Dispersed Camping Areas (Undeveloped )

Summary

Dispersed camping, also known as undeveloped camping, allows visitors to camp for free in any national forest outside of a designated campground. Visitors are responsible for their own safety and minimizing impacts on the environment. Stay limits vary by location, with a 5 day limit in effect during peak season. In order to minimize impacts, campers are encouraged to use established sites, be respectful of other campers, and store food properly.

Dispersed Camping (Undeveloped Camping)

The Forest Service uses the term "Dispersed Camping" to mean that visitors to the Forest are camping outside of a developed campground facility.  This means that visitors are simply finding a place in the forest where they can drive to in order to camp for free where no development other than a road exists.

General

• Camping (Tent, Car, or RV camping) anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. In undeveloped areas of the forest, there are no services (such as potable water and trash removal) and generally no facilities (such as tables and restrooms.)
• Stay limits on the Bridger-Teton National Forest are generally 16 days with the exception of the Jackson Ranger District and Moran area.  
  • After 16 days you must move 5 road miles from your original campsite. After an additional 7 days, you my return to your original campsite if desired.

Jackson and Moran Area Dispersed Camping

• A 5 day stay limit is in effect from May 1^st through Labor Day on the Jackson Ranger District and within certain areas of the Blackrock Ranger District.  Special Order 04-04-317 
  • After 5 days, you must move to another Ranger District to camp. You may only return to the Jackson Ranger District after 30 days.
  • A map showing the restricted areas can be found here.
  • Due to over use and high impacts, certain areas in the Jackson Hole Valley have had designated sites numbered for use.  This is to help lessen the amount of impact on the resource. 
    • These sites are: (maps included)
      • Curtis Canyon
      • Shadow Mountain
      • Toppings Lake and Spread Creek
      • Pacific Creek

How to Pick a Campsite/ Camping Etiquette

• Be respectful of natural setting. Minimize your impact by using established camps, camp on hard surfaces, avoid being directly next to water, and leave the site better than you found it.
• Be respectful of other campers, keep a decent distance from other campers when possible.

Be Bear Aware

• Food Storage Order is in effect from March 1 through December 1 (order can be extended.) In most of the Pinedale, Blackrock, Grey’s River, and Jackson Ranger Districts. 
• All food, attractants, and refuse must be acceptably stored or acceptably possessed during daytime hours.
  • Bear Canisters (certified and properly used)
  • Within Secured vehicles and hard sided trailers (no open top jeeps/ pickup beds)
  • Properly Hung from trees/ poles (10ft up off the ground and 4ft from vertical pole)