Best Camping near Clearwater National Forest

Recent Reviews in Clearwater National Forest

81 Reviews of 144 Clearwater National Forest Campgrounds

• 

  Osborn T.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 2, 2024

  Stibnite Interpretive Signs Interpretive Site (min

  Bsign

  I recently faced the big challenge of choosing the right signs for my office interior and found Bsign. Their selection of door signs was quite impressive, especially the modern and minimalist designs. For example, in the"Modern" category they offer a combination of stainless steel and acrylic glass with the option to add text in ADA format, which is not only stylish but also functional. Also worth mentioning is the"Wave" series with a combination of steel and wood, which adds coziness to any atmosphere. They have easy to install signs, which saved me a lot of time.

• 

  Spencer S.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 1, 2024

  Chinook Campground

  Remote!

  We had the place to ourselves. Great small campground if you want to get away from everything.

• 

  Judy T.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 2, 2023

  Wild Goose Campground

  Small campground along Highway 12 and the Clearwater River

  There aren’t too many campgrounds between Orofino and Kooskia, Idaho except for a few RV parks. We finally found a beautiful campground off highway 12 or the scenic Lolo Highway. It was small but had quite a few open sites so we snagged one close to the river and bathroom. The highway noise was noticeable but not bad at night. Our picnic table had a view of the Clearwater river (yes, it is very clear and has salmon.). There were steps down to the rocky shore of the river. We net a couple from elsewhere in Udaho who always choose this campground.

• I

  Inez

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 3, 2023

  Spring Creek Campground

  Hot, hot and hot

  I would not recommend end of July/ August. Temps 100 and no breeze. Plenty to see if traveling in vehicle like bighorn sheep, whitetail deer and bald eagles. Recommend a visit to the firefighter memorial at Indian river FS training camp.

• 

  Lesley R.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 31, 2022

  Adams Ranger Station

  Mountain Views and Rich History

  Beautiful log cabin in the mountains of Idaho, located in Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest, so astonishing views are plentiful. There is no cell service here, so prepare for the trip ahead, print out your maps to the station, otherwise getting lost on your way here is a very likely possibility. BYO drinking water, headlamps and sense of adventure. Pack out what you pack in..must respect the power of nature.

  Near by attractions are Florence which is a well known location for gold mining in days past, nice place to hike and explore the area’s history.

• 

  Jersey G.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 16, 2022

  Orogrande Campground #1 and #2

  Little Nellie in the BIG Woods

  Great camping area.  A number of places available through the forested meadow to camp.  

  The creek behind the campground is fun to play in.  Only thing is due to the valley and tall timber, it does not get much sun.  5-Mile back up the road provides much more sunshine, if one likes sunshine.

  It is reported the fire of 2022 pretty much burnt up this campground.  Haven't been there to see, so camper beware...It may be many decades before it starts to return to its former glory...  :-(

• 

  Jersey G.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 16, 2022

  Nez Perce National Forest Five Mile Campground

  Fun Campsite

  Great little campsite.  There are actually two campgrounds across the road from each other.  The newer one is a wide open area while the older one is not conducive to larger 5th wheels.  

  I camped at the older one with my little 1960 Rolls Royal camper.  Fun trails all around to explore and I've heard you can pan in the creek.  

  It is reported the 2022 fire pretty well wiped out the area so camper beware...

• 

  Jersey G.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 16, 2022

  Ruby Meadows Trailhead

  Close to Adventure

  Great little campground, until the fire went through.  Most of it survived, but fire damage is present adjacent to the road and along the trails.

  It can sometimes be crowded with ATV and motorbikes, but most the time they are courteous and polite. 

  I enjoyed panning in the creeks around the area because there are neat dark red and purple garnet to be had.  Only found a speck or two of gold, so I am glad I was looking for garnet and not gold.

  Traveled from N. Idaho and Montana to here multiple times over the year - definitely worth the trip, especially since they paved the road.

• L

  Lauren

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 30, 2022

  Knife Edge Campground

  Beautiful spot

  Stayed one night 10/13/22. Pulled in at dark, just right off of the 12 in Kooskia, ID. About 5/6 campgrounds, 2 were occupied (quiet neighbors), but with enough trees to feel there was privacy. Vault toilet and Lochsa river access(rock bar), no garbage services this time of year. Saw a black bear (juvenile) on the way in but didn’t see/hear anything else from the bear that night or the next morning. Soft ground, and flat even spaces. Fire ring and picnic table as well. Free made it the perfect price, given that a lot of the state campsites were closed (locked gate) this time. Looked as though some campsites backed to the highway, we chose a middle site and weren’t too disturbed by the highway. (Tent camped on a road trip to the Midwest)

• 

  Marian J.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 27, 2022

  Deep Creek

  Beautiful crystal clear water

  It is a long gravel road to get there but worth the trip! It’s beautiful! We fished off the dock and was visited by a large otter!

• 

  Erica D.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 17, 2022

  Nez Perce National Forest Newsome Campground

  Beautiful Back Country

  36 miles from Grangeville, and its got some elevation and it can get cold at night if in a tent. But the days are gorgeous there are alot of ORVs during the weekend but during the week its quiet. We found a place off the road next to a creek and away from the road. It was amazing.

• 

  Pat F.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 3, 2022

  Nez Perce National Forest Granite Springs Campground

  Not very scenic since the fire.

  One other camper here when I stayed one night. Basically a wide spot next to the road.

• 

  Pat F.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 3, 2022

  Whitewater Campground

  Difficult access road down into the Salmon River canyon.

  The access is via a steep and narrow road with at least 15 switchbacks. The campground appears to be used by horseback hunters in the fall. I have stayed here twice and shared the campground one time with another couple. Nice easy trail up or down the river from here. Lots of rafters and occasional jet boats on the river. Pit toilet is maintained by the USFS. No garbage service, pack it in pack it out.

• 

  Steve O.

  Guide

  

  May. 23, 2022

  Sam Billings Memorial Campground

  Well Maintained

  Spend a night. No cost although that will change next weekend. They’ll start charging $10.

• T

  Tom N.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 16, 2021

  Slate Creek

  Quiet and secluded

  In expensive, clean and quiet. Great for 1 night. Well maintained.

• C

  Caz M.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 11, 2021

  Johnson Bar Campground

  Beautiful setting on the Selway

  Very well maintained location with many great riverside camp spots. There is a beach with a good fishing spot. No firewood is for sale here and the site has been thoroughly picked over for wood so bring your own, if you'd like a fire.

• D

  Dani R.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 9, 2021

  Three Rivers Resort & Campground

  Great location

  The past negative reviews sound more like an angry family to me. I pulled in (camping alone my first time) and had a warm welcoming. Once I got my tent set up I decided I wanted to set up sleeping in my car and my current spot didn’t allow vehicles. I waited around to see if it was filling up for the night and then asked if how much it would be to pull into an RV spot to sleep in the car. She let me switch free of charge! She was amazing.

• 

  Annie C.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 9, 2021

  Deadman Campground

  Will do for an overnight

  A wide spot along the road, this free BLM campground has 5 drive up campsites and 2 walk in. All have really nice covered picnic areas and pretty good fire pits. There are two vault toilets, one at either end of the campground. There is also a water pump by the boat ramp. The river is right next to the campground, with a few riffles that can be heard in the campground at night it is pretty quiet as travel on the main highway tapers off. You are about a dozen miles from the town of Challis with gas stations and grocery stores. There are ZERO trees in this campground, but you can probably swim in the river(just do it at low water levels so you don’t end up like the gold prospector the campground is named for).

• S

  Shelley

  Guide

  

  Jul. 9, 2021

  Wild Goose Campground

  Right on River

  Wild Goose Campground is a small area right on the river. We stopped for one night and had a nice stay. It is right off of the highway so there is road noise.

• D

  Daryl

  Scout

  

  Jul. 8, 2021

  Spring Creek Campground

  Excellent campground!!

  Best camp hosts I've ever seen! Quiet, mostly shady, not too crowded.

• H

  Hannah H.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 4, 2021

  Lookout Butte Lookout

  Amazing!!

  7/2-7/4/2021 - lookout has 3 beds with mattresses, 2 burner propane stove/small oven unit and several pieces of furniture along with 4 chairs. Tower was clean when we arrived and we’ll kept! Sadly the fire season has started early this year so both mornings we woke up to smoke in all directions. We saw air attack spread retardant and smokejumpers on a fire to the north. Super cool. Sunset the second night was GORGEOUS!

  While the day time temps were still a bit high (close to 90) the temp in the tower was pleasant. In the afternoon you are high enough to get the breeze in the windows so the temperature stays reasonable.

  Bring sheets and a blanket or a sleeping bag, pack it in pack it out, and cleaning supplies to leave it well kept for the next group. I might also add these are the things I would bring next time: sheet of screen for the door and something to secure it with.

  Cell coverage with Verizon was 2-3 bars of LTE.

  CONS: bugs were kinda terrible. So down below where you park, all variations of flies were thick. Once up in the tower it’s not too bad until early morning and you get the non- stinging bees, gnats and small flies. I’m a bug magnet and didn’t get eaten too bad but boy were the flies at ground level annoying.

• 

  Megan K.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 31, 2020

  Cedar Flats Campground

  Nice area but no water anywhere

  When there is no running water at cites, I like to filter my own.

  There’s no water areas like the cam grounds west to this along the river, so bring plenty of extra liquids especially when it’s hot.

  As an avid star gazer, I found the levels of light pollution to be low. Not quite as good as the sawtooth mountains but you could see a lot more stars at this spot compared to others I’ve been to.

  This area does close down mid fall season, so don’t expect to do any winter camping here.

  When we backpacked this area we did not bring enough water to be happy mostly because I hoped to find some water somewhere and carrying the water is tiresome.

  There are no restroom which makes sense and did not bother me.

• 

  Megan K.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 31, 2020

  Indian Hill

  Sweet lookout

  We visited this lookout on a wilderness Excursion.

  While we did not stay here we had a great time.

  We always make it a point to visit the lookouts in any areas where we are visiting. The lookout was originally built to be a lookout tower for wildfires.

  As such the building is very high and has stunning views.

• 

  Megan K.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 31, 2020

  Nez Perce National Forest Slims Campground

  Undeveloped free campgrounds near the falls.

  These are free campgrounds and are accessible as long as the roads are clear and the camp site before it is open.

  But I only recommend this area for young and able bodied people in shape as the terrain gets tougher and tougher the farther out this way you go.

  We hiked up this area without gear in a scouting weekend, and while we liked the area, it’s a lot to get there. It take more than an hour after you start of the gravel and dirt roads to arrive at this location as traveling is very slow and it’s more than 15 miles out on these roads.

  After exploring we prefer to go to some of the earlier campground about 30 mins down this road (Boyd’s and the dispersed areas near there)

• 

  Megan K.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 31, 2020

  Selway Falls Campground

  Very scenic area with a spot by the river suitable to sunbathe or have lunch

  When my partner and I came to this campground while exploring how far the roads went, we found a camp site that was just right to the road. The roads are not busy but it is a bumpy long drive to this area with 45 mins on gravel roads.

  To the left of the campground entrance there is a small hill and then a flat small field where we lounged and are apples and cheese while sucking up the sun. The ranger here is in a motorcycle and stops by the formal campgrounds (like this one and Boyd campground) frequently. But he does leave the dispersed camping all around unattended.

  We ran into him 3 times and chatted while we explored all what this area had to offer. They are well versed about both the campsites and the dispersed areas so if you come and it is full, like when I went, flag him down as he can likely point you to somewhere you can find a spot.

  There was cover in the later campsites, but the campground is seasonal and when it does close you can’t access the remainder of the road from this point.

• 

  Megan K.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 31, 2020

  Race Creek Campground

  Sparse trees for this region.

  On the way here there’s a rocky show like pullout that I’ve frequently seen RVs parked at. It has two sites leading up to the campground with fire pits.

  Both the spot just before the campgrounds at the trail head. All the sites appeared to be free but for certain the RV spots by the river are.

  While this is a nice area it’s about an hour drive down a gravel road that is often pretty rough driving.

  Lots of people go in this area to ride ATV’s and shoot guns.

  If you make a right over the bridge there is a campground with more services but is also a long drive on a somewhat rocky road with potholes.

  It’s like a pothole mine field where at times, there’s so many it’s Impossible to miss them.

• 

  Megan K.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 31, 2020

  25 Mile Bar Campground

  Free campground on the right whe driving down the road towards Boyd campground.

  25 mile bar was full when we went to Boyd campground. But we stoped in to check it out.

  Some camp sites are on the river and some are by the road. I talked to the forest service guy who rides around on a motor cycle here and he said that one is free and was open as it’s not a formal campground.

  There is a vault toilet here too so that’s pretty fancy for a free place. It seams like a popular place.

  There’s lots of shooting here so be prepared for that if you have a dog.