Can you reserve a site at Shell Creek?

Yes, Shell Creek is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Shell Creek have?

15 sites in total, of which 14 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Shell Creek?

75 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Shell Creek?

Yes, pets are allowed at Shell Creek.

Are campfires allowed at Shell Creek?

Campfires are allowed at Shell Creek. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Shell Creek, Wyoming — 14 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Shell Creek Campground is located just off the Bighorn Scenic Byway (U.S. Highway 14) at an elevation of 7,500 feet. The Bighorn National Forest offers a wide variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, scenic driving and a number of historic sites. The administering organization is Rustic Freedom / Gallatin Canyon Campgrounds; e-mail: support@rusticfreedom.com

Recreation

Scenic off-road driving is available on Battle Creek Road to Medicine Lodge Lake, Ranger Creek Road to Shell Reservoir, Hunt Mountain Road and the Burgess Overlook jeep trail.

Diverse hiking opportunities vary from loop trails to treks along creeks and over mountain peaks including access to the Cloud Peak Wilderness. The Adelaide Trail, for hiking and horseback riding is nearby, providing access to Shell Creek and the Shell Creek Trail.

Many creeks, lakes and ponds dot the region, offering some of the best trout fly-fishing in the state.

Facilities

The campground offers single-family sites, most of which are accessible, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided.

The nearest dump station is 19 miles away at Burgess Junction.

Natural Features

The campground is situated on the banks of Shell Creek in the Bighorn Mountains, where craggy granite peaks rise over 13,000 feet above sea level. The area is forested with a mix of fir, aspen and cottonwood trees. An abundance of wildlife lives in the area.

Nearby Attractions

Shell Falls Visitor Center, at the overlook of Shell Falls, is about 6 miles west. This center offers interpretive trails, scenic views, and educational displays about natural features such as flora and fauna and area history.

Elk View Inn and other nearby lodges offer fishing adventures and off-road vehicle rentals and fishing supplies, as well as dining options, showers and general stores.

The Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite, near the town of Shell, is the largest of its kind in the state and one of only a few in the world from the Middle Jurassic Period. The tracks found here are approximately 167 million years old.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (307) 431-7446.

Charges & Cancellations

Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This cancellation processing fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

The facts

Season: Memorial Day - Labor Day — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
14 bookable sites
15 sites in total, including non-bookable
10 accessible sites
Vehicles up to 75 ft
Up to 8 people per site
Loops: SHELL CREEK

Site types

12 Standard Nonelectric
2 Tent Only Nonelectric
1 Management

Amenities

Campfires allowed
Picnic tables
Grills
Shade
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits.

Book on Recreation.gov

15 campsites at Shell Creek

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 2:00 PM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Grade	Water	Max rig	People
01	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	60 ft	8	🐾
02	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	60 ft	8	🐾
03	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Riverfront	45 ft	8	♿ 🐾
04	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	Riverfront	45 ft	8	♿ 🐾
05 HOST	SHELL CREEK	Management	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Riverfront	60 ft	8	🐾
06	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Riverfront	70 ft	8	♿ 🐾
07	SHELL CREEK	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Riverfront	30 ft	8	🐾
08	SHELL CREEK	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Riverfront	25 ft	8	🐾
09	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	Riverfront	30 ft	8	♿ 🐾
10	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Riverfront	70 ft	8	♿ 🐾
11	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Riverfront	60 ft	8	♿ 🐾
12	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Riverfront	70 ft	8	♿ 🐾
13	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	Riverfront	75 ft	8	♿ 🐾
14	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	70 ft	8	♿ 🐾
15	SHELL CREEK	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	—	70 ft	8	♿ 🐾

Getting there

Located 32 miles east of Greybull, Wyoming, on U.S. Highway 14. Turn off onto Paintrock Lakes Road (Forest Road 17). Shell Creek Campground is 1.5 miles from the turnoff.

44.55028, -107.51472 · 44°33'1.0"N 107°30'53.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Low °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Precip in	2.2	2.0	2.4	3.2	3.5	3.3	1.5	1.2	2.3	2.6	2.1	1.8

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 5.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

Two non-towed vehicles allowed per site. The first vehicle is included in the basic fee; the second vehicle will be charged an extra $9.00/day fee at the campground. Firewood bundles may be purchased from the campground host.

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

Common questions about Shell Creek

Can you reserve a site at Shell Creek?: Yes, Shell Creek is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Shell Creek have?: 15 sites in total, of which 14 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Shell Creek?: 75 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Shell Creek?: Yes, pets are allowed at Shell Creek.
Are campfires allowed at Shell Creek?: Campfires are allowed at Shell Creek. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Shell Creek also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Shell Creek's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

$20 per night. Additional vehicle $9. Limit 2 vehicles per site and 8 people per site. 8 reservable sites.

Restrictions:

14 day stay limit

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Shell Creek

Ranger Creek Recreation Area 0.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Dead Swede 10.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Owen Creek 10.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Tie Flume 11.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Shell Reservoir Camping Area 5.5 mi · Campground
Shell Falls Interpretive Site 5.6 mi · Facility
Wild Fire Interpretive Site 6.8 mi · Facility
Flash Dam-West Fork Interpretive Site 7.3 mi · Facility
Woodrock Sawmill Interpretive Site 9.8 mi · Facility
Coney Creek Trailhead 10.4 mi · Facility
Twin Lakes Picnic Ground 11.2 mi · Facility
Tie Flume Campground 11.8 mi · Campground

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-07-08.

Shell Creek