For those who want to get away from civilization for a weekend, but still want the comforts of home, consider renting a cabin for your Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests camping trip. Find the best information on cabins near Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, including photos, reviews, and tips. Each cabin rental offers quick access to one or more of Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests's most popular destinations.
This recreation area is part of Dworshak Reservoir
Kelly Forks cabin is located in a small clearing within an active forest service work center. It was originally built at the confluence of Moose and Kelly Creeks during the mid-1930___s to be used as a stopover between the upper North Fork and the Bungalow Ranger stations. It was then dismantled, floated down Kelly Creek, and reassembled at its current location during the mid-1900s. Fully remodeled around 2002 with modern comforts, the cabin maintains a high demand throughout the rental season. Although accessible by car, the gravel roads on the district can be quite rough and partially blocked with debris. Visitors are strongly advised to consult a map as well as the forest website prior to reserving or traveling to the cabin.__ There is a maximum consecutive stay of 6 nights per user and a maximum total stay of 6 nights per year per user. Users may only hold two reservations for this cabin at any one time. Failure to abide by these rules may result in cancelled reservations without refund of reservation or cancellation fees.
There are several fishing ___holes___ and hiking trails located within easy walking distance of the cabin with many more a short drive in any direction. The North Fork Ranger District prides itself on the diversity of world class recreational opportunities ranging from bird/wildlife watching, big game hunting, whitewater rafting, leisurely floats, secluded backpacking/equestrian trails into the high mountain backcountry, to motorized OHV trail systems providing unique experiences that draw visitors from around the world and all walks of life. Be sure to check the regulations and rules to educate yourself before you recreate by visiting https://idfg.idaho.gov/ and https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/nezperceclearwater/news-events for up to date information.
There are several fishing ___holes___ and hiking trails located within easy walking distance of the cabin with many more a short drive in any direction. The North Fork Ranger District prides itself on the diversity of world class recreational opportunities ranging from bird/wildlife watching, big game hunting, whitewater rafting, leisurely floats, secluded backpacking/equestrian trails into the high mountain backcountry, to motorized OHV trail systems providing unique experiences that draw visitors from around the world and all walks of life. Be sure to check the regulations and rules to educate yourself before you recreate by visiting https://idfg.idaho.gov/ and https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/nezperceclearwater/news-events for up to date information.
The cabin is situated in a small semi secluded clearing surrounded by evergreens, cottonwood, and alder mixed with huckleberries at the confluence of Kelly Creek and the North Fork of the Clearwater River. The area is known worldwide as a blue-ribbon fishery for West Slope Cutthroat Trout, and the beautiful crystal-clear waters are just a stone's throw from the cabin. A wide variety of wildlife including elk, white-tailed and mule deer, black bear, wolf, cougar, bobcat, mountain goat, moose, eagle, otter, marten, fisher, osprey, raven, king fisher, dippers and many more call the steep, densely vegetated river valleys home. Seasonal changes can be particularly enjoyable from the swift moving whitewater in the spring to the extraordinary fall colors pursued by the crisp white snow line.
For facility specific information, please call (208) 476-4541.
$65 / night
This facility is no longer reservable.
Canyon Creek offers 17 primitive sites (no electricity or water) with fire rings, picnic tables and a tent pad in a wooded setting located on the reservoir. Canyon Creek has one boat launch with a dock, two restrooms, “Pack It In-Pack It Out” bags, and a trail. Swimming is allowed at the boat ramp. Canyon Creek is the perfect place to camp with well shaded sites. Canyon Creek is a “Pack It In-Pack It Out” area there are no dumpsters or garbage cans available for use. Please help keep the park clean by taking your trash with you when you leave.
Castle Butte Lookout is a unique cabin perched on a rocky point, 6,659 feet above sea level. It offers breathtaking, 360-degree views of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, the Seven Devils Mountains, the Great Burn area and the deep canyons of the North Fork Clearwater River's upper drainages. A cabin was first constructed on this site in 1916 and was replaced in 1928 with a log cabin featuring a cupola. The current lookout was built in 1950. Access to the lookout is via the Lolo Motorway, a primitive, single-lane road constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s. It is not recommended for large RVs, vehicles with low ground clearance or trailers. Guests should be prepared to walk about 100 feet up steep, rocky terrain to reach the lookout. Castle Butte Lookout is equipped with a few creature comforts, but guests will need to bring some gear and supplies to help make their stay enjoyable. The panoramic view guarantees a memorable stay.
Hikers can follow the paths of the Nez Perce and Lewis and Clark on the historic Lolo Trail. The Lolo Motorway is popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts. Click here for an Idaho OHV safety message. Huckleberries are abundant in the summer, offering good berry picking opportunities.
The lookout is surrounded by a rocky landscape that quickly gives way to dense forests of lodgepole and ponderosa pines. This unique facility offers an ideal vantage point to watch sunrises and sunsets, and gaze at the stars. Wildlife enthusiasts may spot eagles, bears, moose, elk, deer and mountain goats.
The Lolo Motorway stretches for 100 miles through scenic mountain landscapes. Summer visitors can see meadows and hillsides blanketed in colorful wildflowers. Travelers should be prepared for rough, sometimes treacherous conditions. No services are located along this road, so travelers should have plenty of gas, food and water for the drive.
$45 / night
Let the beauty of Idaho surround you in the Kamiah Valley. Set along the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, this campground is directly across from the Clearwater River and the Heart of the Monster. You'll find plenty of recreation in the Kamiah Valley, from tubing down the Clearwater River to exploring the area's renowned fishing spots. The Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery expedition traveled through this region - the homeland of the Nez Perce - and it's still a delight to explore. The scenic byway is a favorite of motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts. Centrally located, this KOA is a short drive to some of Idaho's best OHV trails, hot springs and skiing locales. Pool: Memorial Weekend - Labor Day Weekend. Max pull thru: 100 feet.
$40 - $60 / night
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
Powell Campground provides direct access to the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River, one of Idaho's most scenic waterways. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness lies on the opposite side of the river. The campground is within walking distance of a small general store, fuel, lodging and a restaurant. The Powell Ranger Station is nearby as well, but all visitor services have moved to Lolo Pass Visitor Center.
The Lochsa River provides visitors with opportunities for fishing and other water-related recreation. Cutthroat and rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and steelhead swim in the clear waters. The Lochsa is world-famous for its exciting whitewater rafting opportunities. A permit is not necessary to float the river, but technical expertise is a must. A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are available in the wilderness area. The 1.5-mile Powell Complex Trail begins near the campground and leads west through cool, shady cedar and larch trees, making for a relaxing day trip. Hunting is also a popular activity in the rugged and primitive landscape. Highway 12, also known as the Lewis and Clark Highway, winds along the narrow river canyon through evergreen trees and past large rock outcroppings. Visitors enjoy the scenic drive and historic sites along the way.
Lochsa is a Nez Perce word meaning "rough water." The 70-mile river and its tributaries have no dams and the 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. The campground is situated in a dense forest in north-central Idaho at an elevation of 3,400 feet. It is across the river from the border of the 1.5-million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Famed explorers Lewis and Clark passed through on their way to the Pacific Ocean in September of 1805. Elk, deer, moose, bear, cougar and mountain goats make the steep canyon country their home.
A variety of services are available in the rustic resort area near the campground including a general store, lodging, food and fuel. Fishing licenses are also available for purchase. The nearest free dump station is 40 miles west on Highway 12, at the Wilderness Gateway Campground.
For facility specific information, please call (208) 942-3113.
$20 / night
This recreation area is part of Dworshak Reservoir
Liz Creek Cabin was built in 1929 in the remote backcountry as a Forest Service guard station and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. An extensive restoration that was completed in 2014 brought the cabin back to life as a rental available to the public. The small single room cabin has a loft and a covered porch. Although there are several entry points to the area, the site is only accessible by the single track multi use portion of Weitas Creek trail #20 that connects 12-mile saddle to the North Fork of the Clearwater River. Visitors are strongly advised to consult the forest website, as well as a map prior to reserving or traveling to the cabin and to call the district information desk for any questions.
While remote, this site offers a great chance to explore both riparian habitat and mountain vistas. Along with trail 20 a multi-use motorized trail, that is also open to ATV/UTV 50" or less from 12 Mile Saddle to within approximately 1.5 miles of the cabin. There are several other trails in the vicinity that offer connection to a host of recreation opportunities to the avid outdoors adventurer with berry picking, hiking, biking, sightseeing, fishing and hunting being the most popular. Recreate responsibly, be sure to check the regulations and rules to educate yourself before you recreate by visiting https://idfg.idaho.gov/ and https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/nezperceclearwater/news-events for up to date information.
Situated at an elevation of 3,500 feet at the confluence of Liz and Weitas Creeks, the site offers a panoramic view of the diverse surroundings. The forest beyond the cabins meadow varies from old growth conifer trees mixed with huge cedar snags from the great 1910 fires, to steep mountain sides filled with an abundance of vegetation, including Huckleberry, Mountain Maple, Thimble berry and alder. Weitas, and to a lesser extent Liz Creek, have multiple beaver dams unique to the area providing a water abundant habitat full of native flora/fauna, so visitors are likely to have several opportunities to catch a glimpse of the many species in the area. The cabin is an ideal base camp for those looking to reconnect with nature, or as a stopover for a variety of outdoor enthusiasts as they explore the district.
Depending on how you decide to travel into the cabin, there are many attractions along the way including the historic Lolo Motorway that stretches 100 miles through scenic mountain landscapes with spectacular views as it parallels a portion of the Lewis and Clark and the Nez Perce trails. Sites include but not limited to places such as; The Smoking Place, The Sinque Hole, and Spirit Revival Ridge. The North Fork ranger district prides itself on the diversity of world class recreational opportunities ranging from bird/wildlife watching, big game hunting, whitewater rafting, leisurely floats, secluded backpacking/equestrian trails into the high mountain backcountry, to motorized OHV/ ATV/UTV trail systems. These unique opportunities draw visitors from around the world and of all walks of life. Summer visitors also have the opportunity to observe meadows and hillsides blanketed in colorful wildflowers throughout much of the season. Travelers should be prepared for rough sometimes treacherous conditions. No services are located along this road so travelers should have plenty of gas, food, and water for the drive.
$40 / night
Traveler
No one is here on a beautiful October long weekend Saturday. I can see why. The reservoir level is way down! Just getting to the water is a challenge. Maybe this was nice years ago but it’s a good ways out from Orfino. Not worth the drive.
TravelerTook about an hour to get to our campsite, but was so worth it. Was a creek at the top of a mountain in the middle, I guess hence the name. Local had wondered how we found his special fishing spot. Was a place to swim, but we did not get in. Such a beautiful view and lots of nature to see.
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.
GuideMy site was gorgeous, looking out over the lake! The Campground was very clean and quiet. Vault toilet was well maintained. Swimming in the lake at the foot of a mountain was sublime.
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.
TravelerMe and some buddies went for a weekend and there was only 1 other couple there the whole time. Super quiet, you feel like you’re alone from the rest of the world. Super relaxed. There’s a toilet on site.
Traveler
Our group stayed in the cabin, but hoping to come back for tent camping in warmer months
Legend
This campground is right on the Lochsa River behind Lochsa Lodge. Some sites are reservable and some are FCFS. The river there is gorgeous. If you have a side by side there are lots of places to explore nearby. And if you don’t feel like cooking, you can run up to the Lochsa Lodge restaurant for a meal.
RangerMostly RVs at this campsite, 6 tent sites none were taken when we got there. Fairly clean bathrooms with showers. Across the road from Clearwater River. They did overcharge for laundry machines. Waiting to see if that gets corrected.
GuideWe had a wonderful time!! People are so friendly!! Nice shade trees all over, pool was great! Bathrooms where clean!!
GuideVery quiet, overlooking the lake. Clean vault toilets. Boat ramp. 4 miles of rough gravel road with tight turns.
ScoutI loved my stay . And I will be coming back to stay again
TravelerTo start, what a gorgeous area! Quiet, calm, nice.
At first when we rolled into our spot I thought I was going to be in huge trouble- drive through spot with a wicked drop off on the right side (camper door side) with the fire pit and picnic table at the bottom. I pictured kids falling, food mishaps, general non fun trudging up and down. Well, it actually turned out ok: we moved our 5th wheel as far from the edge as possible which allowed for a decent platform and we ended up having a birds eye view of what all the kids were doing. If that's still a problem, be mindful of what site you are signing up for, meadow ones are available.
Traveler
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.
GuideThe RV sites are level and have lots of shade and privacy. This is the kind of campground you want to stay a few days to relax in. There are communal water spigots, but they are not threaded so you can’t screw on a hose to refill your tanks. The pit toilets actually smell good, provided people follow directions to leave the lid shut.
GuideWe stayed in a cabin for two nights in late June 2021 and had an awesome time! Lots of great tent and RV campsites in a nicely maintained park! They have ONE handicapped cabin and 3 regular! Bathrooms are pit style but kept very clean!
Ranger
Campground is located a mile outside of town. Friendly staff and nicely maintained campground. There are a few small trees but mostly in the sun. Sites are close together. Big rig friendly and mostly pull through sites.
RangerI came here to hang out during a logging sports event and I really enjoyed the doc area where I sat with my feet in the water. We did not swim (except my dog), but we enjoyed the landscape and the lush green grass they were growing.
I do want to camp in this park but we were camping at another location with the logger sports team.
GuideWe stayed here for one night in early October and the campground was 1/3 filled. We were lucky enough to still find an open spot close to the river. The campground has 30+ sites, but they are well separated and it feels very private. The first loop has electricity, the second doesn’t. River access isn’t great, but it’s nice to hang out on the ridge above the river.
TravelerGreat sites next to river. Bathroom and water had already been closed for season. We had site 18.
TravelerThe reservoir was pretty low but the camp site was incredible #48. We had water and electric. Cool little guided nature trail for an evening walk with out little one to learn about animal tracks
GuideSo, I’m not sure why “resort” is in the title, this certainly not a resort in the traditional sense. But, this is a great place to stop if headed up the Lochsa River and has something for everyone.
The “resort” has riverfront cabins, double occupancy motel rooms, A frame cabins, RV spots with hookups and a large tent camping area for motorcyclists, bicyclists and hikers. The mix of campers makes thing interesting. Add to this that the river raft guides take out at this location and this is a busy and fun place to spend a night. It has been very busy every time I have stopped, often full of RV’s with families spending a long weekend.
There is a small market, restaurant and bar, and an outdoor pool and hot tub. The market is well stocked with most of what you might have forgot to pack. They sell firewood as well. The bar offers typical burgers and bar fare and was lively enough even in peak Covid. This is Idaho after all, Covid seems like an afterthought in most of central and North Idaho.
The resort is located along a sweeping bend of the Lochsa river, which the highway follows on the opposite side. With the proximity of the highway, the RV’s in the campground, the cabins, etc, this is not a tranquil wilderness campground. It is however a great spot to spend the night while passing through.
I was on a motorcycle and there were probably 8-10 other riders tent camping. Several fires were going and folks were friendly and outgoing. There was no cell service for AT&T, but the market and bar had WiFi that you could access by sitting outside the front door.
I’ve stayed here 3 times and it will always be on my list when passing through this part of Idaho.
GuideWe stayed here one night while on a road trip in Idaho. The park and facilities are extremely clean and have good amenities, like laundry and showers. Sunsets are great from this location! On the highway, but not much road noise. The WiFi and cell service was not the best. I would’ve rated it a five, but the office was closed the entire time and there were no instructions left for us with the code to the clubhouse and laundry, which we wanted to use. My calls to inquire with some questions weren’t returned.
LegendJuly 8-9, 2019 Beautiful campground. Smells like Christmas. Lochsa Lodge is within walking distance and very good. Site A016 had electric. There is water at the Rangers Station to fill fresh water tank. $10 per night with lifetime senior pass. There were flush and vault toilets. Pay showers $5 were available at the Lochsa Lodge. The dump station was 35 miles away. No cellular service. Lodge does have wifi.
GuideGood spots that aren’t to close to each other. $14.00 without electricity. $20 with power. The lochsa lodge has brekkie and a small general store with gasoline.
LegendSet up camp with close-by access to a developed recreation area. Lots of options for accommodation and easily accessible
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is Freeman Creek Campground — Dworshak State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 cabin camping locations near Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, with real photos and reviews from campers.
