Indian Creek Campground — Lake Owyhee State Park

There is no cell phone reception, nada, none.

For us, this makes it a great place to get away for the weekend and unplug from everything.

The lake is great for those with watercraft, but make sure you acquire an invasive species permit (even non-motorized equipment).

Campsites are managed by Oregon State Parks, and you will see a ranger drive through a few times in the evenings.

I have yet to see a campground host on duty.

We followed our RV GPS and it showed the campground (CG) as being at the dam, but we had about 5 miles more to go. There were reviews that the road to the CG areas was challenging. We had called the ranger station and asked if we could get a 39’ 5th wheel up the road and had asked on our FB owners group, both said yes just take it slow. The “fun” starts at the dam with the most challenging portion being after the turn-off for the first CG, McCormack CG, which has sites with 30 AMP and water. We added a video to this review showing the drive  to Indian Creek CG about a mile further up the road. We are seasoned 5th wheelers and went slow with no problem. While we were there a 42’ 5th wheel came in with no problem as well. If you decide to bring a big rig especially the first time, suggest arriving/departing on a non weekend day to try and avoid meeting up with a boater on the single lane road. The lake gets a lot of daily boat activity with most boaters in by 9:00 AM and out around 3:00 PM. When you enter the CG you are on the first level where the camp host resides. There are info boards on which one had the name of people coming in with reservations, but there was no formal check in. There was no problem getting to back-in site 62 with water and 50/30 AMP. Sites 62-67 are on the upper 3rd level. Water pressure was about 40 psi and no issues with the 50 AMP. There is no cell phone service here and we knew that coming in. You are about an hour away from amenities so plan accordingly. Near the dam, there’s a small hut that rents kayaks etc. and states WiFi is available, but we didn’t try it. We did set up our satellite and as there are no shade trees on the 3rd level there was a clear shot to the southern sky. The 2nd level has some trees plus two cute little cabins, and more trees on the 1st level. There are several vaulted restrooms in the CG and at the boat ramp. Sites in both CGs vary in size but seemed consistent with website size descriptions. The dump station is back up the road at the McCormack CG along with the shower houses. Have to say the drive was well worth the stunning mountain and lake views. We had mule deer and a covey of quail visit us mornings and evenings. Even in mid August, we pretty much had the CG to ourselves, Mon- Thurs.

Two campgrounds at the end of a single lane road. Road runs about 20 miles. The end of it is skinny in spots with turnouts to allow vehicles to pass. Beautiful reservoir that has plenty of room for party boats, bass boats and ski boats. Campground is relatively private in some areas. Quite nice ADA accessible camp sites. Water and electricity provided with a dump site on your way out. Multiple boat ramps throughout.

The campsites were not very private and there was hardley any shade but that is to be expected in the Owyhees. Even though it wasnt terribly crowded at the end of March I still felt like I could see and hear everything the people 2 campsites away were saying and doing. There was some cool little places to walk to that werent very far. There is also boat access. Toilets were clean. Beware of ticks in non designated campsites below the dam if you venture off for the day. Snivley hot spring is located below the dam as well.

So beautiful this time of year. Lots of rain so we skipped out second night, but we had a blast.

Camping season has finally sprung, so it was time to scope out a new camp ground and enjoy a road trip! That plan took me too Lake Owyhee State Park! It has to be on your list of camp grounds. The camp ground sites are flat which makes leveling a travel trailer nice or finding a smooth spot for a tent. Each site comes with a fire pit and a wonder view of the lake. The scenic drive to Lake Owyhee is stunning from the arches and natural walls of rock to driving through carved out rock. If you get the chance be sure to stop at the blue whole, it is absolutely haunting to think about a boat motor dying and possibly falling in. Eek!

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!