Wyoming State Parks proposes to amend rules
CHEYENNE (WNE) — The Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources is proposing to amend Chapter 1, Rules and Regulations (State Parks & Historic Sites Program), of its rules.
The amendments update and expand definitions, remove redundant recitations of statute, and eliminate obsolete or unnecessary provisions. In addition, the proposal introduces several substantive changes, including the following:
- Drone use allowed with prior written permission from the park superintendent
- Parks remain open after 10 p.m. for non-camping visitors
- Removed or clarified requirements for alcohol permits
- Bicycles, skateboards and roller skates now permitted in previously restricted areas
- ADA-designated campsites no longer exclusively for ADA
- Vehicles present after 10 p.m. will only require camping permit if camping
- Class 1 e-bikes permitted on trails Protective/restrictive changes
- Maximum campsite occupancy reduced from 10 to eight persons
- Pets may no longer be left unattended at any time (previously one-hour limit)
- Barking or excessively noisy dogs explicitly included in quiet-hours violations
- Bow fishing prohibited within 100 yards of any public facility
- Fishing prohibited in cooling ponds and canals at Hot Springs State Park
- Watercraft must be launched and retrieved only at designated locations
- New restrictions for rental units
Copies of the proposed rules may be obtained through the Wyoming Administrative Rules System at rules.wyo.gov by using the advanced search for proposed rules, or by contacting the State Parks Headquarters at 2301 Central Ave., Barrett Building, fourth floor, Cheyenne, WY 82002, attention Stephanie Dillmon, 307-777-5734, or by email at wyoparks@ wyo.gov.
Public comments may be submitted by email through the Wyoming Administrative Rules System at rules.wyo.gov or by contacting State Parks at wyoparks@wyo.gov. The public comment period ends Feb. 26.
This story was published on Jan. 21, 2026.