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BLM manages more than 267,000 acres of public lands in the Owyhee River Wilderness. The Owyhee Canyonlands is a huge and remote area of eastern Oregon, southwestern Idaho and northern Nevada. Hidden within this vast high desert plateau are deep canyons carved by the Owyhee, Bruneau and Jarbidge Rivers. The rivers of the Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge systems offer something for nearly every level of boating experience. The Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge river systems provide visitors with unsurpassed solitude in canyons of unique beauty and form.
Dispersed area near the headstones of families and folks from the old stagecoach town of Rockville. This town not longer exists, but the remains of some building foundations are nearby.
Irish Point is situated on the north shore of Arrowrock Lake. The hills are sagebrush covered with a few pine trees in the valleys. The camping sites have mature trees for shade. This is fairly isolated as the access road is rough and slow. This camping area is a good example of what is available at several spots along the road except Irish Point has an outhouse toilet available.
Campsites: There are no developed camping sites here. People have camped here for many years because of the trees. There are stone fire rings but no tables.
Water: No water.
Garbage Services: No garbage service here.
Restroom: There is one older outhouse toilet here.
Handicap Accessible: This is not handicap accessible.
Pets: Pets should be on a leash, however, this is not practiced from our observations.
Recreation: The main attractions here are camping and fishing. I am sure bird and wildlife watching are also available. We saw many four wheelers and motorcycles in the camps as well.
Fishing: Fishing is available in Arrowrock Lake for trout, bass and crappie. There are some small streams in the area which would also have trout fishing.
Boating: There is a boat ramp a few miles away.
Wildlife: There are deer tracks everywhere but we did not actually see the deer. There are also elk and geese seen here.
Phone service: No phone, we also had no cell service on our ATT phones.
Nearby Services: No services closer than Spring Shores Marina 13 miles away, which has a convenience store for ice, gas, drinks, telephone and other supplies, even a sheriffs office.
RV Dumping Site: The nearest RV dumping station is at Boise, Idaho.
Location/Driving instructions: Take Highway 21 NE from Boise to Arrowrock Road(turn right) then Irish Point is 14 miles. This road is a slow gravel winding road.
Overview: Willow Creek Campground is located along the Middle Fork of the Boise River Forest Service (FS) road 268 and the north end of the Arrowrock Reservior. There are 9 campsites at the campground. A stay at the campground enables guests to enjoy all the beauty and recreation offered along the river and reservoir. Weather is usually good from mid-May through late September and is easily accessible by car in good weather, although the road is sometimes rough and the drive can be seemingly long. Checking with the District on road conditions before heading out is recommended. Natural Features: Wildlife watchers may want to look for deer and elk. Waterfowl, eagles and osprey are attracted to the river. Recreation: There are several trails in the area including trail #189 beginning near Cottonwood Campground, leading to Bald Mountain Peak. Check the Idaho City Ranger District Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for trails in the area that are open to hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers and off-road vehicles. Click here for an Idaho OHV safety message. The Middle Fork Boise River and Arrowrock Reservoir offer excellent trout fishing and good swimming holes. Big game hunting is a popular activity in season.
Ranger
Our site was located right off the road along the river. The views of the canyon were spectacular and our site was about a 5 minute walk along the road to Snively Hot Springs. Amazing backdrop for free dispersed camping. HOWEVER, the clientele around us wasn’t so idyllic. We were surrounded by loud campers that were partying and yelling well past 11 PM (most of the noise was coming from the hot springs). Cars were coming and going all night (Wednesday) so it was hard to get a peaceful night’s rest. To top it off, we witnessed our neighbor get into a verbal altercation with some interlopers who were fishing near his tent. He was very aggressive, threatening them with a large log and shouting expletive loaded threats at them….all in front of my 7 and 4 year old daughter. It was a bit freaky. I’d give the location 5 stars, the the experience 1 star. If you manage to hit it in a down time when you can get some solitude, this area would be hard to beat.
On a side note, we checked out the hot springs in the morning. They were cool, but again the experience was tainted by the amount of trash and litter around the fringes of the hot springs from partying the night before.
TravelerWas driving thru to seattle from the Midwest. My last stop! Easy to find. No signal and no fires allowed due to BLM land. Was a brisk 12° in mid/late November. A few campers. If you have an off road vehicle- it’s great to climb up some hills to find the perfect spot!
Legend
Free. Coordinates: 43.43811,-117.11743. Camped here at the end of Sept, 2024. Located at the southern end of Succor Creek State Natural Area, close to the boundary with BLM land. 1/10th of a mile from Succor Creek Road. Access from Succor Creek Road is okay; rocky and eroded in a few places on an uphill drive. The site is located on a loop where the access track ends at a livestock fenced. You pass another large dispersed site on the way up. The dirt site is not quite level. Lots of cow patties. Surrounded by grass and sagebrush. Site has a rock fire ring. Open to sky, no shade; solar recharging and Starlink possible. It may be possible to set up a tent in the grass. There is a view of Succor Creek canyon. Fantastic views of surrounding mountains. No hiking trails, but one can explore that area beyond the fence and get additional views of the canyon and creek. No cell service. Very remote location. Except for a few cows and coyotes, very quiet area. I loved this spot!
Legend
If you enjoy Fly Fishing for Brown Trout, this place is awesome. There is dispersed camping all along the river below the dam. It is very rugged, but there are amenities for camping. Just follow Owyhee Lake Rd along the river and you will find spaces to set up your tent or RV. It is a bit deserty, so beware of snakes. You will find quite a few places before the tunnel. There are some places for RVs after the tunnel as well. But there are quite a few places to set up tents. There are some J-Jons along the stretch of river with camping spots near them.
Guide
Free camping among the sparsely located pine trees. Great views of the water and mountains. Vault toilet nearby.
Guide
We camped at Irish Point at Arrowhead's designated dispersed camping area. The road around the reservoir is pretty tight, though that doesn't discourage long trailers and toy haulers. We're pretty self-contained so didn't miss any usual camp ground amenities. Our neighbors were sparse and quiet and we enjoyed the peace of this area.
TravelerThis place is absolutely beautiful and would be perfect if it weren't for people leaving so much trash behind. My wife and I spent a lot of time picking up countless bullet casing and other trash. We heard numerous birds in the area, such as killdeer, mourning doves and owls. We saw a few small bunnies, not sure of the kind. There's a lot of dispersed camping. We saw RVs, Vans and a few tents. It was very quiet and people usually only stayed a few nights. We were here for 9 days. The hot springs are off the road across the street from the sign. It was a little too hot for my liking but my wife enjoyed wading in it.
Traveler
A variety of free and dispersed sites, most of them with rock campfire rings, near a nice shallow creek. A fair amount of RV and ATV traffic but still feels pretty secluded. No bathrooms or anything like that but it's only a 3 minute drive from Idaho City.
TravelerLove how most of the areas that are dispersed sites are free! Many to choose from and right on the river!
GuidePulled off here after driving all the way to Indian Creek before realizing the River Road doesn't go all the way through. Its a nice little spot on the river, very secluded to the point where you cant see your fire from the road (we checked). Decent amount of shade for the desert, but from about 1pm-3pm you're going to have to make your own shade, it gets super hot during the summer. Definitely bring your own wood, everything around the area is either too green or too small to have any sort of decent fire. Camp now has a nice little trail to the river, plenty of fish in the area. Great little dispersed site for a desert getaway. Please pick up your trash if you do use the site!
LegendEntering the park is beautiful! There’s a paved road with campsites you need a reservation for. Where the coordinates are on this map is about 30 minutes down a gravel road that looks ok, but is very rutted. I drive a cargo van and it shook everything to the point where I didn’t want to do 30 minutes of it. There are signs that say “no roadside camping next 7 miles”, but after mile marker 7, you’ll notice fire rings off the sides of the roads on both sides, including lake front. So I just want to make sure y’all know that you don’t actually have to drive all the way down to the dispersed spots to find camping. Other than that, it’s a gorgeous area. No Verizon service for me.
TravelerSo hot and no shade. If it were not close to the water you may not have a way to beat the heat. It was beyond crowded and hard to find a secluded spot to camp away from others. Only pro is its close to town and you can swim, fish, and boat.
GuideArrowrock Reservoir is a decent place to camp. The drive there is long and slow-going along a washboard dirt road, but the best part is that this spot is usually uncrowded, which is nice when you are looking for some quiet solitude. It's a steep hike down to the water in the reservoir, but not too bad. The camp sites are nice and have some pine trees, but other than that, the landscape is very desert-y.
GuideThere are many group sites and single sites. Many sites own a corner turn. Also your entire campsite will be visible to every car passing. There are other sites on the other side of the road that are more private. Be wary the road is very dangerous getting in. Take it slow.
Some people park their trailers at lake front but beware of the dune sand , you might get stuck.
I love being able to jump into the lake and ride my bike along the lake.
T
GuideMe and boyfriend enjoy going here in the fall and spring to get away from the city for a day or two. There is hiking right across the street. Mt Heinen which is a very strenous hike. Its over 9 miles(up and back) and over a 3,000 ft gain so be prepared if you try to tackle this summit. Anyways, the campground has some fire pits but no picnic tables. There are a few trees for shade. One part of this campground that confuses me is that there use to be a small outhouse in summer of 2018 but when I came in 2019 in march and April there was not one? When we come in the fall and spring theres no one other than us there. In the summer it does get quite a few people there. Also it gets super hot in the summertime so be sure to bring plenty of water. Good thing is you can take a dip in the cold reservoir to cool off. There's no trash services so pack it in and pack it out. A lot of people come here to party and leave trash around so i make it a point to pick it up. Please don't be those people to ruin a beautiful free spot. 💚
TravelerTurn on the dirt road left just as you are nearing the Oregon State Line. If you crossed over the line, turn around. Coming from Oregon Entering Idaho, Turn right just after you cross the state line. I have been in this campground with a car and a small RV but you better know what you are doing! This may not be for most campers but if you are a desert rat like myself, who loves to get AWAY FROM ALL, You will be very pleased! If you are a concrete camper, you'd best avoid this spot, Also, if you're just curious and have a high clearance vehicle and the ground is dry, you'll do just fine. This is a great get away! When it's hot, Rattle Snakes could be around. Most won't come out until the bugs do so be aware! Not sure the fishing is good or not but this is very private. you will most likely have the place to yourself. Arrowheads can be found on occasion as well so keep your eyes open!
GuideBad roads, high tension wires crackled with electricity, and a lot of traffic on the main road.
TravelerWe parked right beside the river, and it was absolutely gorgeous. However, I don't recommend taking a car on this road. It's definitely an ATV road as it's very rough.
Traveler
Nice flat spot with a wide view all around. Its got a few old headstones from the 1800's. Was easily accessible with a 2wd sedan. Good sleeping surface despite dead grass.
Traveler
weather permitting and as long as there's not too much snow in the winter which is pretty unlikely because they do try to keep it cleared however if a snowstorm comes through it could be a day or two before somebody could get to it. this is an Old Stage Stop where they would leave feed up on top of the rocks and other supplies to keep them away from animals in Indians the location I have shared is the location of the old hotel. look to your right as you pull in and you can't miss the remains. also be careful there are a couple very deep Water Wells that at times can surprise you if they are not covered. should be covered by a old car hood which should remain there. please be respectful. one other well down by the creek. the hotel was built years after buy a couple and their child. Indians killed the wife and child in an attack. up the roadways not very far at all you will find a small road to the right with just a turnout. you will find two grave markers as well. You will have noticed a road to the west up into the Rocks. this is not an RV road but a good road to walk or take a horse, motorcycle, or ATV up. even a pickup should do fine part of the way up but as soon as you see it veer to the right beware! if that corner incline is wet it is clay and you will sink to your eyeballs! a few hundred more yards and you are in the center of the rocks. look closely and you will find the remains of a rock corral where they kept their horses. this spot is disputed with some other local people who live in the area. some confuse it with the boulder down by the creek but my metal detector tells me otherwise and so does the Corral. also you will noticed a marshy area that you passed. this was the well where they got their water. they had a house somewhere near. also if you are a real explorer and historian buff like myself you will find just about four or five hundred more yards to the South a pile of rocks with a single fence post standing in the center of it. I believe this is a grave site. only wish I knew more..
ScoutThe views are beautiful, but some of the sites are less than to be desired. If you have a 4WD vehicle you should be just fine, but if you have a trailer or camper, that can really limit what spots you can get to. Also, people really need to learn how to not leave trash behind. There is no cell service so you really get to just enjoy the scenery.
GuideIt's an absolutely stunning location, but there are very few spots with any shade at all and it gets HOT out there. Depending on how rugged your vehicle is, spots are limited. No T-Mobile service. Oh, and the bugs are insane.
GuideThese grounds had lots of room despite the amount of people camping.
I was able to setup a hammock and camp in a cluster of trees and also found some dry wood onsite to burn.
There was a hot spring nearby that was nice to soak in.
ScoutParked little below the coordinates and spent the night by the Snively hot springs. Not as gross as the reviews lead on. Very happy with this find.
ScoutAll sites are on tent-stake-resistant river cobble, though some disguised with a thin layer of dirt, or a white layer of alkali or talc. Combined with the smell of dead fish, difficult fishing access (river level 2000+ cfs), frequent lack of shade, poison ivy, invasive plants, trash hither and yon, we yawned and went on. . .
TravelerLots of great spots as yoi river along the river, not necessarily the coordinates provided here. Epic fishing. :)
GuideFirstly, dont follow your gps to the coordinates given here, if you follow it to the point on google maps you'll end up at one of the highest points in that valley (and you'll see my newly made "night one" site. If you want the site in the pictures, which was fairly quiet other than a few people checking if it was open, take the first right after the bridge and follow the trail down. Lots of trails, more people near the river but if you're into desert camping and want seclusion you'll want to get into the hills (towards google maps point) but hang a right at the top of the trail. Overall, pretty great place to getaway.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Nampa, Idaho, where you can immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. These spots offer a unique opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors while taking advantage of the stunning landscapes and serene environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Nampa, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Nampa, ID is Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed with a 4.1-star rating from 18 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 16 dispersed camping locations near Nampa, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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