepole pine is the dominant vegetative cover.
Recreation
Rising between the Powder River and Big Horn Basins, this scenic country offers year round recreation connecting visitors to a land rich in history and solitude. For centuries, the mountain landscape has provided renewal for Native Americans, homesteaders and modern day explorers creating a human connection with this spectacular place. The Hunter Trailhead provides numerous hiking and horse friendly trails to access front-country, the Cloud Peak Wilderness as well as the Rock Creek Recommended Wilderness Area. The surrounding Bighorn National Forest offers a wide variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, scenic driving, wildlife and a number of historic sites.
Nearby
Tie Hack Reservoir is a 15-minute drive southeast of the campground. The scenic lake offers a great location for canoeing and fishing. Anglers there cast for rainbow, cutthroat, brown and brook trout.
Guidebooks for Wyoming
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Hunter Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Hunter Campground?
$22 per night. 8 reservable sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Hunter Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Hunter Campground 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 Hunter Campground have?
9 sites, including 9 equestrian sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Hunter Campground?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
What is there to do at Hunter Campground?
Rising between the Powder River and Big Horn Basins, this scenic country offers year round recreation connecting visitors to a land rich in history and solitude. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Hunter Campground?
Buffalo, Wyoming. Tie Hack Reservoir is a 15-minute drive southeast of the campground.
Source: Getting there
What if Hunter Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Middle Fork (2.5 mi), Hettinger Group Area (2.8 mi), and Circle Park Campground (3.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby