Idaho / Idaho County / Middle Fork Clearwater Wild And Scenic River / Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests

Wilderness Gateway

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground typically operates from early June through late August. Reservations available through Recreation.gov.

About

Wilderness Gateway Campground provides direct access to the Wild and Scenic Lochsa River in heavily wooded forest in north-central Idaho. The campground offers 91 sites consisting of RV and tent camping, group camping, stock camping and facilities. Loop D hosts dedicated equestrian sites with hitching rails, watering and feeding stations, and a staging area. All campsites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Parking surfaces are paved. The Lochsa River is world famous for its exciting whitewater rafting opportunities and technical expertise is required. The river also offers destination fly fishing for cutthroat and rainbow trout, chinook salmon and steelhead. Boulder Creek cascades through the campground on its descent from the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Several trails head into the wilderness from the campground, including the 15-mile Lochsa Peak Trail and 27-mile Boulder Creek Trail. A 1-mile birding trail loops around the campground and the half-mile Downriver Trail leads to a scenic overlook. The Lochsa Historical Ranger Station, a living history visitor center, is located one mile southwest of the campground.

Directions

From Lowell, travel east on Highway 12 for about 25 miles to the campground. The campground is located 120 miles east of Lewiston, Idaho and 100 miles west of Missoula, Montana at milepost 122 on Highway 12.

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