Primitive Campground

This was our 2nd time camping at Yellow River, but 1st time at the Big Paint campground. The Yellow River area is rustic and best for those looking to be in nature and somewhere quiet. Nature is on full display, and the area provides miles of multi-use trails and spots for fishing. This is also a great location for star gazing due to low light pollution. We can't speak to the fishing or equestrian... This was our 2nd time camping at Yellow River, but 1st time at the Big Paint campground. The Yellow River area is rustic and best for those looking to be in nature and somewhere quiet. Nature is on full display, and the area provides miles of multi-use trails and spots for fishing. This is also a great location for star gazing due to low light pollution. We can't speak to the fishing or equestrian trails, but the hiking trails are wonderful! The campground is large and well maintained, with plenty of space between sites. Most spots are large enough for trailers and RVs, but there tends to be more tent camping in this area. Note that Yellow River is all dry camping (no hookups), with only pit toilets at the campgrounds. The pit toilets were clean, but they are also rustic, so don't be surprised if you find a few insects or spiders sharing the space. Note: There is limited cell service in the area, but we were able to connect at the top of some of the ridge lines on the trails. Note 2: Our 1st visit was in July 2024, and the bugs (gnats & mosquitoes) were pretty bad. If you go in the summer, be sure to have a tented canopy to retreat to, or you can use small personal fans to keep the bugs off your face. We visited in May this year, and the bugs were pretty non-existent as the temperatures were still dipping into the low 40s at night.

This was our 2nd time camping at Yellow River, but 1st time at the Big Paint campground. The Yellow River area is rustic and best for those looking to be in nature and somewhere quiet. Nature is on full display, and the area provides miles of multi-use trails and spots for fishing. This is also a great location for star gazing due to low light pollution. We can't speak to the fishing or equestrian... This was our 2nd time camping at Yellow River, but 1st time at the Big Paint campground. The Yellow River area is rustic and best for those looking to be in nature and somewhere quiet. Nature is on full display, and the area provides miles of multi-use trails and spots for fishing. This is also a great location for star gazing due to low light pollution. We can't speak to the fishing or equestrian trails, but the hiking trails are wonderful! The campground is large and well maintained, with plenty of space between sites. Most spots are large enough for trailers and RVs, but there tends to be more tent camping in this area. Note that Yellow River is all dry camping (no hookups), with only pit toilets at the campgrounds. The pit toilets were clean, but they are also rustic, so don't be surprised if you find a few insects or spiders sharing the space. Note: There is limited cell service in the area, but we were able to connect at the top of some of the ridge lines on the trails. Note 2: Our 1st visit was in July 2024, and the bugs (gnats & mosquitoes) were pretty bad. If you go in the summer, be sure to have a tented canopy to retreat to, or you can use small personal fans to keep the bugs off your face. We visited in May this year, and the bugs were pretty non-existent as the temperatures were still dipping into the low 40s at night.