Camping trips are economical and make great memories, but many families are reluctant to camp because they think it’s too much work or they don’t enjoy “roughing it.” Yet Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains offer many delightful options for a first-time camping experience that will have parents and children alike eager for more time together in the outdoors. The secret is finding spots that offer just the right blend of creature comforts and natural wonders.

The Riverside Campground’s playground, heated bathrooms, and friendly feel help it work well for families, though there are motel rooms onsite for anyone who insists camping is not for them. The campground is only 3 miles from Dubois, so it’s easy to drive into town for a look at the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center, lunch at the Cowboy Café, or a stomp down the small town’s boardwalks. But it’s the scenery surrounding this special little campground – the lush riverbanks and the painted hills nearby – that keep us returning whenever we pass through Dubois.

Sinks Canyon State Park is another family favorite and the site of a curious geological phenomenon. The Popo Agie (pronounced Po-PO-zsha) River “sinks” underground into a limestone canyon, then reappears a quarter-mile away. Kids love to feed the fat rainbow trout that congregate at “the rise” where the river reappears (a vending machine dispenses cheap fish food), and they’ll also enjoy scrambling on the granite boulders strewn about the main campground.

Like most state park and National Forest Service campgrounds, the facilities at Sinks Canyon – including pit-style latrines – are more rustic than those you’ll find at private campgrounds. But the location is excellent for exploring such sites as South Pass City and the Oregon Trail, and supplies and town attractions are just six miles away in Lander. Accessible via the town of Pinedale, Fremont Lake, on the western slopes of the Wind River Range, offers outstanding boating and fishing against a panoramic mountain backdrop. Bridger-Teton National Forest campgrounds and a private RV park offer easy access to the lake.