Drove from Curt Gowdy State Park to Laramie via Happy Jack Road and I-80. After refueling in Laramie, headed west on Highway 130 (Snowy Range Road) over Snowy Range Pass (still lots of snow in the high country) and then south on Highway 230 to the small town of Encampment. The expansive grasslands along Highway 130 west of Laramie are beautiful; I’m not sure whether the grasses or native or introduced but they appear to be in very good health with little or no invasive weeds. The drive over the pass was an easy tow and the wide road allowed me to enjoy the very scenic Snowy Range.
I Camped about 6 miles west of Encampment at the Forest Service Bottle Creek Campground in southern WY. Located about 100 yards south of Highway 70 (not the Interstate:), the campground has 12 campsites without hookups (Sewer, electric, water) - we call this dry camping; however, there is one shared water spigot for the campground; it also has two vault toilets. If one wants seclusion, this is the place; I was the only camper in the entire campground!
After setting up camp I noticed the two brochures (given to me at the Forest Service visitor center) had conflicting information on the length of RV this campground can support; one says 45’ and the other says 16’. Based on the visitor center recommendation and the 45’ limitation, I envisioned a larger campground/sites; even though my 25-foot AS fits in Site 12, the roads and individual sites are a bit tight so I think the brochure with the 16’ limitation is correct. Campground is at 8,800 feet elevation so nice and cool this evening; propane heater worked great!
There really isn’t much to do (no water bodies or trails) at this campground but it is peaceful - even being proximate to the road (minimal traffic) and it is only $10/night. It looks like the area was clearcut, possibly to remove beetle killed trees; however, there are many small aspen and pine trees that should make a nice shaded campground in about 10 years. The skies are clear, there is a slight breeze, and the birds are singing:) Also, since I’m the only one here, there are no smelly campfires from neighboring campers:) More on this later - I’ve noticed that nobody seems to know how to make a campfire without putting out a lot of smoke and hence stinking up the campground; planning a future post on how to build a campfire:)
No cell or Internet coverage. I pulled in around 4pm and enjoyed a nice, quiet evening in Wyoming:)
Snow along the Snowy Range Scenic Byway (Highway 130).
Snowy Range
Campsite 12 at Bottle Creek Campground
View from Campsite 12.
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