Thunder Basin National Grassland Coal Creek Dispersed Area

Open prairie camping along Coal Creek in Thunder Basin National Grassland, offering classic high plains solitude under massive Wyoming skies. The area features scattered cottonwoods along the creek drainage with room for large rigs on level ground. Popular with fossil hunters — the Morrison Formation here yields dinosaur bones and petrified wood. Fire restrictions typically in effect June through September.

Access via County Road 51 north of Bill, Wyoming, then 6 miles on maintained gravel roads. Sites are spread across several square miles of public land, so finding solitude is easy even on busy weekends. Water available from the creek but requires treatment. Wind is constant — bring heavy-duty stakes and guy lines.

High plains fossil hunting and big sky camping