Camping 101 Make fun family memories in Wyoming’s Wind River Country By Julie Fanselow
Sinks Canyon State Park near Lander
It was love at first sight for my daughter and the Riverside Campground near Dubois. She ran to the centrally located playground, instantly making new friends on the tire swing while smaller children dug in the sandbox nearby. As night came, campfires dotted the scene, accompanied by soft laughter and some far-off coyote calls. And in the morning, I enjoyed some quiet reading time under the tall cottonwoods while Natalie continued to doze in our tent.
Camping trips are economical and make great memories, but many families are reluctant to camp because they think it’s too much work or they don’t enjoy “roughing it.” Yet Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains offer many delightful options for a first-time camping experience that will have parents and children alike eager for more time together in the outdoors. The secret is finding spots that offer just the right blend of creature comforts and natural wonders.
The Riverside Campground’s playground, heated bathrooms, and friendly feel help it work well for families, though there are motel rooms onsite for anyone who insists camping is not for them. The campground is only 3 miles from Dubois, so it’s easy to drive into town for a look at the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center, lunch at the Cowboy Café, or a stomp down the small town’s boardwalks. But it’s the scenery surrounding this special little
RVing in Wyoming
campground – the lush riverbanks and the painted hills nearby – that keep us returning whenever we pass through Dubois.
Sinks Canyon State Park is another family favorite and the site of a curious geological phenomenon. The Popo Agie (pronounced Po-PO-zsha) River “sinks” underground into a limestone canyon, then reappears a quarter-mile away. Kids love to feed the fat rainbow trout that congregate at “the rise” where the river reappears (a vending machine dispenses cheap fish food), and they’ll also enjoy scrambling on the granite boulders strewn about the main campground.
Like most state park and National Forest Service campgrounds, the facilities at Sinks Canyon – including pit-style latrines – are more rustic than those you’ll find at private campgrounds. But the location is excellent for exploring such sites as South Pass City and the Oregon Trail, and supplies and town attractions are just six miles away in Lander.
Accessible via the town of Pinedale, Fremont Lake, on the western slopes of the Wind River Range, offers outstanding boating and fishing against a panoramic mountain backdrop. Bridger-Teton National Forest campgrounds and a private RV park offer easy access to the lake.
Some hints for easy family camping: Keep your gear stowed. My family stores our camp stove, lanterns, frying pan, beat-up utensils, and other stuff in several large plastic
A family of backpackers
totes, with the tent and sleeping bags nearby. That way, we can just pack some food, load the gear, and go when the camping urge strikes. Of course, RV owners can keep all their camping equipment right in their rig.
Wyoming is bear country, and at many campgrounds, you’ll need to store your food, garbage, and toiletries – anything that can attract bears – in your car trunk or specially provided bear-proof boxes. Ask campground hosts for more information.
Let the kids pack a favorite toy or two (leave the electronics behind), but don’t be surprised if they find other forms of entertainment at your campsite. My daughter had a blast on one trip when I brought along cardboard and glue and she made a gorgeous collage of leaves, twigs, and pinecones.
After a few family campouts, you and your older children may want to graduate to the more rigorous pursuit of backpacking. If so, Wyoming’s Wind River Range offers abundant, accessible trails into unspoiled backcountry terrain where you’ll be close to nature and far from any city lights. Bridger-Teton National Forest district ranger offices can offer suggestions. On the other hand, you may find car-camping best suits your style. Either way, you’ll find your favorite Wyoming campsites and return to them again and again.
Julie Fanselow is a frequent visitor to Wyoming and has written about the state for magazines including American Heritage and Westways.
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