The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Bureau of Land Management is the government agency that manages federal lands, and it is responsible for ten percent the total land in the US. BLM sites are open undeveloped lands where people can go for dispersed camping. McCullough Peaks WSA is an extensive state-owned land located near Cody, Wyoming. It consists of 25,200 acres of land administered by the BLM, 640 acres of government-owned land, and 640 acres of split-estate land.
You can enjoy majestic views of the study area badlands from the McCullough Peak, the Absaroka Range, the Beartooth Mountains, and Heart Mountain. The site is located 70 miles east of Yellowstone National Park. There are numerous activities to do in McCullough Peaks, including horse viewing, biking, hiking, nature study, hunting, rockhounding, and photography. The site is also rich in historical sites and colorful ridges. If “BLM camping near me” has been ringing in your mind, here is a guide to some of the best spots.
Bald Ridge Trail is a hiking and horseback riding trail 18 miles north of Cody, and it goes through National Forest. As you climb up, you can enjoy the beautiful views of Heart Mountain on the east and Yellowstone River’s Clarks Fork on the west. You may come across mule deer, moose, pronghorn, elk, and bears along the trail.
Length: 5 miles
Intensity: Difficult
Four Bear Trail is suitable for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It intersects with the Jim Mountain trail and offers views of volcanic shires, banded rock formations, and the North Fork Shoshone River Valley.
Length: 4.5 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Bobcat Houlihan Trail is in the South Fork Shoshone River Valley and near the Absaroka Mountains. This trail is 28 miles to the southwest of Cody and is perfect for camping and backpacking.
Length: 6.2 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Shoshone River Trail is a loop trail near the Shoshone River that takes approximately 35 minutes to complete. It is ideal for hiking, birding, and walking.
Length: 1.5 miles
Intensity: Easy
The Outlaw Trail loop is located near Cody. This relatively quiet trail is ideal for mountain biking, trail running, and hiking.
Length: 8.6 miles
Intensity: Difficult
You can enjoy fishing and boating in Buffalo Bill Reservoir, eight miles to the west of Cody. The reservoir is home to rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and lake trout, as well as perch and walleye. There are also three boat ramps for those who want to get out on the water.
McCullough Peaks has a wild horse management area that houses large herds of wild horses. You can also view moose, elk, pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and whitetail deer at the site as they make tracks through their natural habitats and reservoirs.
There are numerous picnic sites within the McCullough Peaks area, including Fontenelle Creek to the south of LaBarge and Fremont Canyon, 45 miles from Casper. You can also enjoy your picnic in Shoshone National Forest and near the Shoshone River.
There are several Bureau of Land Management campgrounds to help you enjoy your visit to the site. You can also find plenty of private RV camping spots in nearby Cody. Some of them include Ponderosa Campground, Cody KOA Holiday, and Absaroka Bay RV. All of these sites offer full hookups and amenities such as on-site showers and bathrooms, laundry facilities, and dump stations.
To enjoy Bureau of Land Management free camping in the area, you can set up camp on dispersed grounds as long as they are not specifically posted with "no camping" signs. There are also developed sites available for free BLM RV camping nearby. One is the Bobcat-Houlihan Upper Camping Area, which has sites available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Before you set off for your camping trip, you have to decide whether you will camp at established recreation areas or on public land. If you opt for public lands, you need to prepare all the foods that you will require during your stay. Remove foods from their commercial packaging and repack them in resealable bags to reduce the amount of garbage. Carry stoves to minimize damaging the environment with fires. You can pack your bags inside each other and take them home for re-using to avoid buying new ones.
Also, take note of the weather to avoid inconveniences. It's important to also pack for various weather conditions, even in the summer. Read all the BLM’s restrictions and regulations and look for terrain maps so you do not get lost in the badlands. Before you head out for your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
The BLM has a Leave No Trace policy that encourages you to clean up where you were staying when your visit is over. You have to leave everything you find on the site. Dispose of all your garbage in trash bins or pack it out if bins aren't available. You also need to bury your human waste in holes at least six inches deep and at least 200 from any water source.
To get to McCullough Peaks from the south, take Highway 14/16/20 from Cody and drive for five miles toward Greybull. Turn left and take McCullough Peaks Road #1212 for about eight miles to reach the site’s southern border. To get there from the northwest, follow US-14 Alt. from Cody and head northwest for 11.5 miles toward Powell. Turn right and take County Road 18 for 0.7 miles, and then turn left onto County Lane 15. Travel for 1.4 miles and take a right turn to the gravel BLM Road 1211. Follow the gravel road for 0.75 miles to get to the WSA boundary.
Ready to visit McCullough Peaks? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and a nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RV share.
