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Dispersed Camping

Owyhee-Dispersed

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Owyhee-Dispersed, near the Owyhee River in Oregon, is a rugged spot for those who crave a bit of adventure and stunning views. This area offers a true escape into nature, with plenty of room for dispersed camping and a chance to soak in the nearby hot springs.

The scenery here is breathtaking, with picturesque landscapes that make for great photo ops. Visitors have noted the beauty of the canyon views and the peaceful atmosphere, perfect for unwinding away from the hustle and bustle. Just keep in mind that some sites can be tricky to access, especially if you're not in a 4WD vehicle.

While there are no amenities like drinking water or electric hookups, the freedom to camp wherever you like is a big draw. Campers have mentioned the need to bring your own firewood and trash bags, as the area can get a bit messy. As one visitor put it, “It was very quiet and people usually only stayed a few nights,” making it a great spot for a peaceful retreat.

For those looking to explore, the Owyhee River offers opportunities for fishing and hiking, while the hot springs provide a unique way to relax after a day of adventure. Just remember to pack out what you pack in, and enjoy the natural beauty that this location has to offer.

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Location

Owyhee-Dispersed is located in Oregon

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

43.7003658 N
117.19413982 W

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Site Types

  • Dispersed

Features

For Campers

  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

DISPERSED CAMPING

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

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Reviews

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9 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 26, 2024

Beautiful, but...

It'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.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Casey B., June 26, 2024
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Casey B., June 26, 2024
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Casey B., June 26, 2024
Reviewed May. 28, 2024

Rocky campsites

All 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. . .

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed May. 24, 2024

The views are Beautiful

The 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.

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Apr. 3, 2024

Quiet.

This 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.

SiteDispersed
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Veronica G., April 3, 2024
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Veronica G., April 3, 2024
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Veronica G., April 3, 2024
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jun. 29, 2023

Beautiful but boisterous.

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.

Site5 minute walk north of hot springs.
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by aaron S., June 29, 2023
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by aaron S., June 29, 2023
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by aaron S., June 29, 2023
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Nov. 28, 2022

Amazing views! Sunset to sunrise

Was 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!

Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Fu yang J., November 28, 2022
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Fu yang J., November 28, 2022
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Fu yang J., November 28, 2022
  • (4) View All
Reviewed May. 25, 2022

Quiet

These 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.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Jada P., May 25, 2022
  • hot spring 2 min from my campsite
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  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Jada P., May 25, 2022
  • (6) View All
Reviewed May. 28, 2021

Hot springs near by

Parked 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.

SiteDispersed
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Sep. 2, 2019

High Desert At It's Finest

Pulled 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!

  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Andy S., September 2, 2019
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Andy S., September 2, 2019
  • Review photo of Owyhee-Dispersed by Andy S., September 2, 2019
  • (9) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find camping near Snively Hot Springs in Oregon?

Owyhee-Dispersed camping is available directly near Snively Hot Springs in Oregon. This BLM-managed dispersed camping area is located along the Owyhee River, with some sites just a 5-minute walk from the hot springs. The area offers spectacular canyon views and river access. Sites are available right off the road along the riverbank, though 4WD vehicles will have more options for accessing better spots away from the main road. The area can get busy during peak seasons, but typically has enough room for multiple campers to find space.

Are there primitive camping sites along the Owyhee River near Snively Hot Springs?

Yes, primitive dispersed camping sites are available along the Owyhee River near Snively Hot Springs. These are basic sites with no amenities or services - expect true primitive camping conditions. The ground is mostly river cobble (sometimes with thin soil cover), making tent stakes challenging. Some sites offer shade from clusters of trees, while others are completely exposed. If you have a rugged vehicle, you can access more secluded spots away from the road. Note that fires may be restricted as this is BLM land, and there's no cell service in the area.

What other hot springs are near the Owyhee River camping areas?

While Snively Hot Springs is the primary hot spring directly accessible from the Owyhee-Dispersed camping area, the broader Owyhee River region is known for other thermal features. The camping area has at least one other unnamed hot spring that campers mention soaking in. The Owyhee watershed contains several geothermal areas, though specific named hot springs beyond Snively may require additional travel from this particular camping location. Due to the remote nature of this region, it's advisable to bring detailed maps if exploring for other hot springs in the area.