By:
Submission
2022 - This campground is open to dispersed camping. Much of the infrastructure is overgrown, but it is still accessible.
From Laramie, WY, take I-80 east 9.5 miles to WY 210, exit 323. Exit and go left at the stop sign onto WY 210/ Happy Jack Rd. and go 0.1 miles to Happy Jack Recreation Area sign. Turn left, staying on WY 210, and go 2.1 miles to another Happy Jack Recreation Area sign on FR 719. Turn right onto FR 719 and go 1.1 miles to "Y" intersection. Bear left and go 0.4 miles to campground.
This campground is first come/first serve. Sites are not reservable.
Terrific place for hiking, biking and camping. Used to be a small ski area long ago, and had mining and forestry operations before that.
My family ended up at Pole Creek campground when we struck out on getting a spot at Vedauwoo on the 4th of July. It was a very pretty area, though the views fall somewhat short of spectacular. We loved it anyway.
The camp sites were spacious, and the place never filled up during the three days we were there. So we felt like we had plenty of privacy. And maybe it was just too early in the season for visitors to have destroyed them yet, but the pit toilets were the cleanest I have ever seen. Seriously.
The water at the campground wasn't turned on for some reason, so we had to refill at the Lincoln monument by the interstate exit. There are some revegetation efforts under way, but the sites generally are wanting for shade. So it's a good idea to bring a canopy or something to keep the sun off of you.
