Lake Elsie Campground, near Kellogg, Idaho, is a stunning spot that offers a true escape into nature. Tucked away down a narrow, winding dirt road, this free campground features several sites right along the picturesque lake, making it a favorite for those who appreciate a bit of adventure to reach their destination.

Visitors rave about the beautiful alpine lake, perfect for a refreshing dip in the summer or some excellent fishing. The area is also a playground for those who enjoy riding ATVs, with trails stretching for miles through the surrounding wilderness. As one camper noted, “There is really good fishing and ATV trails for MILES through the wilderness!”

While the campground lacks some modern amenities, it does allow campfires, which adds to the rustic charm. Just remember to pack out what you pack in, as there are no trash facilities on-site. The road can be a bit rough, but many have successfully navigated it with trailers, so don’t let that deter you from experiencing this hidden gem.

For those looking to unwind and soak in the beauty of Idaho’s outdoors, Lake Elsie Campground is a fantastic choice. Whether you’re casting a line, paddling on the lake, or simply enjoying the serene surroundings, this campground has a lot to offer for a memorable camping experience.

Lake Elsie Campground

Osburn, ID is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Osburn is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Osburn camping trip.

Osburn

The Best Camping Near Osburn, Idaho

We stay here often. Easy to drive up to. Any vehicle will do. Dirt road to the top where you will find a lovely little lake with 4-5 camp spots surrounding it. We always catch lots of brooke and rainbow trout and wild life is everywhere! There is a outhouse bathroom but you are on you're own otherwise!

Mtn top lake!

Roughly 11 miles from where the asphalt ends is this little hidden gem. Narrow road up to the lake but definitely worth it. Tons of riding trails and and a quiet campground. 

Sure a neat little fun place

This is one of my favorite camping spots. There is a beautiful alpine lake, which is obviously cold spring water. But, you can get away with taking a dip in the summer season! There is really good fishing and ATV trails for MILES through the wilderness! Seriously, one of the most fun places to camp. 

The road down is decent, kinda narrow at times. But, I've seen people tow trailers down to the lake before. The road sometimes still has a good foot of snow until about Mid-June, so beware. 

My Personal Favorite!

Good place if you like to ride your toys. You’ll want to bring good cars because the road gets pretty primitive. Awesome lake for kayaking and paddle boarding.

Pretty cool place

A bit of a drive off I-90 but well worth the the stop.  Multiple campsites right along the lake. It might get a bit crowded on summer weekends but multiple sites were vacant when we arrived on a Thursday afternoon in July.

Easy escape 

This is one of the most spectacular campsites I have ever been to. It’s off I-90, down a long (8ish mile) dirt road. ROAD IS NARROW, WINDY, AND STEEP. not at all trailer or big rig friendly. the site is free, and there are 11 first come first serve sites. remember to pack our trash and not litter. this lake is a gem

Beautiful lakeside campground

This is my 2nd time visiting and the quality has dramatically dropped. Maybe the difference was that I went in early fall 4 years ago and this time was late summer but YIKES. 

There was broken glass EVERYWHERE. We cleaned up so much trash in our site and off the road. The pit toilet was completely out of toilet paper (which we anticipated). Despite being stage 1 fire restrictions, multiple people were having fires, one person's was still smoldering when I got up the next morning. Due to the number of people, ATVs, dirt bikes, nearby shooting range, etc it was just much more noisy in the busy season. I recommend going in the off season.

The road up to the lake is really rough and narrow but manageable with a proper vehicle. 

The lake is gorgeous! I just wish people were more considerate.

FYI There is a moose that frequents the area so keep your trash in your car to avoid feeding the moose.

Disappointed - people ruined this hidden gem

What a place! I saw no trash or broken glass, it was very clean. I got there after dark and left first thing in the morning, wish I had more time to explore. Sites only had a fire pit, I believe there are also pit toilets but I didn’t have time to check them out. 

The road up is rough, potholes, it does get better about halfway up. Expect at least 30 minutes to get up after you hit the gravel, and that’s pushing it pretty hard. 

Beautiful!

Convenient lake to get to by car, 30 minutes off the highway. Great fishing spot and is beautiful. If you are not into ATV and dirt bike riding, I would not recommend. Other campers were riding their bikes all day and night making it very loud, especially with the echos off the lake. Also, multiple bears went through the campground in the evening and came back at around 3am. Be careful with your food and be smart. 

Photos of Lake Elsie Campground

Real photos from real campers