Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout
Bighorn National Forest — riverside
Location: Buffalo, WY, WY
Price: From $50 per night
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (23 reviews)
Season: May through October
Perched atop a forested mountain, the historic Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout offers a unique recreation experience -- one of few fire lookouts in the region available for overnight rental. Constructed in 1950 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) atop Sheep Mountain at an elevation of 9,600 feet, the lookout was historically occupied as a fire lookout until the early 1970s. The lookout is available for rental from June 15 through October 20; however, access to the facility may be limited depend
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Electric Hookups
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/sheep-mountain-fire-lookout to be notified when sites open up.
Historic 1950 CCC-built fire lookout at 9,600 feet offering a unique overnight rental experience with incredible mountain views. Highly rated by campers (4.9/5 stars) for its minimalist beauty and natural setting.
Wildlife alert: Rocky Mountain Mule Deer, Moose, American Pika, White-tailed Deer, Mountain Bluebird, Wild Turkey, Canada Jay, White-crowned Sparrow
Insider tips for Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout: Book early — it's a federal campground with only 1 site Dual sport motorcycles can make the 6-mile FDR 28 access road easier to navigate Bring your own cooking equipment and supplies
Skip Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout if: You need hookups — no electric or water hookups available. You require accessibility — remote mountain location with challenging access road. You want privacy — this is a popular rental with visitor traffic.
Best time to visit Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout: June 15 - October 20 — Official rental season per RIDB; May through October per verified data.
Nearby campgrounds: Pole Creek Cabin (Buffalo, WY), Lost Cabin Campground (Worland, WY), Muddy Guard Cabin (BUFFALO, WY), Circle Park Campground (Worland, WY).
Cell Phone Coverage at Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout
Cell signal at Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout (Buffalo, WY): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Perched atop a forested mountain, the historic Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout offers a unique recreation experience -- one of few fire lookouts in the region available for overnight rental. Constructed in 1950 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) atop Sheep Mountain at an elevation of 9,600 feet, the lookout was historically occupied as a fire lookout until the early 1970s. The lookout is available for rental from June 15 through October 20; however, access to the facility may be limited depending on snow accumulation.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
it's a federal campground with only 1 site
Dual sport motorcycles can make the 6-mile FDR 28 access road easier to navigate
Bring your own cooking equipment and supplies
Official rental season per RIDB; May through October per verified data
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Buffalo, Wyoming, take State Highway 16 west approximately 30 miles. Turn right on Forest Developed Road (FDR) 28 and travel 6 miles north of U.S. Highway 16. FDR 28 will dead-end at the lookout.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Bighorn National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Bighorn National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout cost per night?+
What season is Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout open?+
Does Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout?+
How do I make reservations at Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout?+
What is the cell service like at Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout?+
What season is Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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