Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Airway Heights? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the trees or wide open spaces, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect dispersed campsite.
Entire area is open year round. There are no fees. There are no facilities or services available with the exception of one vault toilet at Folsom Farm. Both lakes have concrete boat launches maintained by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (paid in advance parking permit from WDFW is required.)
The Fishtrap Area offers 9,000 acres of beautiful landscapes and an old farmstead, with habitats ranging from forest to shrub-steppe, grassland, and wetlands. Fishtrap is home to two scenic fishing lakes and numerous species of birds and other wildlife. The historic Folsom Farm Recreation Site demonstrates how the landscape was converted into small farms, ranches, and communities beginning in the late 1800’s. Enjoy the chance to explore, view and study nature, picnic, backpack, horseback ride, mountain bike, or hunt throughout the entire Fishtrap area. Fishing for stocked rainbow trout is popular at Fishtrap Lake, and during the winter season at Hog Canyon Lake. Know Before You Go: Fishtrap Recreation Area is open year-round has no developed campsites. The South Loop Trailhead parking lot has substantial space for vehicle and RV parking/camping. Additional minimal space is available at the Folsom Farm, and Hog Lake Loop Trailhead parking lots. See the Fishtrap Area map. vehicle and RV parking/camping is limited to existing parking areas and camping pull-outs. Dispersed (tent) camping is allowed. Please practice the seven Leave No Trace principles when recreating on Public Lands. Check Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishing regulations for fishing seasons at Hog Canyon Lake and Fishtrap Lake. Both lakes have concrete boat launches maintained by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (a paid in advance parking permit from WDFW is required.)
The stream flows through low wooded mountains joining the South Fork to form Chewelah Creek. This stream flows into the Colville River. In addition to fishing, visitors also hunt, horseback ride and camp along the creek. There are approximately 8 miles of the North Fork located on NFS lands. There are also many tributaries to the North Fork that are fishable. There are dispersed camping sites that exist along the stream at various locations. Washington state fishing license required. See Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at http://wdfw.wa.gov/ for more information. Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Campfire in developed fire ring only Fireworks are prohibited Pets must be under voice command or on leash OHV use allowed Maximum length of stay: 14 days Food and wildlife attractants must be properly stored at all times
Guide
At first glance, Cow Lake is a beautiful and secluded oasis tucked away in the scablands of Eastern Washington.
However, the area is a very popular local fishing and recreation spot and gets crowded on the weekends.
Cow Lake is about 10 miles east of Ritzville and is a free, dispersed camping area.
The road here is dirt and the last mile or so is pretty rough. But, most vehicles shouldn’t have any problems.
There are no services, facilities or potable water but cell service was good.
We arrived early Friday afternoon and there were just 2 other vehicles here. But, by evening there were over a dozen boisterous people fishing along the shore. Sound travels well over water and it was very noisy.
Luckily, the people fishing left and we basically had the area to ourselves until Saturday morning when family groups arrived for a day of fishing and fun.
By far the worst of it was the yahoos who came in later that evening to drink and shoot their guns. It was like we were camping in the middle of a shooting range.
We would not camp here again. Too crowded, too noisy & too many guns.
Guide
BLM land was easy to find right off the highway. Rough gravel road easily traveled in a truck, low clearance vehicle may have trouble. There were a few people with campers at the end of the road. A lot of dispersed sites, some close to the road, a few very private. Two nice lakes.. at the end of the road you cross to state park land which does not allow camping but is very well marked with a gate and signs. There was a fe portapottys scatter along the road. Light freeway noise, did hear one night train, but for free and a beautiful landscape not too bad.
GuideThe fishing area is closed for the season and there are no camping signs everywhere around it. Before you come there is a sign for the BLM land and you will follow that down. When you get to the end there’s a porta potty but the vault toilet is closed. There are no fire rings or tables but flat grass you can see used for camping. ATT service is limited.
Guide
Rock creek runs through this lovely BLM land with 2 sets of falls. It's a great spot in late winter or early spring if you're looking for solitude. We visited in February and saw 4 or 5 people, but no one stayed the night except us. Towell falls is beautiful, but we have yet to visit Breeden falls. The ranch has an interesting history and it's fun to poke around the old structures.
GuideThe campground itself is on BLM land and is primitive. There is a pit toilet, picnic tables, fire rings, corrals and horse water. The camping itself is on the primitive side, but the scenery it magnificent! The last two miles driving in is a rough dirt road, and a vehicle with ground clearance is highly desirable. A three mile hike/horseback ride takes you through Washington's Channeled Scablands to Towell Falls through spectacular buttes and meadows along the creek. The best time to visit is in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom and before the RATTLESNAKES get populous. The night skies are particularly dark because you're a long way from any civilization. It's also interesting exploring the old ranch building that remain on the site. The area is popular with horsemen and trail groups up to a bit of "roughing it." It also can be a great day trip from the Spokane Washington area.
GuideFree pack in pack out dispersed camping
RangerWe found the most amazing site! We felt like we were on top of the world! Clear open skies! Loved the sound of the cows, coyotes, and owls! Total dispersed camping! Thank you to whoever left us wood!
Traveler
Usually visit in April. There are a TON of dispersed camping areas within a mile of this "campground" so if its full, it's not a big deal.
With that said, I've never run into any issues with folks using this campground but there's a first time for everything. Most of my time spent in this area has been dead quiet and usually quite private.
LegendThis is great for boondocking and we liked it. Be aware that its gravel road and bumpy in spots. We came upon a group that had high centered their airstream trailer trying to cross a small drainage ditch to access a site. You may need to do some tricky maneuvering to get into and out of some of these road spurs and spots. We had very high winds one night, but by luck we had selected a spot at the end of the road near hog lake that had us nestled between to small "hills" and trees which protected us. we were not in the open and exposed to the wind directly. Even so, it shook our trailer but we were snug and secure. Not for the novice boodndocker. This is BLM open land camping at its purest.
TravelerThe good -A beautiful camp ground. Small space with multiple dispersed camp sites along the creek and throughout the wooded area. The creek is very small but powerful. You can not swim but still a great place to get wet. If you have a tube bring it and enjoy a short river ride. Not a good place to fish. The main camp area is completely shaded keeping things cool. The camp is very close to the creek. Still there was no issues with bugs. I did not need bug spray. There are established stone fire pits or you can gather up some rocks and make your own. Plenty of deadfall and fire wood all over the place. There is also a fence that runs the perimeter of the camp area. Helping to keep the predators out. The only animal I saw besides squirrels and birds was a skunk. Bears, coyotes, wolves and cougars are know to frequent the area.
The bad - Many of the locals are not friendly and claim the whole creek portion of the camp ground for themselves. There are about 6 different camp sites directly on the main creek. The others are spread out through the woods. People often use the creek just to bring their kids down to frolic in the water for a few hours. More than once I have been approached and ran off by hostile creek users. Im sure there are good folks around their too. That said the few people I have met out there are nasty and will refuse to share the campground causing all kinds of drama until you just get mad and leave. Last weekend I was approached by 4 men who were not camping just using the creek to tube with their kids. I was told that I better go find another place to camp. That they were using the creek and I could not be there. I set up anyways camping away from them and was not in anyway a bother to them. Still they continued to come over and harass me about leaving. Until I finally I strapped on my pistol approached them and told them I wasn't going any where. I was met with a lot of cussing and threats. But finally They did leave! So sad a beautiful place I truly loved the area. Not sure if I will continue to go back. It was not worth the ignorance or drama of other human beings. No toilets or electricity, No wifi or fresh drinking water. If you can avoid ignorant humans I would recommend this place to camp.
TravelerNice open blm area, rustic campsites. there's an established trail that goes to hog lake and the boat launch area which is only accessible on foot when we were camping. The lake access (with the toilet) is not open, gate is locked. Saw a rattlesnake on the trail but we kept our distance and he went on his way. Be kind to the animals, it's their home. Can stay up to 14 days
GuideA lot of places to camp here all equipped with fire rings. We had a 30ft RV and drove in on the nice gravel road. We took the very last camping spot closest to the lake and it had a good amount of shade on all sides. It was big enough to fit two campers if camping with friends. The spot was very spacious and felt private. It was clean with only a couple specks of trash that we found.
We walked down to the lake and it looked great for paddle boarding or small boats/rafts but not for swimming. There is a lot of seaweed and it’s murky.
The area/sites are really dusty in July. Lots of dirt but the road is gravel. Sites are pretty well spread out.
We took a little hike and saw a buck with a big rack on it, other deer, and a coyote. Great spot for back country hiking.
ScoutBeautiful BLM area! Plenty of drive-in areas and tons of land around the lake to access. The single vault toilet is down at the lake, but helpful if needed. We will be back!
Guide
This is a primitive site on an island in Bonnie Lake in Eastern Washington. Bonnie lake is a canyon lake, about 4 miles long and narrow. The island and surrounding sq. mile of land is owned by the BLM. Access is by paddling up Rock Creek about a mile and another 1/2 mile paddle up the lake. The creek can be seasonally shallow and you'll have to portage across at least one beaver dam. The island is rocky and brushy with enough flat spaces for a tent or two and trees for hammocks. The steep canyon walls provide a stage for coyotes to sing back and forth. Please use sanitary bags to pack out your waste (poop). The island's soil isn't deep enough for proper burial.
There is a spit of land on shore where you can camp too, but I've not done that.
RangerWe found a great spot to camp but since it was dispersed we made our own fire ring and camped in this area. There were some other sites that were occupied or we did not like it as much as the spot we ended up pitching up camp. Saw no ticks, but did get a few bites from other insects.
Hearing the birds was really cool.
Traveler
Quiet campsite in Fishtrap Recreation Area.
Pros:
Very quiet open sites. Plenty of opportunity for solar 3 bar 5g Tmobile Open mostly level sites Not very busy Some larger sites able to accommodate bigger rigs (25' at least)
Cons:
No amenities (where we are, maybe further in they have them) Dusty and dry Fire restrictions in place Sites have some trash in them.
Overall we enjoyed it for a layover stay. It's very quiet, open skies were good to recharge solar and stargaze and it was a nice break from some of the more crowded campsites.
LegendThis site has a very strange energy about it...though we were here on a hot weekend so perhaps the discomfort with the heat colored our experience. Campsites are equipped with rings and there is a restroom
TravelerWe really enjoyed our night stay , it was very quiet and the campsites were spread out well enough that it was quite private! We will be going back . Can’t drive right down to the lake , but you can walk in and take the trail around it .
GuideThis campsite was the perfect break in our drive from North Cascades to Glacier. The road was easy to find and there were so many great sites. There is a porta potty too. We found a site that was both tent-able and hammock-able. Lots of mosquitoes though!
LegendPlenty of campsites and Verizon gets 2-3 bars of service. I found a shady spot by a large pine tree. Only a couple miles from the highway and the road is in good shape for getting in and out. Only a few other vehicles here but still plenty of space for all!
ScoutThis is a lovely secluded spot for amazing star-gazing on a clear night. At night it is in complete darkness, away from traffic noise, and you can hear the coyotes as they move nearer (I know, a little creepy, but making a little noise is all you need to do). It is very flat and would be reasonably accessible for someone using a wheelchair or with other mobility restrictions. The picnic tables are even accessible! There are fire rings, a pit toilet, and stables and water for your horses. No portable water for humans, so bring your own. There's no shade other than under a nice picnic table shelter, so it was best for us to come late in the day and then make breakfast under that shelter.
LegendStayed for a night to breakup a long drive. Arrived Monday evening and was the only one here. It’s just a large gravel parking lot with a single vault toilet, no other services. The road getting into here is very bumpy the last half mile so take it slow. Close to the interstate so easy to get to. Surrounded by fields and beautiful sunsets. Definitely would stay again and it’s free!
GuideA bathroom and a parking lot to camp in. THE VIEWS are are a must see, the scablands of Washington are up there with the badlands in unique
TravelerNice little place. The road gets a bit rough. I personally would not want to drive anything bigger than a camper van down there but there are quite a few bug turnaround spots and some nice big sites. Be careful going into the sites as there is a dip. My Kia seemed to think I was just nose diving into a crevice as I was getting across with all its sensors screaming at me. Some coyotes came through camp at some point during the night. I heard them howling from a distance but only knew they came into camp because they left footprints in the frost. Only one other person was out there so nice and quiet
GuideLovely and quiet! Spacious! (Rare train but it does not bother me.) Picturesque lake surrounded by pine trees! So lovely! So glorious!
TravelerEasy access off of I90. Mostly quiet overnight stay as we heard some people from another site and the road was trafficked with people looking for sites. Train noise as well. A fire pit was available. But there was some broken glass and shell casings at our site
GuideCutting through this area needed night to crash, stumbled upon this last minute. Easy to find easy to access in our Honda accord. Lots of spaces but also lots of ppl. Was peaceful though. Lots of cows singing at night. I didn’t mind though. Heard some coyotes in the distance. Wasn’t a problem though
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Airway Heights, Washington, where nature enthusiasts can enjoy serene landscapes and a sense of adventure. With a variety of options available, campers can find the perfect spot to unwind and connect with the great outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Airway Heights, WA is Hog Lake Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
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