Box Elder

The campground doesn't get a lot of use. Trees between sites provide privacy. In June there was a lot of dried grass with foxtails, so heads-up if you have a dog. Grass was really just in the campground itself. A gaggle of mountain sheep hang around the boat launch area. People ride ATVs up the road, but not too many to ruin the peace. To drive up the road along the river you do need a high-clearance 4x4 (or awd if you know what you're doing) and it should be a vehicle that you don't mind getting scratched up by the oaks. It's tight in many places. At a certain point it's passable only by ATV, bike, or foot. The canyon is astoundingly gorgeous. No cell service.

This camp is advertised as dispersed camping since it’s free but it actually has an outhouse, fire pits, and tables. Right next to the river inside a canyon it’s hella beautiful. Only tricky part is getting there. You have to have high clearance to get through the bumpy, rocky road leading to the camp. I have a crosstrek so nothing crazy though. You have to drive through some farmland to get here but don’t worry you’re going the right way. Gets very cold at night since it’s in a river canyon but other than that no complaint.

When returning from the camp it took me 20 minutes of driving on rough dirt road, a lot longer when I came in, at night, going downhill. So don’t beleive maps when it tells you you’re 5 minutes away

The road is smooth until the boat launch then rutted but no prob with an AWD SUV. We were the only ones there. Quite, flat sites, picnic table at each site.

I recommend high clearance and possibly 4WD vehicles for the road. However, I was able to drive most of the road in a FWD, low-clearance car. If it's rained recently, look out for flooding and giant puddles. The area is pretty but a had a bad feeling about the place the entire time I was there. The bathroom is clean and well-kept.

Amazing spot!