This Campground in Wyoming Is Peak Fall Vibes

Summer always seems to breeze by too quickly. One minute you're dipping your toes in an alpine lake, enjoying the sunshine and catching rodeos on the weekend, and the next you're layering up for an early-season dusting of snow in September, wondering how the leaves started to turn without you noticing. Fortunately, Wyoming isn't a one-season wonder. Whether autumn is at its peak or just a vague glow on the horizon, fall is a gorgeous time to get outside, pitch a tent in the trees, and enjoy a last-minute weekend under the stars.

Tucked away on the outskirts of Wyoming's iconic national parks is an overlooked region of red rocks and badlands that doesn't get nearly enough attention. It's within all this natural beauty that you'll find the gorgeous Falls Campground off US-26 near Dubois. Not every campground in Wyoming is open the entire season, but this idyllic spot is perfect for a colorful autumn getaway, and it's open with full services through mid-October.

From the moment you pull in, there's a lot to love about this magical camping area. With over 50 campsites spread out on two distinct loops (one electric, one primitive), there are plenty of first-come, first-served spaces to choose from. Each site has a fire ring, a picnic table, and a bear-proof storage locker available—which you'll definitely want to use. It's also fully developed and run by the Forest Service, with on-site hosts to help ensure it's clean, stocked, and that the tent pads are smooth. Even better: you'll find a gas station with basic necessities just a few miles away if you happen to forget anything.

It checks all the boxes, but the alpine setting is what takes this rustic campground over the top.

At over 8,000 feet in elevation, you couldn't ask for a dreamier spot to rest your head. The Falls Campground is enveloped by mature lodgepole, fir, and aspen trees that offer privacy, intermixed with spectacular washes of fall color as the season goes on. It's also located right off the breathtaking Togwotee Pass, which is one of my favorite scenic autumn drives for its epic views of the Continental Divide. Here, in addition to the stunning rock formations lining the pass, the Absaroka Mountains to the west and the Wind River Range to the south both create impressive spines along the horizon, both polka-dotted with vibrant fall hues as the season turns. It's also close to the Tetons, so those iconic distant blue mountain panoramas are a given, too. This is a stunning area to enjoy crisp mornings and foliage-filled days, no matter which way you turn!

What more could you ask for from a campground? Trees, mountains, privacy, clean spaces... and yet, it keeps getting better. After all, it's called the Falls Campground for a reason.

The campground sits just steps from Brooks Lake Creek, which drains from the larger Brooks Lake (a gorgeous fall destination of its own, by the way). As the creek travels, it creates Brooks Creek Lake Falls. Viewing areas of this stunning waterfall are located just beyond the campsites, and there's a short trail near the campground entrance that leads to the overlooks. This surprisingly large waterfall is officially a part of the Shoshone National Forest, so if you’re headed to Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Park for a long weekend or looking for places to stay that aren't within the parks, it's an easy detour or quick addition to a longer hiking adventure.

RVs, camper trailers, and tents are all welcome at Falls Campground, but some larger services aren't available, like water for filling RV tanks. It's also important to note that there's typically no phone service available in this area, so you'll have to wait till you get home to share all the photos you take of the epic surroundings.

Being so close to so many natural wonders gives you the opportunity to enjoy a full day of hiking and catching the sunset over the mountains before returning to camp to settle in by a campfire for some stargazing. Pick a spot closer to the waterfalls, and you can even fall asleep to the sound of running water, which is the perfect soundtrack to wind down to.

While cozying up in a rustic cabin with a roaring fireplace is certainly a phenomenal way to spend a chilly fall day, getting outside to experience the magic of the season up close might just be even better. From here, you can hit up a few more of Wyoming's best foliage spots, and get the new season started off on the right (colorful) foot. If this campground happens to be full, though, don't worry. Nearby, the Brooks Lake Campground, Dubois Campground, and many more offer their own scenic settings.

Even as crowds dwindle after the summer rush, Wyoming's national parks still get their fair share of visitors in the fall. Thousands flock to the Tetons to admire the fiery colors, while thousands more head to Yellowstone to enjoy one last peek at the geothermal wonders set against a backdrop of gold. The Falls Campground is a pretty, recently renovated camping spot that is a perfect national park alternative that offers a little more peace and quiet. But be warned: when that fall foliage hits its peak, you might never want to leave.