Best Dispersed Camping near Wallowa Whitman National Forest

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Wallowa Whitman National Forest

34 Reviews of 23 Wallowa Whitman National Forest Campgrounds

• 

  allison W.

  Legend

  Jul. 17, 2022

  Southern Elkhorn Mtn/Powder River Basin Area

  Huge and diverse area

  Boondocking is easy with a camper van or tent setup in this national forest area, but it’s hard to make a generalization that covers this vast collection of campgrounds and areas. It earns a good review at the end of the day for being conveniently located and hassle free; you can always find a decent spot up around the bend and it’s the right mix of privacy and tranquility while being reasonable close to civilization if calamity strikes.

• 

  Paige P.

  Ranger

  Jul. 20, 2025

  Wolf Creek Reservoir

  Sweet Spot

  A handful of great places to camp for the night- very clean and well taken care of so please leave no trace. Just a spot and a table, no water, restrooms ect.

• 

  Arielle W.

  Guide

  Oct. 4, 2020

  Echo Lake Dispersed Camping

  Gorgeous and remote. Be prepared to CLIMB!

  This is not an official campground. There is a lot of space for campers, though, and it is not heavily trafficked. The trek to Echo Lake is about 8 miles (one-way) from the start of the Hurricane Creek Trail. When you arrive at Echo Lake, beauty awaits you! This location is a remote and peaceful retreat. The lake is so clear and serene. The views of the mountainside are breathtaking. This is a great site for groups and there is enough space to spread out. The stars are vivid and you can see the movement of the stars and moon along the mountains.  The trek to the lake is SO WORTH IT! This is probably one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been to. It gave me the wilderness escape that I needed. It is a hidden gem! Whenever you visit, leave your stressors behind you and enjoy the preserved beauty. The lake is very cold, but I definitely enjoyed the shock after the hike in! 

  The hike into Echo Lake is an intense incline! We tracked about 3,500 feet of elevation gain in about 5 hours during our hike in. The way back only took us about 3.5 hours and is mostly downhill. I would not recommend this hike for a beginner hiker/backpacker. I carried 60 lbs on my back up and down this trek and it was A LOT for me as a relatively new backpacker (with endurance conditioning). It is a hike that one should work towards, for sure! This trek is would be great crosstraining for an endurance athlete (like me!). At times, the incline felt like a 10-15% grade, but I do not know this for sure. It is pretty steep and challenging if you are carrying a lot of weight. I recommend going as minimalist as possible to avoid extra weight, if possible. I brought my bull mastiff dog along with me and she had a blast! I would recommend conditioning your dog for a trek like this. It can be pretty gnarly and steep at times! My dog wouldn't have made it if she had not done treks like this before. There are creeks along the route to the lake and I would bring extra water to hydrate your dog in between water sources. As always, leave no trace and keep this spot pristine and clean :)

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• J

  Judy W.

  Guide

  Aug. 8, 2022

  Balm Creek Reservoir Dispersed Camping

  Boondocking

  Directions:  About 13 miles from Medical Springs on a gravel road (half hour or so). Take Big Creek Rd to Collins Lane.  That turns into USFS 67, then 72.  The gravel road is good, but access to the camping is pretty narrow and rougher.  Probably not a good place for a big nice camp trailer.  

  Camping is dispersed, mostly on the west side of the reservoir. The east side has a few spots but the road is really rough toward the dam. Fish are stocked. Boats with oars, paddles or electric motors are allowed. There are no improvements.  Check fire restrictions.  Campfires are prohibited almost every year for most of July, August and September.  Cattle graze here.  The water level gets pretty low by August.

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• 

  h22 E.

  Scout

  May. 11, 2024

  North Elgin Dispersed Camp

  Nice quite place

  Great free place to camp 4x4 is advised and not really car accessible. Down side no water near by, not even a creek.

• 

  Evan W.

  Guide

  Aug. 18, 2024

  Dispersed near Baboon Creek Quarry

  Good spot for a few nights

  There are a few spots and spurs off NF-6510 that would make for good boondocking. Might be hard to get level, but other than that it’s pretty nice. The spot on the map has a stone fire ring. There are a few spots before and after that would be suitable to setup camp as well.

  I got to the spot marked on the map in my extended Transit, but I’m sure road conditions may change with the seasons, storms; etc. Depending on your comfort, you may only want to head this way with high-clearance vehicle.

• 

  Marasha L.

  Guide

  Jul. 10, 2024

  Wallowa-Whitman NF 21 - Dispersed

  Easy Nature

  Many options for private pull-offs once you drive past established NF campgrounds—likely tough to do without high clearance and/or 4WD when wet. Only “traffic” was the occasional ATV/OHV. Tons of great hiking around.

• 

  Nick J.

  Guide

  Oct. 11, 2024

  Aneroid Lake Backcountry Dispersed Campsite

  Great Backcountry High Alpine Lake

  Aneroid Lake is one of my favorite locations in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. The dispersed camping for backpackers is on the North side of the lake, whereas the South side is private property (Camp Halton). The lake is stocked every few years with rainbow trout, and has a good supply of brook trout.

  The water is very cold but worth the dip if it's a hot summer day.

• 

  Michael W.

  Guide

  Jul. 4, 2023

  Wallowa-Whitman NF 21 - Dispersed

  Hasty overnight

  Easy and vacant find for a last minute change to our route. Primitive dispersed campsites with rock fire rings right off the highway. Down side is it's a little too noisy for my taste. Would have driven further down into the woods if I had more time to set up as we got here late. All in all its an easy find just off the highway.