Conditions updated September, 2009

This page includes known conditions across Wyoming including closures, openings, and events that may impact outdoor recreation. For road construction information, check out this WYDOT page: http://map.wyoroad.info/construction/index.html

STATEWIDE
Mid-July: We completed a weeklong camping trip across Wyoming and found things bustling. Campgrounds were busy but quiet, wildflowers were everywhere, and we still found snow as low as 7,500 feet in the western part of the state. Mosquitoes were thick at the Tetons but minimal everywhere else. In all, this is one of the wettest, most lush seasons we've ever seen in Wyoming - it's a great year to get out and explore! This was the view, looking back, as we started the trip back home.

Snow!
The 2009 spring season proved to be one of the best in over a decade. Virtually the entire state received snowpack levels that were over 100% of average. If this holds, campers will enjoy campfires later into the camping season, and have clearer skies (non-smoky), than in recent years. Current snowpack levels can be seen here: http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/nrcs/snowmap/snowmap.html

NORTH-NORTHEAST REGION
New Fees for the Black Hills
A bit of an oddity, the Forest Service campgrounds in the Black Hills National Forest are now charging $2 per pet, per night.

Bighorn Lake (Horseshoe Bend Campground) Update
Abundant precipitation has helped refill depleted Bighorn Lake in northern Wyoming. The marina has opened as well as a tour boat service operated by Hidden Treasure Tours that allows visitors to experience the deep canyons that make this area incredible. The campground at Horseshoe Bend has also been renovated and now offers better parking spurs with water, electric, and windbreaks. Go check it out!

Bighorn National Forest Campgrounds
In the northern Bighorns, beautiful Dead Swede Campground is closed in 2009 for renovations. Upper Paintrock Lake is also closed, possibly for good--not a big loss considering there are two other camps right next to it. In the southern Bighorns, Boulder Park, the popular RV camp at the top of Tensleep Canyon, is closed in 2009 for renovations. Nearby Bull Creek (near Meadowlark Reservoir) has been permanently closed due to dangerous timber conditions.

NORTHWEST REGION
Yellowstone Road Construction
Road construction in Yellowstone continues... check out the park's website: http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm

Togwotee Pass Road Construction
The 10-year construction project on HWY 26/287 between Moran and Dubois is well underway... expect up to an hour or more delay when driving along this stretch this summer.

Showshone National Forest Campgrounds
The Shoshone National Forest reports that they will be renovating the Island Park Campground in the Beartooths during the 2009 season (not sure if it'll be a complete closure or not). Further south, Dead Indian Campground is temporarily closed due to a blowdown. Also, Three Mile Campground (three miles east of Yellowstone's east entrance) is closed for construction this season.

Big Game Campground, a Forest Service camp west of Cody, has been renovated and now offers electric service at some sites. Fox Creek Campground has also received a massive overhaul. It now includes 34 long parking spurs and electric hookups. All this comes with a fee increase: $20.

Grand Teton National Park Additions
The new Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center is now open in Moose (near Jackson). If you're anywhere near GTNP, be sure to stop by this new gem. The park is now offering a cell phone tour for Menor's Ferry Historic District (an old homestead). You can pick up a tour brochure at the visitor center.

CENTRAL REGION
Campground changes for Glendo State Park
The Wyoming Division of State Parks and Historic Sites has made changes to the wildly popular Sandy Beach area. In short, there are now 80 developed sites, new group camping and picnic areas, water hydrants, two new restrooms, and ATV restrictions on the beach.

Changes to Guernsey State Park
Spring Creek Cove campground is permanently closed and Sitting Bull Campground has been converted to a day use-only area.

No Water at Esterbrook
The Forest Service reports that water is no longer available at Esterbrook Campground, located in the Medicine Bow National Forest south of Douglas, WY.

SOUTH-SOUTHEAST REGION
Curt Gowdy State Park Campgrounds
Tumbleweeds campground, along the north shore of Granite Reservoir, is a new trailer-friendly camp with paved parking spurs and water hydrants at each site.

Sugarloaf Campground sees improvements
The highest campground in the state, found in southeast Wyoming's Snowy Range has been renovated to accomodate longer camping units. The parking spurs had been best suited for the shortest of camping units, but can now accomodate modest-sized trailers or RVs. These sites can now be reserved on www.recreation.gov.

Tie City Campground Open in Medicine Bow National Forest
The campground located on Pole Mountain between Cheyenne and Laramie is open again after a couple of seasons being closed.

Medicine Bow/Sierra Madre Campground Closures
Silver Lake Campground, Boswell Creek (both in the Medicine Bow) and Haskins Creek Campground (Sierra Madre) have all been permanently closed. The camp at Rob Roy Reservoir is at least partially closed for tree removal. Hog Park (the best and largest campground in the Sierra Madre) is closed again for 2009 as all the beetle-killed trees there are being removed. The fishing/boating facilities remain open. Ryan Park and South Brush Creek (west side of Medicine Bow Mountains) had partial closures last season, but are expected to be open for the 2009 season. Pelton Creek, Aspen, and Miller Lake Campground were open at the beginning of the season but have since been closed for tree removal. All of these campgrounds have experienced bark beetle damage and the trees are now prone to falling (or blowing) over.

Beetle kill!
Speaking of beetles.... the Forest Service is predicting that every mature lodgepole pine tree in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado will be dead by the year 2012. I saw the damage firsthand after spending a few days with park staff in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park. These trees are not just dead, they're snapping over during windy conditions - it's very dangerous. The solution? Cut down all the trees around recreation sites. Below is a picture of Glacier Basin Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park -- at least most Wyoming sites don't look like this (yet)!

Correction (First Edition only): The driving directions for Silver Lake (now closed), Ryan Park, Brush Creek, and Lincoln Park Campgrounds (pages 353-356) falsely state to drive west on HWY 130 from Saratoga. The directions should read "east."