Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Elk City, ID has a lot to offer. Elk City 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. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
O'Hara Campground sits along the Selway River amid lush vegetation and old cedar trees. This is the largest campground on the Selway, with 32 sites, and makes a great base for exploring all the recreational activities and attractions in the area. *Water is currently unavailable at this campground as it is under maintenence for the 2024 season. Water and dump station can be found at Cedar Flats, 1.5 miles from campground on Selway Road.
The Selway River is a destination fly fishing experience for cutthroat and rainbow trout and is also well-known for whitewater rafting. Several trailheads for hiking and biking can be accessed from Selway River Road and lead into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area.
In the heart of north central Idaho, rugged peaks, deep canyons, dense forests and remote wilderness comprise the Nez Perce National Forest. Due in large part to dramatic elevational differences, the forest supports a wide variety of vegetation, from cedar groves to desert ecosystems. O'Hara is located in the Selway Wild and Scenic River Corridor, an area known for its rugged natural beauty and wildlife.
An 11 mile sightseeing drive from Lowell to Selway Falls offers visitors opportunities to appreciate the pristine beauty of the Selway Wild and Scenic River and picturesque Selway Falls. O'Hara is near the Fenn Ranger Station, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
$14 - $34 / night
Locally known as Orogrande #1 and 2, this campground occupies both sides of the road, one on the bank of Crooked River. It includes a toilet, fire rings and at least three camp pads. The non-river side is a good spot for one family or small group. The river side is an open, grassy campsite.
The Selway Campground has 7 campsites along Meadow Creek. Boat put-in below the Selway Falls to float to Lowell. The wild and scenic section of the Selway contains Class IV rapids and runs from Paradise Campground to Selway Falls. The Campground will accomodate RV's less than 30-ft. length.
Situated along the stunning Selway River, the Boyd Creek Campground contains five camp/RV sites, picnic areas and a restroom. Hikers will enjoy taking a trek up the East Boyd Glover Roundtop National Recreation Trail via one of two trailheads accessing it in the vicinity. Anglers will enjoy fishing in the Selway. The Campground will accomodate 30-ft. RV's.
Located along the breathtaking Wild and Scenic Lochsa River, about fifteen minutes east of Lowell, ID, families, campers, anglers, kayakers, floaters and boaters may enjoy this five unit, two acre, free-use campground and Lochsa river/boat access site. A changing room and a single vault restroom is also provided. The Campground will accomodate 40-ft. RV's.
Three Rivers Resort was owned and operated for over 40 years by the Smith Family. It was purchased in May 2018 by the Craft/Engledow Family. Please be patient with us as we continue to make improvements. We are open and ready to serve you (motel, cabins, pool, spa, and store are all open March through November yearly).
$15 - $165 / night
Wilderness Gateway Campground provides direct access to the Wild and Scenic Lochsa River. Visitors enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, including world famous whitewater rafting. Hiking and horseback riding trails abound in the nearby Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area, which is the 3rd-largest in the lower 48 United States. This large and unique campground offers respite for a variety of campers, including those with horses, horse trailers and RVs.
The Lochsa River is world famous for its exciting whitewater rafting opportunities. Visitors do not need a permit to float the Lochsa, but technical expertise is a must. The river is also a destination fly fishing experience for cutthroat and rainbow trout, chinook salmon and steelhead. There are a number of river access points near the campground, along Highway 12. Highway 12, also known as the Lewis and Clark Highway, winds along the narrow river canyon through evergreen trees and large rock outcroppings. Visitors to the area enjoy the scenic drive and historic sites along the way. Elk, deer, moose, bear, cougar and mountain goats make the steep canyon country their home, as well as other wildlife. A variety of birds are also active in the area. Boulder Creek cascades down into the campground on its descent from the neighboring 1.5-million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area. Several trails head into the wilderness from the campground, including the 15-mile Lochsa Peak Trail and the 27-mile Boulder Creek Trail. A 1-mile birding trail loops around the campground and the half-mile Downriver Trail leads to a scenic river overlook. All trails are open to hiking and the wilderness trails are also open to horseback riding. The Lochsa Historical Ranger Station, a living history visitor center, is located one mile southwest of the campground.
The campground is located in heavily wooded forest in north-central Idaho at an elevation of 2,100 feet. It is adjacent to the Lochsa River. Lochsa is a Nez Perce word meaning "rough water." The 70-mile river and its tributaries have no dams and flow is unregulated from its headwaters near the Powell Ranger Station in the Bitterroots, to Lowell, where it joins the Selway River to form the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River. The Lochsa is one of the world's best for continuous whitewater.
*1 hour from access to the National Historic Lolo Trail Corridor *1 mile from the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station and Visitor Center
For facility specific information, please call (208) 942-3113.
$14 - $280 / night
The Selway Campground has 7 campsites along Meadow Creek. Boat put-in below the Selway Falls to float to Lowell. The wild and scenic section of the Selway contains Class IV rapids and runs from Paradise Campground to Selway Falls. The Campground will accomodate RV's less than 30-ft. length.
Located along the breathtaking Wild and Scenic Lochsa River, about fifteen minutes east of Lowell, ID, families, campers, anglers, kayakers, floaters and boaters may enjoy this five unit, two acre, free-use campground and Lochsa river/boat access site. A changing room and a single vault restroom is also provided. The Campground will accomodate 40-ft. RV's.
Three Rivers Resort was owned and operated for over 40 years by the Smith Family. It was purchased in May 2018 by the Craft/Engledow Family. Please be patient with us as we continue to make improvements. We are open and ready to serve you (motel, cabins, pool, spa, and store are all open March through November yearly).
$15 - $165 / night
Wilderness Gateway Campground provides direct access to the Wild and Scenic Lochsa River. Visitors enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, including world famous whitewater rafting. Hiking and horseback riding trails abound in the nearby Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area, which is the 3rd-largest in the lower 48 United States. This large and unique campground offers respite for a variety of campers, including those with horses, horse trailers and RVs.
The Lochsa River is world famous for its exciting whitewater rafting opportunities. Visitors do not need a permit to float the Lochsa, but technical expertise is a must. The river is also a destination fly fishing experience for cutthroat and rainbow trout, chinook salmon and steelhead. There are a number of river access points near the campground, along Highway 12. Highway 12, also known as the Lewis and Clark Highway, winds along the narrow river canyon through evergreen trees and large rock outcroppings. Visitors to the area enjoy the scenic drive and historic sites along the way. Elk, deer, moose, bear, cougar and mountain goats make the steep canyon country their home, as well as other wildlife. A variety of birds are also active in the area. Boulder Creek cascades down into the campground on its descent from the neighboring 1.5-million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area. Several trails head into the wilderness from the campground, including the 15-mile Lochsa Peak Trail and the 27-mile Boulder Creek Trail. A 1-mile birding trail loops around the campground and the half-mile Downriver Trail leads to a scenic river overlook. All trails are open to hiking and the wilderness trails are also open to horseback riding. The Lochsa Historical Ranger Station, a living history visitor center, is located one mile southwest of the campground.
The campground is located in heavily wooded forest in north-central Idaho at an elevation of 2,100 feet. It is adjacent to the Lochsa River. Lochsa is a Nez Perce word meaning "rough water." The 70-mile river and its tributaries have no dams and flow is unregulated from its headwaters near the Powell Ranger Station in the Bitterroots, to Lowell, where it joins the Selway River to form the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River. The Lochsa is one of the world's best for continuous whitewater.
*1 hour from access to the National Historic Lolo Trail Corridor *1 mile from the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station and Visitor Center
For facility specific information, please call (208) 942-3113.
$14 - $280 / night
Scout
We had the place to ourselves. Great small campground if you want to get away from everything.
Traveler
My husband and I were looking for a quick spot to camp and found this right off the highway, it was perfect for a last minute camping. There’s a few more spots off the highway. We loved that it was right on the river, too. Pretty easy access, but if you have a longer trailer than I would suggest going in the first turn out, because the second one is tight.
Traveler
We were riding the Idaho BDR (Backcountry Discovery Route) and needed a place to camp near Pierce. There aren't many options that are accessible for our Support Truck but found Deyo Reservoir as a welcome spot. The West sites are very open and close to each other and are what you see first. I kinda stumbled down to the East Campground which is more for Truck/Tent camping and is wooded and cooler (it was 95 degrees when we rode in). Typical for Idaho the sites were nicely spaced, well maintained (it is hosted) and the Vault Toilet was very clean.
Guide
Great free camping on the Salmon River. We stayed there one night and it was very nice picnicking along the Salmon. The campground has a single vault toilet that was very clean. The campground can accommodate large RVs as it's mostly a large gravel parking lot. We would definitely stay here again.
Ranger
Great sites big enough to back a trailer in. Sites are close but feel secluded with trees and ferns. Running water was a bonus, after rafting for a week it felt luxurious!
ScoutSuch a fun spot to camp! There's bathrooms and sand! You can ride bikes or four wheelers to the beach that is really big and just beautiful!!
Guide
Level pull through sites. A little close together if full. Water and Electric. Staff friendly and helpful. Only bathroom open was a bit of a walk. Bathrooms were a rustic motif, clean, Hot showers.
Legend
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.
Scout
Tried to find Porters Camp. It us not in the Pines subdivision as on the map. According to locals, it is owned by Potlatch and not available to the public. It was a logging camp.
Scout
Beautiful view, super friendly staff, and very convenient location. Just a tiny bit off the highway, easy to access pull-through sites, and very affordable! Super clean and well kept.
GuideAttended a motorcycle rally here a couple times. Not really my type of camping.
ScoutWe were hired as the park's camp hosts for the summer 2022 season and traveled over 2,000 miles for the job. We were extremely excited about the opportunity because it seemed like a dream job in a dream location. It is a family- owned and operated business and had all the indications of an excellent work opportunity. The agreement was 20hrs a week in exchange for our site. Our duties were the typical duties you see; cleaning the bathhouse, checking in guests, maintaining the sites, etc. We had the opportunity to earn additional wages on a case-by-case basis. Simple enough. We saw no red flags during our two phone interviews. However, over the next three months, things deteriorated rapidly. We found out some things the hard way (like, for example, the fact that they flew through 5 camp hosts during their first two years in operation- and the park is only three years old), and I'd like to spare anyone else from making the same mistakes we did.
So, let's get into the ugly.... It's a long read, but I promise I'm not being dramatic.
The owners' communication skills were almost non-existant. This created unnecessarily difficult situations on more than one occasion. Coupled with the fact that they frequently flip-flopped on the directions they gave their employees and waffled on the demands they made, working for them became increasingly frustrating and unrewarding. This became a massive sticking point because they claimed to excel in communication, when any employee could tell you that was a complete crock of (you know what).
They micro-managed unlike any employer I have ever seen (and I was active duty military for six years), which added to the stress. They also seemed to be completely out of touch with how long work around the park actually took. This is probably due to a combination of the facts that they were used to employing primarily family members (who would not mind selflessly working without having every hour of labor compensated) and that they had never actually done the work themselves. Things look very different from an air conditioned office than they do out in the heat. Appropriate attempts were made to handle issues through the proper channels, but at best they were ignored and at worst they were responded to with passive aggression. Apparently, as part-time employees, we were expected to read their minds, anticipate their needs, and go far above and beyond what any reasonable person would consider appropriate to communicate.
There were a thousand little cuts that added up to an insurmountable degree of inconvenience, but a few of the biggest were feeling that my time and labor were undervalued, that I could not leave the property on any day other than my off day (but could not expect to be compensated for the hours I was essentially held hostage there), that I had to walk an impossible balance between working enough hours but not working too many (a vague detail of our contract that we never did receive clarification on, no matter how many times we asked), a lack of clear communication, and feeling that we were looked down upon as "less than" them. And since we lived on the property, it was impossible to leave the work at work, and find any peace at home.
The kicker and final nail in the coffin of this whole thing was when, after leaving an honest review and feedback of the company through a public channel, one of the owners sent my spouse a nasty wall of text message, full of ageist inuendos and rude implications about the type of employment we would be best suited for. Apparently, when their behavior had the potential to make them look bad in a public space, the owners were all too eager to "communicate". The entire thing came off as tacky and unprofessional, and I regret giving them so much of our hard work and effort.
I'd like to give an honorable mention to some of the other, full-time employees, like our manager Chris who was very sweet (but very much not in control of anything). If it had been possible to only work for her, we would not have left. But the owners' personalities are toxic and overbearing and it was completely untenable. Since we left, the RV park ran an aggressive hiring campaign ad on Facebook, so there's a chance you may have seen it. Please save your sanity (and gas money) and do not entertain the opportunity.
Super fun fact that actually isn't fun at all- one of the owners is now the Idaho County State Senator....😊
Legend
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.
TravelerGreat little campsite with the roar of the river.
Found it by accident a few years back. It sits above the Lochsa River, just north and west of the Wilderness Gateway Campground.
Both campgrounds are great, but this one is a little more rustic and provides easier access from the highway for camp trailers and stock trailers.
Have to look carefully because it is easy to miss: not well marked...
TravelerGreat 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... :-(
TravelerGreat 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...
TravelerGreat 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.
Traveler
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)
Guide
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!
GuideNice resort 30/50 amp water and sewer Nice grass area for tents River access This resort name is now the salmon river resort 208 839 9990
GuideThis was our second time camping here with a different spot and perspective! We stayed in number #11 at the back near the trail path! We caught lots of bluegill, trout but no bass!
Traveler
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.
Guide
We visited Lolo before bringing our trailer to camp and I'm glad we did! We would have damaged our trailer for sure!
GuideThis is a nice very small campground with a very nice host family! Lots of docks for fishing in both the east and west campgrounds! Some docks are easier than others to access! None are handicap assessable! There is a small beach near the launch ramp! We enjoy this little reservoir often!!
Traveler
One other camper here when I stayed one night. Basically a wide spot next to the road.
Traveler
There was a cow moose feeding in the lake when we were there. She would stomp around up to her neck in the lake, then eat the plants that would float to the surface.
Traveler
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.
Camping near Elk City, Idaho, offers a fantastic escape into nature with beautiful landscapes and plenty of outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are several campgrounds that cater to different needs and preferences.
Camping near Elk City, Idaho, provides a mix of adventure and relaxation, making it a great choice for outdoor enthusiasts and families alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Elk City, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, Elk City, ID offers a wide range of camping options, with 166 campgrounds and RV parks near Elk City, ID and 10 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Elk City, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Elk City, ID is Ohara Bar Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 5 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Elk City, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Elk City, ID.
What parks are near Elk City, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Elk City, ID that allow camping, notably Clearwater National Forest and Bitterroot National Forest.
