Still Waters and Big Skies Near Meeteetse, Wyoming
Tucked into the sagebrush hills just west of Meeteetse, Wyoming, Upper and Lower Sunshine Reservoirs are a peaceful, wide-open gem in the heart of the Absaroka foothills. With its glassy waters, panoramic mountain views, and uncrowded shoreline, it’s a place where anglers, paddlers, and campers come to unwind and often end up staying longer than planned.
Whether you’re casting a fly, launching a kayak, or just watching the clouds roll across the Absarokas, the Sunshine Reservoirs offer a quiet and scenic retreat that reflects the understated beauty of the Bighorn Basin.
Two Lakes, One Peaceful Escape
There are actually two Sunshine Reservoirs Upper and Lower separated by a few miles and offering different kinds of experiences.
- Lower Sunshine Reservoir, the larger of the two, is the most easily accessible and popular with locals. It offers excellent fishing, a boat ramp, and wide-open water for kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply drifting in the breeze.
- Upper Sunshine Reservoir is smaller and more remote, tucked higher into the hills with more solitude, rugged views, and a wilder atmosphere. Reaching it requires a bit more effort, but it’s well worth the drive if you’re looking for privacy and backcountry beauty.
Fishing Under the Big Sky
Fishing is one of the main draws to the Sunshine Reservoirs especially for those chasing trout and walleye. Anglers can expect to catch rainbow trout, Yellowstone cutthroat, brown trout, and stocked hybrids, depending on the season and reservoir.
Bank fishing is common and productive, especially in spring and early summer. Boaters and float tubers will find plenty of room to explore the shoreline and deeper channels.
Sunrise and sunset are especially magical times to fish here when the sky lights up over the Absaroka Range and the water reflects the gold and blue of Wyoming’s vast horizon.
Camping and Exploring
Dispersed camping is allowed around both reservoirs on BLM and state lands, with plenty of pull-off spots and flat ground for tents or campers. There are no formal campgrounds, but that’s part of the appeal peace, stars, and open space are your amenities here.
Bring your own water, pack out your trash, and be prepared for variable weather. Wind can rise quickly across the open water, and summer thunderstorms move fast across the basin.
For hikers, photographers, and birdwatchers, the surrounding landscape offers subtle beauty: rolling sage hills, colorful rock formations, and frequent sightings of deer, antelope, eagles, and waterfowl. The reservoirs lie along a migratory path for birds, making them ideal for spring and fall viewing.
Getting There
Sunshine Reservoir is located just a few miles west of Meeteetse via State Highway 290. The drive itself is scenic, with the Absaroka Mountains rising in the distance and the Wood River Valley spreading out below.
Roads to Lower Sunshine are well-maintained and accessible to most vehicles. Upper Sunshine may require high-clearance or four-wheel drive, especially in wet conditions or early spring.
Meeteetse, the nearest town, makes a perfect basecamp with its welcoming downtown, historic museum, and local favorites like the Meeteetse Chocolatier.
A Quiet Slice of Wyoming
There’s something deeply peaceful about Sunshine Reservoir the way the hills cradle the water, the way the sky seems to stretch endlessly above, the way time slows down as you watch your line drift or your boat glide across the surface.
It’s not a national park. It doesn’t have crowds or billboards or manicured overlooks. But it offers something rarer: authentic Wyoming solitude, rich with open space and quiet moments.
If you’re exploring the Meeteetse area, heading toward Cody, or just looking for a scenic detour with a lot of room to breathe, Sunshine Reservoirs are worth the stop and maybe a few days more.
Big Horn Basin Explorer 
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