USDA Forest Service · Wyoming
Clearwater Campground
USDA Forest Service · Wyoming, United States
- Sites
- 12
- Hookups
- 12 with water, 12 no hookups
- Season
- May 23 to September 6
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,024 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- CLEARWATER CAMPGROUND (NFSR 426) · crushed aggregate or gravel · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Shoshone National Forest
- Nearest town
- Cody
- Address
- 203A YELLOWSTONE AVE, Cody, WY, 82414
- Phone
- 307-527-6921 - THIS NUMBER IS NOT FOR RESERVATIONS. FOR RESERVATION OR INQUIRIES ABOUT RESERVATION STATUS, GO TO RECREATION.GOV 1-877-444-6777
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Wildlife Viewing
12 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Clearwater Campground is located along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway, about 32 miles west of Cody, in northwestern Wyoming. It is 20 miles east of the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking and viewing local wildlife.
Recreation
Great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing are available around the campground. The North Fork of the Shoshone River is a popular fly-fishing location for rainbow and Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
Facilities
The campground offers one group camping area, which provides private parking, three large picnic tables, two food storage lockers and campfire circle.
Additionally, 11 single-family campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, campfire ring and food storage locker.
Vault toilets and trash collection are provided, but drinking water is not available. Campers may gather firewood from the area.
Natural Features
The campground is situated on the banks of the North Fork of the Shoshone River and has beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Douglas fir and large juniper trees cover the campground, which sits at an elevation of 6,000 feet.
A wide variety of wildlife lives in the area. Visitors often glimpse grizzly bears, deer, elk, bison, moose, fox, coyotes and bald eagles.
Nearby Attractions
Pahaska Tepee, west of the campground, is home to Buffalo Bill's original hunting lodge, built in 1904. Tours are offered daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Pahaska also offers guided horseback rides, a gift shop, restaurant and lodging.
Yellowstone National Park's east entrance is 25 miles from the campground via the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway. The park offers unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities, as well as breathtaking scenery and unique geological features.
The small, historic city of Cody offers a variety of dining, lodging and shopping options. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center offers extensive displays of Greater Yellowstone natural history, Plains Indians artifacts, western art, firearms, Buffalo Bill memorabilia and a wild sheep exhibit.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 15° | -19° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 31° | 16° | -8° | 47° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 41° | 23° | 5° | 59° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 46° | 28° | 5° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 54° | 36° | 26° | 69° | 6 of 11 |
| June | 69° | 45° | 35° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 83° | 54° | 43° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 80° | 54° | 46° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 72° | 47° | 14° | 82° | 2 of 11 |
| October | 51° | 34° | 7° | 74° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 41° | 22° | -11° | 60° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 32° | 16° | -3° | 45° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Elk Fork Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Wapiti Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 40 sites
- Rex Hale · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 29 sites
- Big Game Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 14 sites
- Newton Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
All public campgrounds in Wyoming · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.