Best Dispersed Camping near Ola, ID
Looking for the best Ola dispersed camping? Find everything from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking with The Dyrt. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Idaho excursion.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Ola, ID (13)
1. Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Idaho City, Idaho17 Reviews•47 Photos•369 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Dispersed
2. Mann Creek Recreation Area
Weiser, Idaho6 Reviews•22 Photos•19 SavesOverview
Mann Creek Campground is located near the Mann Creek Reservoir in the foothills of the West Central Mountains in western Idaho near the Payette National Forest. The reservoir is a popular boating and fishing destination. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Recreation
The reservoir offers 283 surface-acres of water and five miles of shoreline, although the water level fluctuates seasonally. Visitors enjoy boating, canoeing, swimming and trout fishing.
Natural Features
Mann Creek Reservoir lies in the rolling and arid foothills of the Hitt Mountains. At an elevation of 3,300 feet, the area is hot and dry in the summer months. Large shade trees help block some of the intense sun, but shade is limited.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (208) 549-4200.
- Pets
- Reservable
- RVs
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Toilets
$15 / night
3. Oasis Recreation Site
Weiser, Idaho11 Reviews•31 Photos•89 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- ADA Access
- RVs
- Tents
- Picnic Table
5. Boise National Forest Willow Creek Campground (Mountain Home)
Idaho City, Idaho4 Reviews•8 Photos•166 SavesOverview: 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.
- Pets
- Fires
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
- Alcohol
6. Mores Creek by Steamboat Gulch
Idaho City, Idaho1 Review•2 Photos•70 Saves- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- RVs
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
7. Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
Idaho City, Idaho4 Reviews•16 Photos•146 SavesIrish 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.
- Pets
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
10. Rapid Creek Dispersed Camping Area
Spink, Idaho1 Review•4 Photos•44 SavesThis is a small, quiet two-unit dispersed camping area located in the Paddy Flat area. Adjacent to Rapid Creek. Tables, fire rings and toilet available on site.
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Picnic Table
Recent Dispersed Reviews in Ola
31 Reviews of 13 Ola Campgrounds
Elise S.
Guide
Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
So pretty
Loved this spot! Parked our tow behind camper right on the beach. It is very muddy so don’t get too close to the shore, we had to help two vehicles get out of the mud. Also very buggy which is why is lost a star
Bradley B.GuideArrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Chill
Nice lil spot to relax . Really rough road is the only bad part
- SSarah S.
Traveler
Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
Beautiful spot, but difficult to get to
About an hour off the highway, 7 miles of which are washboard-bumpy gravel roads along the lake cliffside (Had to drive under 10mph those last 7 miles). We were in an AWD sprinter van, and the road conditions definitely put a damper on the night. Site is right on the water gorgeous once you’re there. The stars were incredible. Toilet on site but the flies were swarming.
ConnerGuideArrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
If you want lake access this place is magical
There 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
- KKevin C.Guide
Rapid Creek Dispersed Camping Area
Great secluded spot
The fir trees stand tall and still. I can’t figure out if they are waiting for something to happen or if they simply don’t care.
If you’re looking for sone sort of gorgeous panorama, this might not be the place for you. It’s really just a small meadow in the mountains that the BLM put a vault toilet and a couple of fire rings in. That being said, this place is beautiful.
You can’t see rapid creek from the campground but you can hear it. And that’s really just as good. The white noise from the creek matched with the occasional bird or other nature sound is one of the most relaxing things on the planet.
It’s high enough in elevation that this place gets nippy at night. I stayed in early August and the temps dropped into the upper 30s at night.
The campground is well maintained and the vault toilet was reasonably clean when I arrived. It became Kevin clean shortly after I set up camp.
There are trails from both sites near the vault toilet that lead down to Rapid Creek.
I never saw any bear scat but signs on the property warn of them so be smart with your food.
All in all, Rapid Creek dispersed camping is excellent if you just want a quiet place where no one is around. It’s amazing but not for the reasons people usually like in my opinion. ◦
Tee C.
LegendArrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Rough road but beautiful location
Entering 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.
- lleeTraveler
Mores Creek by Steamboat Gulch
good for a short stay
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.
- Jacob M.Traveler
Boise NF Road 82
Ok area
Was fairly trashed campground. Cleaned up two trash bags full of garbage. Random shoes, shell casing and mysterious empty glass containers.
- mmitch C.Guide
Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
Awesome reservoir
Free camping among the sparsely located pine trees. Great views of the water and mountains. Vault toilet nearby.
Will M.Guide
Mann Creek Recreation Area
Not a bad place
Nice oasis. Clean bathrooms and good sized sites. Even sites have the table and pit on the back side of your trailer. Lots of skeeters to take your spray. We also ran into a couple bull snakes.
ChristineTravelerMann Creek Recreation Area
Gorgeous, safe and quiet
Great place to stop on our drive from CA to ID. The other campground is just a few hundred yards up the road and it is a very park like gorgeous setting with restrooms. It was completely full on a weekday so we came to the primitive site. Wonderful. Level. Lots of respectful families Boondocking. We parked with our carryall trailer and our two vehicles and slept in our truck. What a gorgeous view and skies to wake up to. There’s a day use area further south that you can stop at on your way out for the restroom. If we go this way again, we will definitely stop here. Follow the directions, not the GPS coordinates. There is two roads to get in more creek and man creek. More creek will make you wish you had a sports bra on and a new suspension for your car when your finally get to pavement...
- CCharlieTraveler
Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
First Dispersed Solo Moto
Rode in on my GS fully packed and as previously reviewed it was a bumpy road from the dam but not difficult. I was the only one here but the neighboring site had a couple people. Very quiet location. Happy I didn’t stop at hotel as it was getting near dark as I rode in and wasn’t sure what to expect. If I’m ever passing through Boise again I’ll be stopping back here for the layover. Also, a toilet was available. That was unexpected.
Mike E.LegendIrish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
Tough to get to but worth it
Located on the shore of Arrowrock reservoir, this camping area is bare bones. The road in is all gravel on a steep hillside along the shore and several miles to get in. Many potholes and ruts. It will take you about 20-30 minutes from Boise to get to the dam and then another 30 minutes to get to Irish point if you are towing a trailer. You'll have to go slow. This is a nice reservoir and great sunsets and some shoreline camping. In the late season, the water level is usually quite low making it difficult to launch boats. We have a 30ft travel trailer and once was probably enough for quite some time. Tough access. Bad road. The only site improvement at Irish Point is a vault toilet.
Caley M.GuideArrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Quiet and free, Dispersed
We drove way past Lucky Peak Res until we saw trees. There are 2 pull offs here with lots of spots to camp. There are lots of firepits around the area and water access. Cool spot.
Amy S.LegendMann Creek Recreation Area
Awesome spot!
This is a great campground near the reservoir. Lots of shade trees, almost a park like setting. Plenty of room to roam from this base camp. It does get pretty hot in the summer.
- Amy S.Legend
Mann Creek Recreation Area
Beautiful Reservoir
This is a great area. There is camping around the reservoir and at the near by campground. Up past the reservoir there are roads to ride ATV's. There is not a lot of shade and it gets hot in the summer. Spring and fall are really nice times of year here.
- Mike E.Legend
Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Beautiful area, lousy road
The road is severely pot-holed. with many lengths being 4-ish MPH if you are towing a trailer. This road is mainly good for razors and toy haulers, not RVs. Many spots are 1 lane only. There are also washouts intruding into the roadway making it a little tight to get by for a pickup truck sized vehicle
- John T.
ScoutArrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Arrowrock off season
Super great spot that is close to town - pro's and con's are already covered and i agree - especially packing out more than you pack in as trash spoils the appeal. Driving a large bed camper isn't so bad but is slower for sure and the narrow spots can be sketchy with multi-vehicle with trailers meeting there. I like the shoulder seasons best - wish i had a boat to add additional fun. Your results might vary but I've had nothing but fun in the area.
Spencer L.Legend
Lake Louie Dispersed Backcountry Camping
Beautiful
Challenging hike in with packs but very doable. Once you reach the lake it is stunning. We did this hike in July in the evening time. There was plenty of shade and a cool breeze that made it enjoyable. Be aware of the temperature before tackling this hike. There are a number of campable areas surrounding the lake. Hammocking is ideal due to the close clumping of trees all around the lake.
April S.TravelerArrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Fun for the day!
This was a super fun spot to go play in the water for the day. Only thing I would change is the fact that there is no shade. The weather wasn’t great so while camping at night, it was crazy windy which was rough haha. Also, there were people blasting loud music until super late, but otherwise this is a nice spot.
- BBrianna S.Traveler
Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
RAV4 Camping
Awesome place! Like some of the others said, drive in could be a bit sketchy it you’re towing or have a large vehicle - but we passed plenty of boats/RV’s, just have to go slow. There’s multiple spaces and if you’re not too specific about being near the water, you can have some decent privacy.
- EEric Y.Guide
Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Irish Point
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.
- Hanah O.Traveler
Mann Creek Recreation Area
Cute
I’d go back here for sure nice person runs the place and the lots are big enough you don’t hear your neighbors.
- Bryan R.Scout
Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Easy place
Gets busy in the summer
- Laura C.Guide
Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Private
Me 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. 💚
- Brett P.Guide
Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Tons of beach area, not many people!
Be careful as the drive is a little sketchy. The water is clean and there is tons of beach area! Bring the kayaks and get paddling!
- LLaurie W.Traveler
Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
Good place to swim and boat
So 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.
Guide to Ola
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Ola, Idaho, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, you'll be able to enjoy the great outdoors in peace.
Dispersed campers should check out Herrick Reservoir Access
- This area offers free camping with a limit of 10 days, making it a great choice for those looking to extend their stay without the hassle of fees. Check it out at Herrick Reservoir Access.
- While there are no designated sites, the views around the reservoir are quite nice, providing a picturesque backdrop for your camping experience.
- Be cautious of private land surrounding the area, as some roads may not be public, which could lead to unexpected encounters.
Tips for free and dispersed camping near Ola, Idaho
- Consider visiting Mann Creek Recreation Area for a well-reviewed spot that features clean facilities and ample space for both tents and RVs.
- If you're looking for a more secluded experience, Mores Creek by Steamboat Gulch offers a variety of free sites near a shallow creek, perfect for those who enjoy a bit of tranquility.
- For a unique experience, check out Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed, where you can park right on the beach, but be mindful of muddy conditions.
Scenic spots for dispersed camping enthusiasts
- Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground provides stunning views of the water and mountains, making it a beautiful location for nature photography and relaxation.
- If you're up for a bit of a drive, Willow Creek Campground is known for its fishing opportunities and picturesque surroundings, perfect for a peaceful getaway.
- For those who appreciate a bit of adventure, Rapid Creek Dispersed Camping Area offers a serene atmosphere with the soothing sounds of the creek nearby, ideal for unwinding after a day of exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Ola, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Ola, ID is Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed with a 4-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Ola, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 dispersed camping locations near Ola, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.