Is Medicine Creek Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Medicine Creek Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, to secure a spot.

Can I see photos of campsites at Medicine Creek Campground before I book?

Yes! Medicine Creek Campground has 19 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

Are there showers at Medicine Creek Campground?

Medicine Creek Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

How many campsites does Medicine Creek Campground have?

Medicine Creek Campground has 5 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Arrive early for the best site selection.

Are dogs allowed at Medicine Creek Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Medicine Creek Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Medicine Creek Campground?

Medicine Creek Campground offers: Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

Medicine Creek Campground

4 reviews

20 Highway 14A East, Lovell, WY, 82431, USA

Peace & QuietSummer Destination

Featured in:Boating Camping Wyoming

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

3,658 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

5 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

Book on Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

3,658 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

5 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

Book on Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Official Website

Get Directions

Medicine Creek Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No paid fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

256,000+ sites monitored · Email, SMS, or in-app notifications

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

(307) 568-5406BICA_media@nps.gov

I manage this campground

Been here recently?

Campers like you keep our info accurate. Fix a detail in under 30 seconds.

Plan a trip to Medicine Creek Campground

Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.

Campground Map

20 Highway 14A East, Lovell, WY, 82431, USA

Medicine Creek Campground

20 Highway 14A East, Lovell, WY, 82431, USA

Nearby places

Lovell, WY: approximately 18 miles by road, Barry's Landing (starting point for hiking or boating access): approximately 3 miles by trail or water.

Weather at Medicine Creek Campground

Best Time to Camp at Medicine Creek Campground

Best season: summer. Summer delivers the warm, stable weather and warm reservoir temperatures that make boating and backcountry camping around Bighorn Canyon most enjoyable — expect daytime highs roughly in the mid-70s to mid-90s°F and cool nights in the 50s–60s°F. Water access is at its most reliable, making paddle- and motor-boat approaches easy and daily hikes along canyon rims comfortable. Because Medicine Creek is reachable only by trail or water, you’ll still find relative solitude even in summer, while hiking Peak months: July, August, June, September Avoid: December, January, February

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Summer is 'practical' season; highs mid-70s to 90s and reservoir warms for swimming.

Planning Tips

About Medicine Creek Campground

Medicine Creek Campground sits in the foothills of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area near Lovell, Wyoming. Operated by the National Park Service, this very small primitive site offers fewer than 10 spots for tent campers seeking backcountry-style access to the canyon and reservoir. Visitors use the campground as a base for boating, paddling, and hiking the canyon rims during the warm summer months.

Medicine Creek is a primitive campground with limited facilities, accessible only by foot or boat. It caters exclusively to tent campers.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: summer. Summer delivers the warm, stable weather and warm reservoir temperatures that make boating and backcountry camping around Bighorn Canyon most enjoyable — expect daytime highs roughly in the mid-70s to mid-90s°F and cool nights in the 50s–60s°F. Water access is at its most reliable, making paddle- and motor-boat approaches easy and daily hikes along canyon rims comfortable. Because Medicine Creek is reachable only by trail or water, you’ll still find relative solitude even in summer, while hiking Peak months: July, August, June, September Avoid: December, January, February

Elevation3658 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryAncient limestone and sandstone cliffs rise directly from the reservoir, their stratified walls displaying red, tan, and gray bands that mark millions of years of geological history. The canyon walls create a natural fortress around the campground, sheltering a protected mooring area for boats. Lake levels fluctuate throughout the year, exposing hidden beaches and coves when water drops. Eagles ride thermals above the rims while bighorn sheep navigate the cliffsides. The protected position offers both dramatic vertical scenery and intimate creek drainage geography.

Lodging & AccommodationsThis is a primitive campground with no lodging accommodations such as cabins or lodges available.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Stay Limit

Campsite occupancy may not exceed 14 cumulative days within a 28-day period.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

AccessibilityThe campground is not ADA accessible. Campers must either wade through water to access the site via boat or hike three miles in on the Barry’s Island Trail.

Site SizeThe campground has a total of five primitive sites; all are tent-only and boat-in or hike-in accessible.

Total Campsites5 campsites

Amenities available

The Medicine Creek Campground provides a primitive camping experience as it is a boat-in or hike-in only site located 3 miles north of Barry’s Landing. It is open year-round, but campers must note that lake levels can affect the proximity of boat moorings to campsites.

Food storage lockers

I manage this campground

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Flush ToiletsThere are no flush toilet facilities provided at this campground.

Food Storage RequiredFood storage lockers are available year-round. Visitors are encouraged to use them to prevent wildlife encounters.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

0.0

4 reviews

Limited Reviews

Medicine Creek Campground has limited reviews, placing it in the bottom % of campgrounds based on reviews

No user reviews were provided for this campground.

Review Summaries

No review summaries available for this campground yet.

Check back later as we continuously analyze new reviews.

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.

Go if

You want a quiet, no-frills base camp for exploring Bighorn Canyon by boat or on foot.

Skip if

You need hookups, developed facilities, or guaranteed availability at a larger campground.

Nearby Campgrounds

Barry's Landing & Trail Creek Campground

3.4

(18)

Barry's Landing & Trail Creek Campground

20 Highway 14A East, Lovell, WY 82413, USA

Barry's Landing & Trail Creek Campground sits along Bighorn Canyon in the foothills near Lovell, Wyoming, operated by Hidden Treasure Charters within Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. This small campground offers tent and RV sites with vault toilets, bear-proof storage boxes, and a quiet atmosphere ideal for boaters and anglers accessing the canyon's waters. The exposed, sun-drenched setting provides unobstructed canyon views but offers little natural shade.

Horseshoe Bend Campground

Horseshoe Bend Campground, Horseshoe Bend Marina, Lovell, WY 82431, USA

Horseshoe Bend Campground sits in the foothills of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area near Lovell, Wyoming, operated by Hidden Treasure Charters. This mid-sized campground serves as a base for canyon exploration, with electric and water hookups for RVs, tent sites, and a dump station. Visitors come for boating, fishing, swimming, and hiking along the dramatic canyon landscape, with a camp store and full amenities supporting extended stays.

Black Canyon Campground

P.O. Box 7458, Fort Smith, MT, 59035, USA

Black Canyon Campground sits on the Montana shore of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, accessible only by boat during summer months when docks are installed. Operated by the National Park Service, this small, primitive site offers vault toilets and shoreline tent camping in a secluded foothill setting near Fort Smith. Visitors boat in to fish, swim, and camp along the canyon's edge, though bear activity occasionally prompts temporary closures.

Cottonwood Creek Trailhead/Campground

Cody Field Office, 1002 Blackburn Street, Cody, WY, 82414, USA

Cottonwood Creek Trailhead/Campground sits in mid-elevation forest near Cody, Wyoming, managed by the Bureau of Land Management's Cody Field Office. This very small primitive campground serves as a trailhead base for hikers and equestrians exploring the surrounding backcountry, with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables at each site. Wildlife viewing opportunities are common in the area, and the campground includes horse corrals and a watering trough for riders.

Sage Creek Campground

Custer Gallatin National Forest

Sage Creek Campground sits in mid-elevation forest near the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range in Custer Gallatin National Forest, operated by the Beartooth Ranger District. This small, primitive campground serves as a base for exploring the Pryor Mountains via hiking, mountain biking, and ORV routes, with opportunities for wildlife viewing along Sage Creek. The campground offers vault toilets and picnic tables, accommodating tent and RV camping on a first-come basis.

Afterbay Campground, Rte 200, Fort Smith, MT 59035, USA

Afterbay Campground sits in the Montana foothills within Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, operated by the Crow Tribe of Indians near Fort Smith. This small campground offers electric and water hookups, a dump station, and vault toilets, serving tent and RV campers who come for lake access and wildlife viewing. Fall brings cooler temperatures, big game rutting, waterfowl migration, and calmer conditions on nearby Yellowtail Lake.

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Grapevine Campground sits at 3,196 feet in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area near Fort Smith, Montana, operated by the Crow Tribe of Indians. This 14-site campground offers tent and RV camping with vault toilets, potable water, a dump station, and fire rings. Summer brings mid-70s to low-90s°F days ideal for boating and fishing on Afterbay Lake, with cool nights in the 40s–50s°F.

Five Springs Falls Campground

1002 Blackburn Street, Cody, WY, 82414, USA

Five Springs Falls Campground sits at 6,800 feet in the Bighorn Mountains near Lovell, Wyoming, managed by BLM Wyoming. This small, mid-elevation forest campground offers tent, RV, and primitive sites with vault toilets, potable water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Hikers come for trail access to Five Springs Falls and ridge viewpoints where elk, deer, and moose are commonly spotted.

Campgrounds you may also like

2.9

(7)

Black Canyon Campground

P.O. Box 7458, Fort Smith, MT, 59035, USA

Barry's Landing & Trail Creek Campground

20 Highway 14A East, Lovell, WY 82413, USA

Medicine Lodge Lake Campground

Bighorn National Forest

Medicine Lodge Lake Campground sits at 9,288 feet in the Bighorn National Forest, a short walk from Upper Medicine Lodge Lake and the Cloud Peak Wilderness boundary. This very small, high-alpine campground near Shell, Wyoming, offers vault toilets, potable water, and trout fishing access. Summer brings reliable weather and long daylight for hiking and wilderness day trips.

Lake Creek Campground

Shoshone National Forest

Lake Creek Campground sits in Shoshone National Forest near Cody with just six sites for $15 per night. The campground runs along Lake Creek under a dense forest canopy at 6,939 feet elevation. Sites accommodate rigs up to 22 feet, and there's no potable water or cell service. It's a simple, quiet spot for campers who don't mind packing their own water and going off-grid.

6 campsites

119.96 km

$15.00 - $15.00 / night

Less Visited

4.1

(30)

Crazy Creek Campground

Crazy Creek Campground sits at 6,900 feet in Shoshone National Forest, 16 sites tucked into a meadow where Crazy Creek runs through dense pine and fir. You're on the southern edge of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, close enough to Cody for a supply run but far enough out that cell service disappears. Sites run $15-20 per night, and the vault toilets stay surprisingly clean.

$15.00 - $20.00 / night

Less Visited

4.6

(39)

Ranger Creek Recreation Area

FOREST ROAD 17, Shell, WY, 82441, USA

Ranger Creek Recreation Area sits in the Bighorn National Forest near Shell, Wyoming, at high elevation where alpine meadows meet mountain streams. Operated by Gallatin Canyon Campgrounds, this small seasonal campground offers tent, RV, and primitive sites plus group camping options. Visitors fish the creek, hike forest trails, bike mountain routes, and spot moose and other wildlife in a quiet alpine setting.

$18.50 - $18.50 / night

0.0

(0)

Dayboard 9 Campground

Dayboard 9, Bighorn Lake, Fort Smith, MT, USA, 59035

Dayboard 9 Campground sits at 4,541 feet in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area near Fort Smith, Montana, offering primitive tent camping with direct access to Bighorn Lake. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day, this National Park Service site provides fire rings and picnic tables for boaters and paddlers seeking canyon-view camping. Daytime highs typically reach the low 60s to 70s°F with cool nights in the upper 40s to mid-50s°F.

Campgrounds

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Medicine Creek Campground

About Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Context for the broader area surrounding Medicine Creek Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

The vast, wild landscape of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers visitors unparalleled opportunities to immerse themselves in the natural world, and experience the wonders of this extraordinary place. With over 120,000 acres, one can find an astounding diversity in ecosystems, wildlife, and more than 10,000 years of human history to explore.

Directions

Bighorn Canyon has two districts that are separated by a three hour drive. To get to the North District at Fort Smith, MT from Billings, take Interstate 90 south to Hardin, MT. Turn at exit 495 onto State Highway 313 to St. Xavier and then to Fort Smith, Montana. To get to the South District at Lovell, WY from Billings, MT, take Interstate 90 west. Turn at exit 434 at Laurel, MT. Turn onto US 310 East/US 212 South. Turn at US 310 East to Lovell. The visitor center is on the east side of Lovell.