White Sands Campground

Closed — Closed for the winter season. The campground typically operates from late May through September, weather and road conditions permitting.

About

Situated 59 miles southwest of Missoula, Montana, White Sand Campground sits between Elk Summit Road and the Lochsa River at 2,100 feet elevation. The campground features 7 sites arranged in a single gravel loop under a stand of mixed conifers and shrubs, each equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. Adjacent White Sand Pond is stocked annually by Idaho Fish and Game with trout, making it a popular fishing destination from May through July. The day use area around the pond includes parking, additional picnic tables, and a fire ring. The Lochsa River provides exceptional fishing opportunities for chinook salmon, steelhead, cutthroat and bull trout, and mountain whitefish, though catch and release regulations apply to some species. During spring, the river becomes a destination for whitewater rafting and kayaking enthusiasts. Several river access points are located along nearby Highway 12. The area is frequently visited by moose, elk, deer, and other wildlife. Hiking trails in the vicinity include Boulder Creek Trail, Lochsa River Access Trail, and routes leading into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.

Directions

From Missoula, Montana, travel southwest on US Highway 12 for approximately 59 miles to mile marker 164. Turn onto Elk Summit Road (Forest Road 111), a well-maintained gravel road. The campground is located one mile down Elk Summit Road, between the road and the Lochsa River. The turn-off is two miles east of the Powell Ranger Station road.

Nearby Campgrounds