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janelle H.
Scout
ScoutRose Lake
Rose Lake Boat Launch
Free camping for up to three days. They have an open field above boat launch and a small parking lot.vault toilets. No garbage can. Please observe leave no trace practices.
Dispersed Camping near Heron, MT
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Several dispersed camping sites surround Heron, Montana, with options spanning both Montana and Idaho borders. Engle Lake offers highly-rated free primitive sites accessible only by hiking or walking 3.5 miles uphill on trails shared with elk and moose. According to one visitor, "This was my first ever backpacking experience and was a great introduction for me. The trail was challenging and encouraging." Bear canisters are recommended for proper food storage.
For vehicle-accessible dispersed camping, North Fork Coeur D'Alene River in Idaho provides free sites with river access and reasonable privacy. These sites permit campfires and allow both tent and RV camping. Cedar Creek Trailhead in Montana allows overnight parking for 5-6 vehicles in its lot after 5 PM with a spring nearby for filtered water. Sheldon Mountain Trailhead Camp features picnic tables, metal fire rings, and vault toilets, though enforcement has increased with officers documenting license numbers and restricting camping to designated areas. Most sites enforce a 14-day stay limit, typical for backcountry camping on public lands.
Best Dispersed Campgrounds near Heron (22)
1. Clark Fork Drift Yard
"It’s close to get back on HWY, there is noise but not horrible. Only 2 other campers when we came through but there’s a few open sections to have some space in between. Porta potty is well kept."
"There is a train near by, but we really didn’t notice the noise."
2. Clark Fork River Driftyard
"There are no facilities, but there is a porta-potty available (and it wasn’t terrible). This is a pack it in, pack it out area, so no trash cans or dumpsters available!"
3. Engle Lake Dispersed Camping
"We did the 3.5-mile trail. It was challenging and encouraging. My dog loved it too, and she's a larger breed!"
4. Hanks Meadow
"Have to ford Creek to access. Just one party there on memorial weekend. All the campsites on the way up here were very crowded."
5. Libby Creek Gold Panning Area
6. North Fork Coeur D'Alene River
"Fantastic access to the river for great fly fishing. Several spots in the trees and several in the more open areas. Vault toilet is to the right as you pull in about 1/8 mile away from pull off."
"The guy camping next to me was fishing and I wish I had but I forgot to get my Idaho license! The fish were jumping like CRAZY the night I stayed!"
7. Kismet Creek Camping
8. Oscar Miller Camping Area
9. Sheldon Mountain Trailhead Camp
10. Rose Lake
"Free camping for up to three days. They have an open field above boat launch and a small parking lot.vault toilets. No garbage can. Please observe leave no trace practices."
"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."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 26 min from Coeur d'Alene, ID
- 1 hr 56 min from Spokane, WA
- 2 hrs 21 min from Missoula, MT
- 3 hrs 21 min from Lewiston, ID
Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Heron, MT
25 Photos of 22 Heron Campgrounds
Dispersed Camping Reviews near Heron, MT
45 Reviews of 22 Heron Campgrounds
Arielle W.
GuideEngle Lake Dispersed Camping
Great introduction to backpacking, beautiful location
This was my first ever backpacking experience and was a great introduction for me. We did the 3.5-mile trail. It was challenging and encouraging. My dog loved it too, and she's a larger breed! I would recommend this trek for anyone who is wanting to learn and practice backpacking skills. There are a few cleared areas for dispersed camping at the lake and a few other locations along the 3.5-mile trail and the 11-mile trail to Engle Lake. It is mostly uphill along both trails, though, so be mindful of that when considering equipment and weight. It is a gorgeous spot and is close to the Engle Peak summit with 360-degree views of the Cabinet Mountains. When we were here, there were a lot of Elk and Moose foot-traffic. They probably won't bother you. Just be aware of them and store your food properly. There have been grizzly bears spotted here, but not that frequently, apparently. Nonetheless, bring a bear canister and place it 100-300 feet from your tent. Enjoy the preserved and lightly trafficked gem! And as always, leave no trace and follow COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines :)
Connie H.
RangerClark Fork River Driftyard
Great place for an overnight or a couple days!
We found this spot to be great for an overnight stop. It was a little out of our way… but you can’t beat a free spot with a great view! Camping limit is 3 days. There are no facilities, but there is a porta-potty available (and it wasn’t terrible). This is a pack it in, pack it out area, so no trash cans or dumpsters available! There are small fire rings scattered throughout the area. It was a pretty quiet spot, other than the trains going by, but that didn’t bother us at all. There was one other camper set up when we arrived around 7:00 PM, and a couple others showed up after us. The boat ramp had a lot of visitors in the early morning and you could hear gunshots in the distance from others hunting, which also didn’t bother us at all. Overall, we thought this was a pretty great find!
Kaitlin K.GuideBull 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.
- KKim A.Guide
Bull Run Dispersed Camping
Bull Run
Lovely spot. The sound of waterfowl are so peaceful. Excellant fishing spot if you have the appropriate license. Easy access to most of it in a car/van. Crushed gravel road with a few watery potholes. Right off the Cour de lain trail which is asphat paved so great spot for bike rides, walks, skateboard is your pebble aware 😂🛹. 3 days camping only allowed. Within site of some homes so wear clothes 😂 From the trail head take the little road with a sign that says "sportsmans access". i did not drive over to the wooded side as theres one spot thats a little iffy for my low vlearance van. More shade and privacy over there. This is a great spot for solar panels.
- SSnake P.
TravelerBull 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.
- William P.Traveler
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.
Kyle M.GuideClark Fork River Driftyard
Place to sleep
Not much to look at, but free. No amenities
- jjoshuaTraveler
Stevens Lakes Backcountry
Beautiful hike with breathtaking views!
By far one of my favorite Mt lake hikes! With great camping at both the lower and upper lakes, I recommend using the trails app to help navigate through the switch backs, and have lots of water! Me and my friends stayed at the lower lake, both hammock and tent camping.
Guide to Heron
Dispersed camping opportunities surround Heron, Montana within driving distance of both Montana and Idaho borders. Most sites in this region sit at elevations between 2,000-4,000 feet with the Cabinet Mountains providing a dramatic backdrop. Winter camping is limited by heavy snowfall, with most access roads becoming impassable from November through April. Summer temperatures typically range from 45-85°F with cooler nights common even during peak season.
What to do
Fish mountain streams: North Fork Coeur D'Alene River in Idaho offers excellent fly fishing access. "Fantastic access to the river for great fly fishing. Several spots in the trees and several in the more open areas," notes Kevin K. The area provides multiple riverside camping spots where "the fish were jumping like CRAZY" according to Maddie F.
Gold panning: Libby Creek Gold Panning Area provides designated areas for primitive gold panning enthusiasts. "This is an open claim area for primitive gold panners. Several sites with fire rings a short distance to the creek," reports Emmett S. The area features mostly evergreen forest with cedar, fir, spruce and pine trees.
River access: Clark Fork River Driftyard provides boat launch facilities and riverside camping. "We found this spot to be great for an overnight stop. It was a little out of our way… but you can't beat a free spot with a great view!" writes Connie H. The area enforces a 3-day camping limit with no facilities except a portable toilet.
What campers like
Privacy in secluded spots: Hanks Meadow offers riverside camping with limited sites. "Beautiful! Quiet River sign meadow. Approximately room for four camper setups. Couple of fire rings. Beautiful mountain side," reports David M. Even on holiday weekends, this area remains relatively uncrowded compared to other nearby camping areas.
Equestrian facilities: Sheldon Mountain Trailhead Camp provides amenities for horse riders. "Nice equestrian campground! Picnic tables, metal fire rings with grills, vault toilets. Big pretty pine trees!" describes Tee C. The campground frequently has low occupancy even on weekends.
Convenient locations: Some dispersed camping sites offer easy highway access for overnight stays. Clark Fork Drift Yard provides "a basic gravel parking lot overnight" that is "managed by the Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area office," according to Mike E. This makes it suitable for quick overnight stops rather than extended camping.
What you should know
Increased enforcement: Forest Service officers have increased presence at some sites. At Sheldon Mountain, one camper reported "Officer came by to say these roads aren't supposed to be here (and many were already blocked off) but you can still park in any of the sandy/dirt road but can't pull off anywhere. Took our licenses down."
Contamination concerns: Some areas have environmental issues from historic activities. At Libby Creek Gold Panning Area, campers should note "there is mercury contamination due to mining activity in the area in years gone by so dogs should be kept out of the water," warns Emmett S.
Limited cell service: Connectivity is spotty throughout the region. At Sheldon Mountain Trailhead Camp, a camper noted "I get one bar of Verizon service but it's not very useful." Plan accordingly with offline maps and emergency communication alternatives.
Tips for camping with families
Scout boat launch areas: Clark Fork River Driftyard offers family-friendly amenities for those with boats. "The boat ramp had a lot of visitors in the early morning and you could hear gunshots in the distance from others hunting, which also didn't bother us at all," notes Connie H. Morning hours tend to be busiest for boat traffic.
Consider creek access instead of river: For families concerned about river safety, creek-side camping may be preferable. At North Fork Coeur D'Alene River, Joe B. recommends: "We went to a spot off of the river, but next to a creek. The river spots fill up pretty fast, and the creek spots have more privacy. Our spot had a ton of room for our big group."
Look for vault toilets: Not all dispersed sites have facilities. At North Fork Coeur D'Alene River, Kevin K. points out "Vault toilet is to the right as you pull in about 1/8 mile away from pull off. During the summer float months, you can find a large dumpster at the entrance to throw away your garbage."
Tips from RVers
Check road conditions: Access roads can be challenging for larger vehicles. When visiting North Fork Coeur D'Alene River, Haley G. found "The road was crazy rough to my spot but looked like it was easier on the right side." Consider scouting access roads before committing to a particular site.
Limited level spaces available: At Cedar Creek Trailhead, overnight parking requires timing and space awareness. Clayton S. notes: "Cedar Creek trailhead is not officially a campground but the parking lot can be used for camping at after 5PM. It is not massive lot, but there is plenty of space for five or six tents or car campers."
Prepare for rustic conditions: Most rustic camping near Heron, Montana lacks hookups or amenities. At Libby Creek Gold Panning Area, Emmett S. shares his experience: "I drove a 24' class C RV and while there were a few different areas I could have parked, level ground was the principal factor for parking at a wide site right next to the road."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find dispersed camping near Heron Lake, NM?
Where can I find dispersed camping near Heron Lake, NM?
Several dispersed camping options exist near Heron Lake, NM. Bull Run Access Dispersed offers multiple spots with established fire rings. Take Highway 3, cross the one-lane South Bull Run Road bridge, continue right past houses until you reach the trail access parking area, then cross over the trail. For backpackers, Engle Lake Dispersed Camping provides a 3.5-mile trail that's challenging yet accessible for beginners. The area has numerous spots to set up camp, with some locations offering water views. Always check with the local ranger district for current access conditions and stay limits, as these can change seasonally.
Is there free RV camping available at Heron Lake?
Is there free RV camping available at Heron Lake?
Yes, free RV camping is available near Heron Lake. Hawkeye Campground is a big-rig-friendly option with no fees. For larger rigs, Stevens Lakes Backcountry has some accessible routes for RVs up to certain sizes. Many RV campers report success finding level spots with room to maneuver. Some visitors with fifth wheels up to 40 feet long and 13.5 feet tall have reported easy access at certain dispersed sites. Look for areas with adequate turnaround space and firm ground, especially during wet seasons. While amenities are minimal, most sites offer basic fire rings with plenty of space for larger vehicles.
What are the regulations for dispersed camping at Heron Lake?
What are the regulations for dispersed camping at Heron Lake?
Dispersed camping at Heron Lake typically follows standard public land regulations. Most areas limit stays to 14 days within a 30-day period. At locations like Rose Lake, camping is limited to 3 days. Always practice Leave No Trace principles, keeping campsites at least 100-200 feet from water sources. Campfires may be restricted during fire season, so bring a portable stove. Some areas like Libby Creek Gold Panning Area have specific environmental concerns to be aware of. Pack out all trash and human waste if toilet facilities aren't available. Check with local land management agencies for current regulations before your trip.
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