Best Dispersed Camping near Harvard, ID

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Harvard, ID

27 Reviews of 16 Harvard Campgrounds

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  Kaitlin K.

  Guide

  Aug. 30, 2024

  Bull Run Access Dispersed

  Buggy but Beautiful

  We were able to get our fifth wheel (40ft long, 13 1/2 ft tall) in and out easy! Lots of spaces and places to turn around. After crossing the bike path, take the first right onto the dirt road at the sportsmans access sign (parallel to the small paved parking lot.) Like another said, the best spot is past the first circular area. Keep going down the road and you’ll see a big shady area in the trees. (You can go further along to two more sites more suited for smaller pop-up campers, tents, or vans.) Close to the water so of course, there were some bugs: lots of bees and mosquitoes.

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  Leah G.

  Traveler

  Sep. 18, 2024

  Red Bird Creek Trailhead

  Beautiful View, Long Hike

  Trailhead view is beautiful. Hike is down to the Snake River, which is over 5 miles each way. Major elevation change. Parking is free for up to 48 hours. No amenities. Small store and restaurant nearby.

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  Snake P.

  Traveler

  May. 17, 2024

  Bull Run Access Dispersed

  Very good camping

  Went with the family in mid May on a perfect weekend weather-wise. If you drive past the first couple grass campsites and continue on the narrow road with water on both sides, just off to the right is a single secluded campsite amongst the tree. The best site there imo. privacy, lots of trees so the site gets a good amount of shade but sun still pokes through, perfect. 

  Mosquitos weren't so bad that it affected us but we all had a few bites. My only knock on this site, which isn't much, is that you can see homes from the sites. What can I say I like to feel like I am far from everyone. 

  Good site to camp for a family.

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• 

  William P.

  Traveler

  May. 22, 2025

  Rose Lake

  Great location for a stopover

  I spent 1 night here on my way to Coeur d’Alene. I might spend a couple more! Great elevated views of Rose Lake through the trees at the boat ramp. Several fishermen loading up after a day on the lake. A little noisy, but not distracting.

  There is a vault toilet with its own parking space. I van camped there. Above me were 2 parking lots where 2-3 other campers were. Plenty of room to spread out and have decent privacy.

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  Brian L.

  Guide

  Apr. 1, 2020

  Bonnie Lake Island

  Bonnie Lake Island. Boat in island campsite in scab-land canyon lake

  This is a primitive site on an island in Bonnie Lake in Eastern Washington. Bonnie lake is a canyon lake, about 4 miles long and narrow. The island and surrounding sq. mile of land is owned by the BLM. Access is by paddling up Rock Creek about a mile and another 1/2 mile paddle up the lake. The creek can be seasonally shallow and you'll have to portage across at least one beaver dam. The island is rocky and brushy with enough flat spaces for a tent or two and trees for hammocks. The steep canyon walls provide a stage for coyotes to sing back and forth. Please use sanitary bags to pack out your waste (poop). The island's soil isn't deep enough for proper burial.

  There is a spit of land on shore where you can camp too, but I've not done that.

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• 

  Jess G.

  Legend

  Jul. 4, 2019

  Rose Lake

  Boat access

  Nice little loop camp ground, 3 sites that were pretty spacious all include a fire ring and picnic table. Free camping for up to 3 days. Right on the lake! Nice dock to go out to fish on as well. 1 vault toilet. Nice big parking lot for boats and trailers! Right off of i90.

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  PJ M.

  Guide

  Jul. 8, 2023

  Bull Run Access Dispersed

  Nice 3 Day Option

  Hwy 3 > Cross the 1 lane bridge called "South Bull Run Rd" > continue to the right past a few houses until you reach Coeur d'alene Trail access parking area > cross over trail and continue down parallel West Bull Run rd

  4 spots that I found.  One is a large loop with fire pits already setup (where I stayed).  There's one back-in that used to be a 2 track trail next to a small pond, another pull-through loop next to the main sign, and one more site down the road towards the forest.

  You're really close to highway 3 so there's road noise from that.  More common actually was the sound of boats going down the Coeur d'Alene river which is even closer.  There's another camping area across the river (which is apparently contaminated with toxic materials from mining lol).  I was here during 4th of July so people were lighting off fire crackers there as you'd expect.

  Overall it's a very beautiful spot, with multiple small lakes, deer grazing around, and plenty of wildflowers.

  Had no issue with my 25ft trailer as the road was in good shape.  Larger rigs would probably be okay too, but I'd scout it out.

  This is Idaho Fish and Wildlife property and has a 3-day maximum stay.

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• 

  Megan K.

  Ranger

  Oct. 4, 2020

  Horse Camp Trailhead

  Fun Quick Trip Spot

  While this is not my favorite spot, it’s very close to where I live. This is my go to spot when I just want to get a quick overnight camp in. I will be returning here soon and will take photos to share.

  Depending on the time of year it can be loud as motorists past. However, I have wondered into it wilderness to camp farther away from the trail.

  The coordinates from this listing are incorrect and take you down the wrong road.

  Laird Park is just down the road and you can get to nice river areas from both campsites. If you can’t get a spot here you can always try down by Laird as a backup.

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  Kathleen D.

  Ranger

  Aug. 15, 2020

  Rose Lake

  Convenient Stop

  We pulled in after sundown — so grateful to find a safe spot close to the Hwy (en route to our next national park). There was no entry signage beyond the boat launch. The Dyrt map and other reviewer’s directions were accurate. There seemed to be two large lots (one grass, one gravel) that were camping permissible. We were in the second gravel lot. There appeared to be 5 total groups of campers spread over two spacious lots with plenty room for more. There are fewer options for tent campers. One is a little clearing and fire ring under the trees at the rear of the gravel lot (see pic). The gravel lot proved to be a very uncomfortable slant for our rooftop tent.

  Toilet. Pretty little lake (but nothing you’d want to swim in. Pretty murky and gas polluted water by the boat launch). 3 night limit. Not a place you target for a vacation, but a lovely free spot along the way.

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