Best Tent Camping near Clark Fork, ID

Tent camping options abound in the Cabinet Mountain region near Clark Fork, Idaho, with several primitive sites available within the surrounding mountain valleys and lakeside areas. Green Bay Campground, though temporarily closed for 2024, typically offers tent campsites directly on Lake Pend Oreille with access to clear water and granite beaches. Pack River Dispersed Site provides free primitive tent camping along the river north of Sandpoint with drive-in and walk-in access.

The forest roads leading to tent camping areas often feature washboard sections and ruts, requiring higher clearance vehicles in some locations. Most tent sites come with fire rings, though amenities are minimal across the region. Pack River sites have no drinking water, toilets, or trash service, requiring campers to bring all supplies and pack out waste. Green Bay sites typically include picnic tables and fire pits, with a single vault toilet serving the area. Seasonal considerations include limited winter access, with most remote tent sites becoming available after snowmelt in late spring. Bear activity requires proper food storage throughout the region.

Sites positioned along waterways offer prime locations for tent camping with natural sound barriers and swimming opportunities. Many tent-only areas lie within hiking distance of trail networks, including access points to the Scotchman Peaks proposed wilderness area. Early weekday arrival is recommended for securing preferred tent sites, as weekend crowding can occur at popular locations. A visitor to Pack River noted, "There are several dispersed sites up here along Pack River. Good for horses, camping and solitude." The remoteness of these tent camping areas provides a rustic experience with limited or no cell service, making them ideal for disconnecting while tent camping in the Idaho Panhandle.

Best Tent Sites Near Clark Fork, Idaho (31)

    1. Green Bay Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED 2024

    12 Reviews
    Kaniksu National Forest, ID
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 263-5111

    $15 / night

    "There is a single vault toilet, they ask that you bring a bucket and shovel for solid waste. Bring your own way to dispose of trash, and have a way to lock it up, or animals WILL get into it."

    "Lightning cutting across the lake was a real spook. We brought our kayaks into the water in the sunny part of the day, other camping spots available by boat if you can get there!"

    2. Scotchmans Peak

    3 Reviews
    Clark Fork, ID
    5 miles

    "Be sure to read trail reports and weather reports before heading out. North Idaho weather can be pretty finicky, especially at high elevations. Make sure to be aware of wildlife as well!"

    "Plenty of wildlife. I have only been one time and not seen mountain goats. Not too many people camp up here however there are spots/ clearings where it’s obvious a camp site would be."

    3. Maiden Rock Campground

    1 Review
    Idaho Panhandle National Forests, ID
    16 miles

    "Boat and hike in only access. No pump for water source, only lake or creek. Multiple sites. 3 bouy-tethers for boats."

    4. Bull River Pavilion

    1 Review
    Noxon, MT
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 827-3533

    $75 - $150 / night

    "Located not far from Thompson Falls, and lot of water ways. Fish are not as abundant as other areas, and there are no walking trails within walking distance."

    5. Porcupine Lake

    Be the first to review!
    Hope, ID
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 263-5111

    6. Mountain Camping Bungalow

    Be the first to review!
    Heron, MT
    7 miles

    $65 - $125 / night

    8. Lake Creek Campground

    3 Reviews
    Noxon, MT
    33 miles
    Website

    "Pretty removed from everything, decent gravel road to get in, super quiet and lovely, the creek runs behind the left side of the loop."

    "The campsite is about 6.5 miles off the highway which feels pretty far once you get there. Bathrooms were ok, about as clean as you would expect a campground bathroom to be."

    9. Pack River Dispersed Site

    2 Reviews
    Naples, ID
    32 miles

    "Remember to leave not trace and pack out your trash!"

    10. Breakwater Campground

    3 Reviews
    Cataldo, ID
    35 miles

    "Great tent camping. Also, it's a great starting point to some really good dirt bike trails. Be prepared for no cell service. 0 amenities. it's just a place to pitch a tent and have a fire."

    "This campground stretches along a tributary of the CdA river, and there is great tent camping and fly fishing. Downside is that there is limited vehicle access to most spots."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Clark Fork, ID

631 Reviews of 31 Clark Fork Campgrounds


  • Cathy E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2023

    Bald Knob Campground — Mount Spokane State Park

    Quiet, Clean, and Beautiful

    What a gem! Small state park campground at about a 3000 ft elevation with only 8 sites. Dry Camping only, no dump station, but clean flushable toilets(no showers) and potable water available. Two beautiful trails are accessible from the campground and lots more are within a 10 minute drive with plenty of parking at trailheads. Local foliage is wonderful, views are fantastic from the trails. Quiet hours are enforced and observed- very quiet and relaxing. The camp host, Linda, does such a wonderful job of keeping everything neat and tidy and checking in with campers to see if they have what they need. Sites are small- only one was a pull through. I wouldn't attempt with anything longer than 23 feet. Each site has a bear box, really nice and large picnic table, firepit and tent pads that are nicely cushioned with pea gravel. Our site,#3, was centrally located without a ton of privacy, but it was still a nice site and folks were respectful and quiet. Decent cell service in the campground. I am absolutely coming back.

  • F
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Bull River Campground

    Beautiful but the State of Montana has mismanaged to the point of absurdity

    This used to be a great place to camp, especially at the Pavilion. However, two recent camping trips were not so great. There is no water, even though there are cisterns everywhere. There is no trash pickup. Restrooms are visited and "cleaned", but there is no evidence that anything was done. There are still tons of bugs and webs. I think they just replace the TP. Last visit was at the Pavilion with a men's campout with around 20 individuals. No trash containers, no bear boxes, and no water. We brought 250 gallons of water with us and pulled up to where the fire pit was, so it would be close to the fire for safety and convenience. The day after we left the site, a ranger called and accused us of "off-roading" and not placing our food in the non-existent bear boxes. We weren't "cited," but the temperament of the management is that they want you to pay the same price for camping without a host, water, trash, bear boxes, or clean restrooms. If you wish to dry camp, there are plenty of spaces, but it is definitely dry camping. Beautiful campground with severe management issues, all blamed on"lack of funding".

  • C
    Oct. 29, 2019

    Scotchmans Peak

    Steep but rewarding!

    Talk about a hike! This is a pretty steep trek, with rewarding views at the top. Be sure to read trail reports and weather reports before heading out. North Idaho weather can be pretty finicky, especially at high elevations. Make sure to be aware of wildlife as well! Scotchman's is known for mountain goat sightings, but as they become more accustomed to people they can be a little aggressive. Keep a safe distance!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Bumblebee Campground

    Not much to praise

    Coeur d’Alene River Road has SO many places to boondocks and camp, I wouldn’t waste our money on this campground again. The pit toilets were clean and the fire rings and picnic tables were in good shape, hence the two stars. Lots of wasps. No water. Nothing to do within walking distance. Find a boondock spot and save the $28.00

  • Dave S.
    Aug. 6, 2020

    Bull River Campground

    Average USFS pay campground

    2020 cost is $16 + $8 extra car, half off with Federal parks pass, & it's average for a Forest Service pay campground. There's water, & you can fill a holding tank, but no power or dump. The lower loops are very close together & less shade. The upper loop has more shade, bigger sites, but sound rises from below. You can hear the conversations and generators of your lower neighbors. Our site was next to a vault toilet - we could smell it. There was lots of noise, e.g., road, train, barking dogs, etc. The 2020 camp hosts were very intrusive. They stopped us in the middle of the road while they inspected our front license plate (we aren't required to have one), then interrogated us, without masks, about where we were from, what we were doing & how many dogs we had. We have a nice RV and look like average middle class folks. Maybe it was because we were in a Class B Van, but our van cost more than most class As. This is a self-pay campground so unless I need firewood I don't need to be forced to stop & be questioned by a volunteer. While we drove through looking at sites one host tailed us on foot through the CG. Five minutes after we began to set up they showed up, not wearing masks, wanting money. I didn't think volunteers were supposed to handle any money. We'd already paid at the iron ranger pay station & they seemed disappointed to not get the money directly from us. Then, within a minute, they returned, not wearing masks, & fussed because we hadn't gotten the tag on our campsite post yet - we were still setting up & hadn't had time yet. They weren't social distancing & we thought they were very peculiar and intimidating.

  • Clifford F.
    Jun. 22, 2021

    Camp Coeur D Alene

    Nice campground

    We’ve stayed here a couple times now. It is a nice place. It is a little run down though. The car, tent camping is great. You have your own plot under trees. If you tent camp is the rest of the camp ground you will need a pad under your tent. I ground is pretty course gravel with up to 1.25” sharp stones. Firewood is free though.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 10, 2023

    Riley Creek Campground

    Beautiful CoE campground with many activity options

    General: 67-site US Army Corps of Engineers campground in two loops along the Pend Oreille River. All sites are water and electric and have gravel driveways. 

    Site Quality: All sites were nicely wooded, level and spacious. The roads are paved but the sites themselves are gravel. A BBQ grill/fire pit and large picnic table complete each site. 

    Bath/shower house: There is one ADA-accessible all-in-one bath/shower plus regular restrooms. Clean if a little dated. I don’t take long showers but in the middle of mine, the water turned ice cold for the remainder of my shower, however, hubby did not have the same experience! 

    Activities/Amenities: Water activities including boating, fishing, and swimming. Non-water activities include paths, including one around the campground that is approximately 1.4 miles, nice for walking, running, or biking. Partially paved and partially gravel. Other activities include two playgrounds (one for younger children, one for older), volleyball, horseshoes, sport court, and a “doggie island” (pet area). Between the restrooms are two dishwashing sinks with hot water, a nice amenity. There is also a dump station. 

    We were still setting up when the host came by to give us a map, remind us there was a fire ban, and see if we had any questions or concerns. We stay at many CoE campgrounds and this one certainly measures up!

  • Emmett S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2023

    Dunn Creek Flats Campground

    Right on the river

    Just stayed a single night here. It's a first come, first serve site with no fee. We camped in the back of our truck. Our site was the farthest from the river but that was perfect with three doggos. Nice level site with fire pit, grill included, and a nice picnic table. While we weren't next to the river, we were right next to Dunn Creek. At this time of year the creek is dry but I can imagine it's lovely in the spring when the snow melts. Bear-proof trash cans were located at each site, there was a boat launch and dock as well as large boat trailer parking area featuring a basketball hoop. A hand pump for potable water was centrally located as well as a vault toilet for campers. This campground was a short distance from the highway but we didn't notice any road noise. What we did hear and see were helicopters as it is fire season and they were scooping water from the river for fire mitigation. The campground sites are spaced far apart which is nice for privacy. Will definitely stay here again.

  • Freddie Faith M.
    Jun. 30, 2024

    Camp Coeur D Alene

    Great little private campground in the Wolf Lodge Bay.

    This is a great little private campground in the Wolf Lodge Bay, and their added free amenities made this campground a really fun alternative to the usual state park/national forest campsites I go to more often. The swimming pool was well kept, and we really enjoyed using the free canoes. They had a lot of decent looking free firewood, but we were camping during a fire ban and weren't able to use it. (This, of course, is no fault of the campground. But if we camp there again it will be nice to have free firewood!)

    We originally booked tent site 3, which I cannot recommend as it had no shade or privacy, but the attendant was very kind and let us switch to a shadier site for free. I think this was tent site 4 or 5, which were much better. Tent site seven looked really nice as well and I would recommend that one. But if we go back we will definitely be booking the island tent site 201, it looked to be the best one of all.


Guide to Clark Fork

Nestled in the stunning landscapes of Idaho, Clark Fork offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventure and tranquility.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Green Bay Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED 2024 features picnic tables and toilets, making it a comfortable spot for those looking to enjoy nature without sacrificing basic needs.
  • Maiden Rock Campground allows for boat-in and hike-in access, providing a unique experience for campers who enjoy water activities.
  • Breakwater Campground offers a primitive camping experience with no amenities, perfect for those wanting to disconnect and immerse themselves in nature.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • At Scotchmans Peak, hikers can tackle a steep trail that rewards them with breathtaking views and the chance to spot mountain goats.
  • Lake Creek Campground is ideal for fishing enthusiasts, with the nearby creek providing excellent opportunities to catch local fish.
  • Coeur d'Alene River Area offers a serene environment for those looking to relax and enjoy the rustic beauty of the Idaho wilderness.

Tent campers enjoy these features

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Clark Fork, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Clark Fork, ID is Green Bay Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED 2024 with a 5-star rating from 12 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Clark Fork, ID?

TheDyrt.com has all 31 tent camping locations near Clark Fork, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.