🏛 Introduction / Overview: The Bighorn Basecamp with Essential Comforts
For Wyoming residents who dream of high-elevation mountain camping without sacrificing the convenience of electricity, Sibley Lake Campground, located in the Bighorn National Forest, is an exceptional find. Situated at a cooling elevation of 7,900 feet along the Bighorn Scenic Byway (U.S. Highway 14), this campground is widely celebrated as one of the best basecamps for exploring the magnificent Bighorn Mountains. It manages to balance the seclusion of the forest with essential amenities, a rare combination in this rugged terrain.
The campground's setup—featuring spacious sites nestled among large, beautiful trees—provides a welcome sense of privacy, making it feel less crowded than many other developed areas. Campers consistently rate Sibley Lake highly, calling it one of their "favorite places." Its appeal is multi-faceted, serving both anglers drawn to the lake and Tongue River, and hikers eager to tackle the abundant nearby trails. Crucially, Sibley Lake Campground is noted for offering electrical hookups at many sites, a distinct advantage that makes it unique among U.S. Forest Service campgrounds in the Bighorns. Due to its popularity, users are strongly advised to "definitely get your reservations in advance."
📍 Location and Accessibility for Wyoming Users
Sibley Lake Campground is located in north-central Wyoming, managed under the Bighorn National Forest's Tongue Ranger District. While its mailing address is associated with Buffalo, WY (82834), the camp is physically situated approximately 21 miles west of Dayton and about 30 miles from Sheridan, placing it centrally within the northern Bighorns accessible via the Bighorn Scenic Byway (US-14).
The general location is:
US-14, Buffalo, WY 82834, USA.
Access is excellent, with a paved road leading directly from US-14 to the campground sign. However, its high elevation location on the scenic byway means the road can be steep and winding, requiring caution, particularly when hauling large RVs or trailers. A significant logistical note for travelers, as highlighted by a camper, is the lack of an on-site dump station. There is a convenient, donation-based dump station located "roughly 5 Mi down the road" (near Burgess Junction), and campers are strongly advised to dump before descending the mountain's steep grades. The setting near the lake and Prune Creek offers a perfect balance of ease of access and mountain remoteness.
✅ Services Offered at Sibley Lake Campground (U.S. Forest Service)
Sibley Lake Campground is managed to provide essential comforts for travelers while maintaining its national forest setting. It offers a mix of developed and rustic amenities, which is highly appreciated by the local camping community.
⭐ Features / Highlights for the Local Traveler
Sibley Lake Campground’s greatest features revolve around its serene, natural setting and the rich recreational opportunities it provides in the Bighorn National Forest.
📞 Important Contact Information
As a U.S. Forest Service site, the primary contact for Sibley Lake Campground is the Bighorn National Forest Supervisor's Office, which manages the Tongue Ranger District.
Address:
US-14, Buffalo, WY 82834, USA (Best for navigation).
Bighorn National Forest Office Phone (Reservations/General Info):
(307) 674-2600
Reservations:
Reservations are strongly suggested due to high demand and can be made via the National Recreation Reservation System: www.recreation.gov or by phone at 1-877-444-6777.
Note: A few sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but they "go pretty quickly."
🎉 What is Worth Choosing Sibley Lake Campground
For the Wyoming resident planning a Bighorn Mountains adventure, Sibley Lake Campground is the optimal choice because it offers the most advantageous blend of access, essential amenities, and pristine mountain recreation. The availability of electrical hookups—a rarity in a scenic national forest setting—provides a critical level of comfort and convenience for modern RV camping.
By choosing Sibley Lake, you are securing a highly-prized location that serves as the perfect launchpad for both aquatic activities (non-motorized boating, fly fishing in the lake and river) and extensive hiking through moose habitat. The privacy afforded by the spacious, forested sites ensures that your mountain escape is truly peaceful. Just remember to heed the local advice: reserve early and dump your tanks before you drive down the big hill! Sibley Lake is a truly gorgeous, well-managed mountain sanctuary that captures the best of Wyoming's Bighorn National Forest.
Picnics
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
RV camping
RV electric hookup
RV water hookup
Hiking
Barbecue grill
Picnic tables
Public restroom
Restroom
Running water
Tent sites
Good for kids
Kid-friendly hikes
On-site parking
Dogs allowed
Nice campground for a base camp to explore the Big Horns. You can belly boat the lake and work the Tongue River. Both are decent for fly fishing. Stocked rainbows, streamers in the lake work well, dry fly with a dropper in river. Plenty of trails for hiking, abundant wildlife to enjoy as well.
This has to be one of my favorite places I've gone so far! The spaces between each site on top of all the big beautiful trees surrounding you gave you some privacy, which was nice. The spots were very spacious. My big rate fit perfectly. They have electrical hookups but no water at the site however they do have spigots around the campground. No showers but they do have restrooms. There are lots of hiking trails around the whole campground and in the whole area. You do have to keep an eye out for moose and other animals, which was really cool to see. The lake is gorgeous! Lots of kayaks, paddle boards, and people fishing around the lake. They do have three first come, first serve spots with electric however they do go pretty quickly. This place fills up quickly, so definitely get your reservations in advance. There's no dump station on site, but there is one roughly 5 Mi down the road, which I strongly suggest dumping before going down the big hill. The dump station is donation based. The host lives on site and also sells wood. There is absolutely no service up here, so make sure you download your map or get all the things off your phone that you need prior to getting to the campground. Bear Lodge down the road does have internet that you can use when you're there if that is something you end up needing.
It's a nice campground in Sibley national forest. The lake view is amazing and the campground has convenient access to the lake. Camp host is welcoming and ready to assist with any questions you might have. We stayed two nights at this campground and the stay was amazing. Visited during 13-14 June, the temperature can be a bit cold at night. Vault toilet : Yes Potable water : may not be available, bring enough drinking water. Mobile coverage : No Tip: Nearest place where you can find mobile coverage and better internet connectivity is "Sand turn interpretive site"
Stayed for two nights and though it rained both days still had a pleasant experience. The restrooms are clean and well maintained. There is plenty of space between campsites and it's just a short walk to Sibley Lake from any of them.
Great campground with good sites & fishing. Electric on sites with water fill up near vault toilets. No showers.