Porcupine Campground

Introduction / Overview: Your Mountain Retreat Above Lovell

For Wyoming locals who cherish the high-altitude wilderness experience, Porcupine Campground provides an authentic and sought-after retreat deep within the Bighorn National Forest. Located at a breathtaking elevation of 8,900 feet, this US Forest Service campground is ideally situated for those looking to escape the summer heat and immerse themselves in the pristine landscapes of Northern Wyoming. It is a destination for the self-sufficient camper, whether tenting or utilizing a self-contained RV, who prioritizes natural beauty, access to hiking, and the peaceful, cool environment of the high mountains over extensive, modern amenities.

Porcupine Campground is celebrated for its spacious, well-shaded sites nestled among a forest of lodgepole pine and aspen, many of which offer views of surrounding meadows and peaks. It serves as an excellent base for exploring a region rich in natural and cultural history, including the ancient Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark. The campground maintains a clear, firm policy on reservations, with the majority of its 22 sites being reservable through the National Recreation Reservation Service, though a few are kept aside for first-come, first-served availability. Campers are consistently praised for maintaining quiet hours and respecting the rules, which is highly valued by the dedicated Wyoming outdoor community. Guests must be prepared for a rustic experience—meaning vault toilets, hand-pumped drinking water, and no electrical or sewer hookups—but the reward is unparalleled solitude and access to some of the best recreation the Bighorns have to offer.

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Location and Accessibility: On the Medicine Wheel Passage Scenic Byway

Porcupine Campground is centrally located in the northern sector of the Bighorn National Forest. The general address is Bighorn National Forest, Forest Road #136, Lovell, WY 82431, USA.

The campground’s access point is approximately 33 miles east of Lovell, Wyoming, directly off U.S. Highway 14A, which is known as the stunning Medicine Wheel Passage Scenic Byway. This highway route itself is a significant attraction, offering dramatic elevation changes and incredible panoramic vistas. From Highway 14A, travelers turn onto Forest System Road (FSR) 13 (sometimes referred to as Porcupine Road 13 or Forest Road 136), a well-marked, but typically gravel-surfaced, two-mile stretch leading directly to the campground. Travel Note for Wyoming Users: While accessible, the gravel access road can be bumpy and may challenge lower-clearance vehicles, so travelers should drive slowly and be prepared for forest road conditions. The elevation of 8,900 feet means the campground is significantly colder than the valley floor and is only accessible seasonally, typically from mid-June through early September, depending on snowpack and weather.

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Services Offered

As a US Forest Service facility focused on preserving the high-mountain experience, Porcupine Campground offers necessary rustic amenities for a comfortable, traditional camping stay:

• Campsites: A total of 22 single-family sites are available, including designated sites for tents and some longer spurs for RVs (up to 50 feet is generally permitted, though no hookups are provided).
• Food Storage: Sites include metal food storage boxes or containers, necessary due to the area being active bear country (safe food handling is mandatory).
• Picnic Tables and Fire Rings: Each site is furnished with a sturdy picnic table and a steel fire ring with a grill grate for cooking and campfires (always check for current fire restrictions).
• Water: Potable drinking water is available on-site via an accessible hand pump spigot.
• Sanitation: Accessible vault toilets are provided throughout the campground loops.
• Trash Collection: Trash receptacles are available, promoting the "pack it in, pack it out" ethos for a cleaner environment.
• Firewood: Chopped firewood is often available for a fee (or guests may gather dead and down wood) to support the campfires.
• Waste Station: The nearest RV waste/dump station is located approximately 25 miles east at Burgess Junction (or sometimes further east at a separate location).

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Features / Highlights

The appeal of Porcupine Campground lies in its stunning natural features and proximity to key Bighorn attractions:

• Proximity to Medicine Wheel: The globally significant Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark is only about four miles away via US-14A, making the campground an ideal home base for visiting this ancient and sacred site.
• High-Elevation Comfort: Located at 8,900 feet, the campground offers consistently cool temperatures, making it a perfect escape from the intense summer heat of the Bighorn Basin valley floor.
• Trailhead Access: The Jaws Trailhead is nearby, providing access to challenging and rewarding hiking trails, including routes to Bucking Mule Falls and along Porcupine Creek.
• Quiet, Spacious Sites: The sites are notably large and set apart, promoting a peaceful atmosphere where campers adhere to quiet hours, a feature highly valued by seasoned forest campers.
• Wildlife Viewing: The varied terrain and surrounding meadows offer excellent opportunities for viewing native Wyoming wildlife, including deer, elk, and various bird species.
• Reservation System: The ability to reserve the majority of sites through Recreation.gov ensures planned trips, though a few first-come, first-served sites (like 7, 13, and 16) are available, with the best chance for snagging one being early in the week (Monday or Tuesday).

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Contact Information

For reservations, current conditions, and general inquiries, Wyoming travelers should use the following information:

Address: Bighorn National Forest, Forest Road #136, Lovell, WY 82431, USA

Reservation Phone: (877) 444-6777 (Recreation.gov)

Local Forest Service Office: Medicine Wheel Ranger District (307) 765-4435 (Recommended for current road/fire conditions)

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What is Worth Choosing: Unplugged Access to Wyoming's Alpine Core

For Wyomingites seeking an authentic, unplugged high-country experience, choosing Porcupine Campground is a decision to embrace the core of Bighorn National Forest. What is truly worth choosing here is the combination of accessible elevation and scenic isolation. It offers a substantial leap above the crowds and heat of the valley floor, providing cool, crisp air and stunning alpine scenery at a site that is still relatively easy to access via a scenic byway.

The campground's setup—no hookups, vault toilets—ensures a natural, self-reliant camping trip, perfect for the prepared traveler. This is the spot to reserve if your Wyoming itinerary includes dedicated hiking, photography, or a spiritual visit to the nearby Medicine Wheel. While securing a site requires planning via Recreation.gov and strictly adhering to the reservation rules (to avoid being the "squatter" mentioned by the camp host), the reward of a spacious, tree-shaded site in this prime, high-mountain location makes the effort entirely worthwhile. It is the perfect, respectful, and organized gateway to the Bighorn wilderness.