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The Horse Camp Trailhead serves as the north end of the popular Sand Mountain OHV Trail system. The actual trail begins on the north side of the 381 road while the trailhead is on the southern side. Some dispersed camping is available on a first come first serve basis.
Guide
A 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
GuideThe drive was mostly dirt roads. I managed just fine in a Subaru for context. The hike itself was incredible and a bit primitive at points. Bring bug spray and maybe a machete lol. I was getting close to where one of the waterfalls was and ran into a Coyote who would not budge. That pretty much ended the hike as I could hear others howling nearby.
The hike back was even amazing with the Sunset and landscape making me feel like I was on another planet. The best part was pure luck as I setup camp on the road back during a new moon which was perfect for star gazing and astro photography. I’m an amateur and took my time to learn my camera a bit. This little adventure was my favorite thus far this year.
GuideRock 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.
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Scout
Quiet primitive campsites on the lower Snake River - at least, in late November, when there was only one other campsite in use. I suspect it's a bit busier in the warmer weather.
Clean, frequently checked toilet. No water or power. Tables and fire rings at each site.
The Little Goose Dam entry point is open in the daytime from 7:30 to 4:30. Signs state that crossing is only open once an hour on the half hour, but the security guard opened up right when we got there both entering and leaving. There are also campsites along the river before the Riparia campground entry. Easy gravel road into the campground.
Open all year. No wood fires allowed from June 10 through October 10.
https://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Lower-Monumental-Dam-Lake-West/Riparia/
Ranger
While this is not my favorite spot, it’s very close to where I live. This is my go to spot when I just want to get a quick overnight camp in. I will be returning here soon and will take photos to share.
Depending on the time of year it can be loud as motorists past. However, I have wondered into it wilderness to camp farther away from the trail.
The coordinates from this listing are incorrect and take you down the wrong road.
Laird Park is just down the road and you can get to nice river areas from both campsites. If you can’t get a spot here you can always try down by Laird as a backup.
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.
TravelerThis is a great mostly unknown little campground. Fun fact: This is the least used campsite maintained by the Lower Granite Natural Resources Management team.
Let’s get to the bad/good, depending on how you look at it.
1. There is NO running water available, unless you want to get some from the river(NOT suggested)
2. Absolutely no electricity here, not even for park lights. This makes for AMAZING star gazing.
3. ZERO cell service at the campsite. You can get service if you absolutely need it at the top of Hammer Grade road, it’s steep.
4. Limited sites have shade all day. Get there early to get one of these prime spots.
5.Summer time is HOT here but, you have the river right there to cool off.
6. There is a boat launch here though it is not maintained, use at your own discretion.
7. There are fire/BBQ pits at each site as well as a picnic table. Wood fires are NOT allowed from June 10th through October 10th. It gets very dry out here.
8. Bring bug spray! Day time the bugs aren’t bad but, when the sun starts going down, the mosquitoes are coming out. Also, spring into early summer, there are ticks. Summer through the rest of the year you should be tick free.
9. This campsite is open year round and it’s FREE!
10. There are no trash cans or dumpsters. So keep that in mind and take out EVERYTHING you bring in.
11. No dumpsites nearby. Closest I found is right off highway 395 at the rest area.
12. You can cross the dam Monday-Thursday excluding holidays and only during daytime hours.
13. Your trailer, tow vehicle and anything in the bed is going to get dusty getting here and leaving. It’s a decent trek down a gravel road. Speed limit is 45MPH. Good luck to you if you try to go that fast.
14. Come prepared for the whole trip. Washtucna is the closest town and they have limited supplies. No alcohol is available at the “Store” there.
15. If hunting season is coming up, get there as early as possible.
We stayed here in the most shaded part of the campground with our Travel Trailer with a 50 gallon fresh water tank. It lasted the 4 of us the 5 day weekend. It was a hot weekend and we did end up having to run the generator for a few hours during the day to keep the newborn cool.
I followed my GPS which took me off of Highway 26 and onto Old Highway 26. DON’T do this. Take Hay rd. Old HWY 26 will take you onto Hammer Grade Rd. This is NOT a fun road with a trailer. It has some very steep grades and you’ll be HAMMERING the brakes or exhaust brake.
All in all, this was a GREAT trip at a great, hidden and secluded area. We will definitely be revisiting this site.
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.
ScoutWe used to frequent this park quite often. It is a tiny forest tucked away along the river.... when I say tiny, I mean fairy like.
You can easily set up a tent and float along the river's edge. There are a few little coves that are nice for kids to play in and great to stay out of the river current.
Just a fun location!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Colton, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Colton, WA is Red Bird Creek Trailhead with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
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