Looking to get away and reconnect with nature? Glamping near Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is the perfect choice. Glamping near Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is especially popular among campers who enjoy beds and electricity. These scenic and easy to access Idaho glamping locations are perfect for any adventurer.
This recreation area is part of Dworshak Reservoir
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
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.
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.
Scout
It was a fond memory as a child. Going to the water pump and enjoying natural mineral water. It's nestled a little ways back so it can be missed easily if you are not paying attention but well worth the trip.
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.
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.
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
TravelerAfter passing through a few other sites in MT that were full and lackluster we came across this site and pulled in late in the evening.
The site was large, contained a picnic table and fire pit with cooking grate, and had plenty of trees for hammocking. The campground is bordered on one side by the Lochsa River and the other side by the Powell Ranger station and Lochsa Lodge.
$14/day to camp and I think $20 if you need an RV hookup. This campsite also has a dumpster which is helpful as the sites we were using for the prior week did not.
RangerIt is not the easiest to get to, and the road is a test for your engine and brakes, but once you arrive it is a quiet peaceful park with great water access. We originally had a reservation for a view site with no hook ups, but upon arrival they had a hookup site(#104) available, and the temps were nearly 100 degrees, so we took it! The park is large and thus the areas seem nicely spaced apart, never felt crowded, even though there are over 100 sites. There is lots of shoreline and plenty of water for everyone. We launched the kayaks and enjoyed the water ourselves- paddled to the opposite shore and found a remote unoccupied camp.
TravelerUmmm...where do I start. We stayed here June 2019 with a creek rushing nearby that made for amazing sleep. Quiet during the weekend, we stopped by here one night for camping. I would recommend picking up groceries or wood in Lolo, MT if needed because not much on hwy 12 on the way there. The camp host kept the area clean and was available if needed. Definitely recommend this campsite if driving in.
GuideFreeman Creek at Dworshak State park has great opportunity for all levels of camping. Tent sites, RV/Trailer sites, or a few small primitive cabins (no bathrooms or kitchens in the cabins). There is also access to the reservoir for boating, fishing or to mini-camp sites all along the reservoir. Kokanee fishing is great from March to about late July. The spawn begins in August, so the fish move up the reservoir as the season progresses. Smallmouth bass fishing is great! The Idaho state Smallmouth record was caught in this lake. Day use parking is available for a small fee. For Idaho residents with the State Parks pass reduces the fee. A lot of wildlife viewing too! If you are lucky you may see a black bear feeding on blackberries, deer are numerous, elk frequent the lake, and one of my favorites is to watch Osprey dive in the lake for fish.
I have been at this park in every month of the calendar, but only camped from April thru October.
ScoutWe book a group camp site every year and have a camping reunion!
The kids love it and the grown up worry less at such a family appropriate park
Rangervery beautiful place lots of places to go fishing not far from camp and lots of area to hunt
RangerIm more into camping in more remote locations but this camp has it all if that's what you want great place just not my kinda camping
RangerGreat pay camp that has everything you could need
ScoutPowell Campground is a beautiful campground just over the Montana border on Hwy 12 right alongside the Lochsa River. There are two loops of campsites tent and RV pull in or back in camping with electricity that can accommodate up to a 45 ft camper. An amphitheater, large group campsite, picnic area, beautiful walking trails and most of all the beautiful Lochsa Lodge. A market with the friendliest people, cabins to rent and of course the beautiful Lochsa River. Lewis and Clark camped along the Lochsa and walked right through the campground.Deer, Elk and Bear sightings are common.
RangerGreat 34 site campground with electric and non-electric sites. Some are reservable, while others are first come, first served. The spaces are large and have many huge trees so a sense of privacy exists; some sites are right on the Lochsa River. The bathrooms are fancy; there are flush toilets and sinks. There are even logs at each site to split for campfires. Really a nice spot. Highly recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is Freeman Creek Campground — Dworshak State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 9 reviews.
