The Big Atlantic Gulch Campground is a BLM-managed recreation area three miles north of Atlantic City in Wyoming. The campground is in a beautiful area of the state. The extensive prairies of the South Pass stretch for mile after mile in front of the campground. To the north-west are the stunning peaks of the Wind River Mountain Range and to the north, the lower forested regions of the Grand Teton National Park. It's a scenic landscape that wants for nothing.
The Big Atlantic Gulch Campground has ten campsites distributed in a forested, countryside setting and while it is isolated, it's also close enough to urbanizations for campers to be able to easily enjoy cultural activities. The campground has no utility hook-ups of any kind, though there are vault toilets and drinking water available during the warmer months.
The campground opens from spring through to the fall, though dates can vary depending on the severity of the weather. Each campsite is furnished with a picnic table, grill, fire ring, and food locker. All RV campers at the Big Atlantic Gulch Campground should be aware there are bears in the vicinity and take care to use the correct food storage procedures to prevent unwanted visitations.
If you enjoy outback hiking, this BLM campground will be heaven on earth for you. Those who like mountain biking will love the network of forest roads around the campground which are just begging to be explored on two wheels. Winter visitors with a snowmobile can tackle the challenge of the Continental Divide Trail while history fans won't want to miss exploring the South Pass City Historic Site or panning for gold there.
The Big Atlantic Gulch Campground is relatively easy to get to no matter what direction you're arriving from. The campground is located off the WY 28, which runs in a north to south direction from near Lander through Atlantic City. If you're driving in from up north, you'll find the turnoff to the campground signposted at the WY 28 junction with Dickenson Avenue. You'll then have a short drive along onto Atlantic City Road before seeing the Fort Stambaugh Loop which goes to the campground.
It's a good idea to have either a map or navigational app handy as there s a veritable labyrinth of roadways around the campground and it's easy to take a wrong turn. If you're heading to the campground from the south, you can join the Atlantic City Road from the town center.
RV campers going to the Big Atlantic Gulch Campground after camping out in the Shoshone National Forest should join the US 26 eastbound near Dubois. From there it's almost a straight run that shouldn't take longer than two hours. RV campers driving up from the Ashley National Forest in Utah should head for Red Canyon where they can hit the US 191 northbound to Farson and then take the WY 28 eastbound to Atlantic City. That's a drive that will take up around three hours of your day.
If you happen to roll up in your rig at the Big Atlantic Gulch Campground and all of the campsites are occupied, you'll find two ideal campgrounds in the Sinks Canyon State Park. The park is just a forty-minute drive from the campground and easily accessed via the westbound WY 28.
The Sawmill Campground is more of a day-use area than a campground but does have five overnight campsites that are issued on a first-come-first-served basis throughout the twelve months of the year. Campsites are furnished with picnic tables and grill but no utility hook-ups.
The Popo Agie Campground has twenty-four campsites only a few of which are suitable for large RVs. All of the campsites are primitive with no utility hook-ups, but drinking water is available on-site during the warmer months.
There are campground hosts on duty during the busy months and shower facilities are available at a community swimming pool nearby.
While there are no mapped and marked trails leading from the Big Atlantic Gulch campground, there's lots of countryside to explore and a diverse road network that will have you trekking for miles. You'll see nothing more than open prairies backed by beautiful mountains. Take a picnic because you'll come across more than one ideal spot to eat it.
For an even more special hike head over to the Sinks Canyon State Park and step out on the three-mile long out-and-back Popo Agie Falls Trail. It's a well-maintained trail that's good for both adults and kids and rewards trekkers with close-up views of a waterfall.
There's an endless choice of routes to pedal for mountain bikers who pitch camp at the Big Atlantic Gulch Campground. Head out onto the Fort Stambaugh Loop from the campground then across country on unnamed roads to Promise Gulch. The scenery will leave you more breathless than the pedaling, and that's just one ride you can take.
If you want to meet up with other mountain bikers and enjoy yourself at the same time, plan your visit to this BLM campground in Wyoming for the end of August when the Jurassic Classic MTB Festival is held in Lander. There's everything from full moon rides, group rides, demos and even live music and beer tents. It's a definite not to be missed event by all mountain bikers.
Take a fascinating look at history with a visit to the South Pass Historic Site. The site is comprised of preserved buildings from when the town was a booming community during the gold mining era. Explore the site alone or take a tour with a guide who knows all the inside information on the location.
You'll come across everything from a Masonic lodge to a general store to a schoolroom, plus the entire Carissa Mine installations and of course, a saloon bar. The site is open from the 10th of May to the end of September seven days of the week from nine in the morning until five in the afternoon.
If you're going to pitch up in your RV at the Big Atlantic Gulch Campground and plan on taking photographs during your stay, take a good stock of memory cards if you're using a digital camera. The landscapes will captivate you no matter what season of the year it is when you are there. Though it has to be said, fall and the changes of color to the trees definitely add another aspect to the shots you'll be taking.
If you're fortunate and have a telescopic lens, you might even capture images of a bear hunting for fish in one of the many streams intersecting the area.
The Museum of the American West is an indoor and outdoor installation in Lander that's dedicated to the pioneers and Native Americans that shaped the state of Wyoming. The museum covers almost nine acres of terrain with very diverse exhibits. The museum has ten different original buildings that are well-preserved, full of genuine artifacts and altogether form a pioneer living history village you'll really enjoy exploring.
While the Big Atlantic Gulch Campground might not be the ideal place to choose for a winter RV pitch, it's a popular area for those who want to participate in exciting winter sports even though they need to pitch up at a different campground. You won't be able to do all of it, but you will be able to get your snowmobile out onto part of the Continental Divide Trail. There's also plenty of opportunities for sledding and snowshoeing as well as cross country skiing so don't let below zero temperatures put you off visiting Wyoming.
