Lake Owyhee State Park Campground
Drea M.
Reviewed Sep. 18, 2016

Prehistoric camping resort in a vast Star Trek landscape

First of all--this place is a very far out there but that's what makes it such an interesting gem in the middle of nowhere. I could have stayed here for days. We only stayed for three at the Indian Creek campground where our RV had both power and water and a view of this amazing body of deliciously cool water filled with little fish and sometimes obnoxious boater types.

After driving down a road for 25 minutes you need to drive another 45 to actually get to the campsites. There are BLM sites with pit toilets along the river to the lake but these are mostly used by the fly fisherman.

Once you get to the Lake itself--or rather the reservoir, you snake along the edges of the road and the lake to your site and it's amazing. It's like being at Capitol Reef in Utah and they added a lake you could swim in.

The sites on this farthest campsite are on a tiered hillside. There's no privacy but the landscape is about the openness and vastness of the space so you enjoy everything throughout the day....When the sun rises and sets there is a dramatic change.

The weather goes windy and cool quickly as the mysterious lake creates cool breezes or deadening heat. Because it's not easy to get here, there aren't tons of people and/or amenities. Stinky pit toilets are manned by a couple of camp hosts who seem to drink all day and tool about with their rig. That being said, they leave everyone alone and you are free to wander, swim, hike, find snakes and fully inhale the sage scented world that really does resemble an early Star Trek set.

There's water but it's not tasty and again, the bathrooms are fly-infested and difficult to stand even for me--a tough one.

Bring sun shades, sunscreen, loads of foods and methods of hydration and be prepared to get good and quiet in this landscape. A boat --inflatable or anything that floats, really, is a dream object here as I was practically the only one enjoying the water for the three days I was there.

I heard a rumor somewhere there are plans to turn this place into a National Park or Monument and I can totally see why--I hope you go and see it for yourself!

  • Review photo of Lake Owyhee State Park Campground by Drea M., September 18, 2016
  • Review photo of Lake Owyhee State Park Campground by Drea M., September 18, 2016
  • Review photo of Lake Owyhee State Park Campground by Drea M., September 18, 2016
  • Review photo of Lake Owyhee State Park Campground by Drea M., September 18, 2016
  • Review photo of Lake Owyhee State Park Campground by Drea M., September 18, 2016