Boysen State Park

Introduction of Boysen State Park

Boysen State Park, with 15,145 acres of land surrounding a 19,560-acre reservoir, is Wyoming’s largest state park and home to the state’s largest reservoir. Boysen State Park, which is bordered to the west by the Wind River Reservation, is best known for its fishing and boating opportunities, but it also offers swimming, wildlife viewing, hunting, and other activities, making it an ideal destination for your next RV trip.

Asmus Boysen, who built the original dam in 1908, is responsible for the park and reservoir’s names. Parts of the original dam, which can still be seen adjacent to the tunnels on the Lower Wind River Campground, can be visited by history buffs. Boysen became a state park just a few years later, in 1956, after the existing dam was completed. Today, visitors are drawn to this Wyoming state park for its outstanding fishing opportunities on Boysen Reservoir, which contains walleye, crappie, perch, and other species, as well as its miles upon miles of breathtaking boating opportunities, with five boat ramps to choose from. Visitors can also swim at the park’s swim beach while looking for some of the park’s diverse plant and animal species.

Boysen State Park has hundreds of RV and tent campsites spread across multiple campgrounds. While these sites do not have hookups, the campgrounds are well-equipped with amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. The park is open all year, but different seasons bring different activities, so visitors should plan accordingly: boating is generally available from March to December, swimming is available from May to October, and ice fishing becomes available once the reservoir freezes in the colder winter months.

Boysen State Park Camping

Boysen State Park has hundreds of RV campsites spread across four campgrounds. Lower Wind River Campground, located at the park’s far northern end, has sites 1-48. These sites do not have hookups, but visitors can use the water hydrants located throughout the campground, restrooms located throughout the campground, and the dump station located at park headquarters.

Guests staying at the Lower Wind River Campground can also enjoy two playgrounds on-site, as well as easy access to the river. The campground has a mix of back-in and pull-through sites, with about half reservable and half first-come, first-served.

Upper Wind River Campground is adjacent to Lower Wind River Campground and has sites 63-112. These sites do not have hookups, but visitors can use the water hydrants located throughout the campground, the restrooms located throughout the campground, and the dump station located at park headquarters. Back-in or pull-through sites are available to visitors. The Upper Wind River Campground is also close to the river. Upper Wind River Campground’s sites, like those in Lower Wind River Campground, are a mix of reservable and first-come, first-served, though the majority of these sites are first-come, first-served.

Tamarack Campground, located on the northeastern side of the reservoir near the park headquarters, has even more campsites for visitors. Tamarack Campground has 181-209 campsites. The majority of the campsites in this campground are first-come, first-served, though a few can be reserved ahead of time. These sites do not have water, electric, or sewer hookups, but visitors can use the nearby dump station located at the park headquarters, as well as the numerous restrooms located throughout the campground. The majority of these sites are back-in, but a few are pull-through for convenience. Tamarack Campground also has a playground, picnic tables, and easy access to Boysen Reservoir.

Additional RV sites are available at Tough Creek Campground, which is located on the reservoir’s eastern side. Tough Creek Campground has 283-355 campsites that are mostly first-come, first-served, though a few can be reserved ahead of time. These sites do not have hookups, but visitors can use the dump station at the park headquarters, the restrooms and drinking water in the campground, and the additional facilities in the nearby campgrounds. The majority of these sites are back-in only, with a couple being pull-through for easier access. Guests staying at Tough Creek Campground will also have easy access to a boat ramp, which will allow them to take advantage of the many opportunities available on Boysen Reservoir.

Boysen State Park Activities

Boating

The central feature of Boysen State Park is the 19,560-acre Boysen Reservoir, which is the largest reservoir in Wyoming. Fortunately for visitors, this vast reservoir is more than just a beautiful body of water; it is also a boater’s paradise. Boaters can launch their boats from the boat ramps at Brannon, Tough Creek, Lakeside, Fremont, and Cottonwood Bay and explore the reservoir’s many miles. With the exception of Lakeside, all ramps include a boat dock. Boating is available year-round when there is no ice, which is generally from March to December.

Swimming

In the hot summer months, jumping into the refreshing water of Boysen Reservoir is one of the best ways to cool off at Boysen State Park. Visitors who want to swim in the park’s main feature will be pleased to learn that the park has one designated swim beach, which is located at Brannon Campground on the park’s northern end. The swim beach is open from May to October, so visitors who want to swim in the reservoir and sunbathe on the beach should plan their trip during the warmer months.

Fishing

Fishing in the park’s 19,560-acre reservoir, which is home to a diverse fishery, is one of the park’s main year-round attractions. Anglers can try their luck catching walleye, crappie, perch, rainbow trout, and brown trout, as well as mountain whitefish, channel catfish, brook trout, bluegill, stone, black bullhead, and splake as the major sport species. Non-game species found in the reservoir include river carpsucker, fathead minnow, plains killifish, and golden and sand shiners. Anglers can fish at Boysen State Park all year, as ice fishing is very popular in the winter.

Hunting

Boysen State Park, Wyoming’s largest state park, is home to a wide variety of animals on its more than 15,000 acres. With such a diverse animal population and a large area to explore, the park is ideal for hunting, and hunters will be relieved to learn that hunting is permitted in the park as long as you are at least 400 yards away from facilities and campground areas. Visitors who wish to hunt while visiting Boysen State Park should, as always, confirm with park rangers that they have the necessary licenses and permits and have paid the appropriate day use fees.

Hiking

Boysen State Park has 15,145 acres of land and 76 miles of shoreline for visitors to explore, with miles upon miles of stunning vistas, diverse wildlife, and challenging terrain. Hikers who want to explore the park on foot should bring hiking boots and appropriate layers if they intend to hike during the colder winter months. Trails can be accessed from the park’s headquarters. The park occasionally offers guided hikes, so visitors looking for a guided experience should check the park’s events page before their visit.

Boysen State Park Location

Boysen State Park, located just off Highway 20 in Wyoming, is relatively easy to reach by RV or car with proper planning and research. This Wyoming state park is about 100 miles from Casper and is bounded to the west by the Wind River Reservation.

Visitors should keep in mind that some of the roads near the park frequently experience adverse conditions such as black ice and falling rock, so it is best to check the park website for updated road conditions before planning a trip. Because signage near the park is limited, visitors should be cautious when approaching the park to avoid missing a turn.

Once inside the park, visitors can stop by the marina’s convenience store near Tamarack Campground for food, supplies, fishing licenses, and boat repairs. Visitors can find some restaurants, gas stations, and shops in the nearby town of Shoshoni for more extensive needs; however, for more extensive options for restaurants and grocery stores, visitors can stop by the towns of Riverton to the southwest and Thermopolis to the north.

Parking

Parking is available

Public Transport

Public Transport is not available