Powell Campground

162 HIGHWAY 12
POWELL, ID 83539

Overview

Powell Campground provides direct access to the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River, one of Idaho's most scenic waterways. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness lies on the opposite side of the river. The campground is within walking distance of a small general store, fuel, lodging and a restaurant. The Powell Ranger Station is nearby as well, but all visitor services have moved to Lolo Pass Visitor Center.

Recreation

The Lochsa River provides visitors with opportunities for fishing and other water-related recreation. Cutthroat and rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and steelhead swim in the clear waters. The Lochsa is world-famous for its exciting whitewater rafting opportunities. A permit is not necessary to float the river, but technical expertise is a must.

A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are available in the wilderness area. The 1.5-mile Powell Complex Trail begins near the campground and leads west through cool, shady cedar and larch trees, making for a relaxing day trip. Hunting is also a popular activity in the rugged and primitive landscape.

Highway 12, also known as the Lewis and Clark Highway, winds along the narrow river canyon through evergreen trees and past large rock outcroppings. Visitors enjoy the scenic drive and historic sites along the way.

Facilities

The campground offers single-family sites for tent and RV camping. The sites in loop A offer electrical hookups (15 amp, 30 amp, and 50 amp.) Parking surfaces are paved throughout the campground. Additional sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water (spigots are located in 5 sites throughout the campground and are not intended for hooking up to, the sites do not have water hookups) are provided throughout the campground. An accessible flush toilet is adjacent to the day use area. Firewood is not provided and it is often not available.

Natural Features

Lochsa is a Nez Perce word meaning "rough water." The 70-mile river and its tributaries have no dams and the flow is unregulated from its headwaters near the Powell Ranger Station in the Bitterroots, to Lowell, where it joins the Selway River to form the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River. The Lochsa is one of the world's best for continuous whitewater.

The campground is situated in a dense forest in north-central Idaho at an elevation of 3,400 feet. It is across the river from the border of the 1.5-million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Famed explorers Lewis and Clark passed through on their way to the Pacific Ocean in September of 1805.

Elk, deer, moose, bear, cougar and mountain goats make the steep canyon country their home.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (208) 942-3113.

Nearby Attractions

A variety of services are available in the rustic resort area near the campground including a general store, lodging, food and fuel. Fishing licenses are also available for purchase.

The nearest free dump station is 40 miles west on Highway 12, at the Wilderness Gateway Campground.

Camp site features

Across 35 camp sites:

Electric hookups: 24 of 35 sites
Longest RV: 200 ft
Largest party: 8 people
Power up to 15 amps
Equipment: RV, Tent, Trailer

Directions

The campground is located 160 miles east of Lewiston, Idaho, and 60 miles southwest of Missoula, Montana. From Lowell, travel east on Highway 12 for about 65 miles, to milepost 162.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 2 PM.

Reviews

197 reviews

5 stars

126

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Susan B

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

David H

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

No Camp host, out of toilet paper, very nice location, people plugging in there electric cars- moving from site to site looking for an open site to plug into

Anthony M

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

Baker’s Hole is a clean facility with some electrical service and water at a few random spots throughout the campground. There is one spicket with a hose attachment at the entrance if you need to fill your freshwater tank directly while the other water sources have a typical facet for filling buckets or other containers. Waste water dump services are not available at Baker’s Hole. We found one available at Yellowstone Grizzly RV park (about 2 miles away) for $30. Be sure to get there before 4:00pm, they lock the dump station at 4:00pm. The vault toilets were clean and stocked. The host (2) were available and helpful. The big attraction is Yellowstone. The campground is on the river for those fishermen (and women) who want a place to fish which is convenient to your campsite. If you take a site on the western edge of the campground there is some road noise, but the eastern sites are quieter. A great value for those on a budget.

JIM L

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

There was a couple moving site to site in reserved spaces. Obviously they had no reservation and were just using empty spots to charge their e-vehicle. Never went up to pay station, so they were just stealing power. No camp host present to complain to about the situation.

Andy S

Loop:B

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

We love the location of Powell Campground next to Lochsa Lodge. We spent 1 night here as we traveled through the area on motorcycles.

Linda J

Loop:B

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

The campground was clean. My complaint is the spot I reserved. Spor 10, description says it's a pull through, it's a pullout along the edge of the road. Then you needed to climb down a bank to to get to broken picnic table that a tree fell on. If you have any kind of mobility issue this is not the spot for you.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve