Camping

Details

Showers are available at the Laramie Recreation Center.

A. Curt Gowdy State Park

Curt Gowdy State Park is about 15 minutes from our Saturday and Sunday meet locations. It's situated off of Happy Jack Road (I-80 exit 323), just a bit east of the National Forest. The State Park campgrounds have toilets, picnic tables, and water, but no showers. There are 145 campsites at Curt Gowdy, of which 35 are reservable.

B. KOA Campground

The Laramie KOA is located next to I-80 at exit 310. Tent camping is available in an open field for $22 per site per night. "Kamping Kabins" for $47-57 per night have electricity and heat but no bathrooms; bring your own bedding or rent onsite. Restrooms and showers are located in main building. KOA also has picnic tables, grills, a small store, WiFi, coin laundry, and a rec hall with pool and TV. Discount with KOA Value Card.

C. Medicine Bow National Forest (Laramie Ranger District) / Happy Jack Recreation Area

There are four National Forest developed campgrounds located near the event site, off of I-80 exit 323. These campgrounds are available for $10 per night. The campgrounds have tables, firepits, pit toilets, and water.

Note: As of May 30, 2012, the USFS website lists the Tie City and Pole Creek campgrounds as closed for the season. The Forest Service has confirmed for us that Tie City might be open by August / September 2012, while Pole Creek will definitely not be open. We'll continue to check the status of these campgrounds and will post updates as they are available.

Attention! Please be aware of falling tree hazards due to pine-beetle infestation.

  • Yellow Pine: 19 sites with centrally located pit toilets (no showers).  This campground is open as of May 30, 2012.  [Website]

  • Vedauwoo: This campground is slightly farther away from the orienteering event sites, but it offers rock climbing and very interesting rock formations (early inhabitants, the Arapaho natives, called this area "earth born" for its unique towers of Sherman granite). The campground was renovated and expanded in 2008; the sites are private and well separated. There are seven walk-in, tent-only sites, and an additional 21 sites for tents or RVs. The campground includes pit toilets, water, picnic tables, and fire pits, but no hook ups, no waste station, and no reservations.  This campground is open as of May 30, 2012. [Website]

  • Tie City: This is the smallest of the three National Forest campgrounds in the area, but it's conveniently located and its individual sites are probably best sized for those with camping vehicles. (This campground is closed as of May 30, 2012.) [Website]

  • Pole Creek: Six group sites. (This campground is closed as of May 30, 2012.) [Website]

The National Forest is also generally open for free "dispersed camping" almost anywhere, with few restrictions (can't be too close to water, can't be too far off a road, etc.). However, orienteers will need to avoid camping in our embargoed areas: Plains of Despair, Forrest Meadows, Crow Marsh, Idonwannabe, and Pelican Bay (see map below).

Embargoed areas -- click for larger view:
Map


This Page Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 May 2012 13:43