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NinerBikes's avatar
NinerBikes
Explorer
Apr 16, 2014

Lower Owyhee River, OR and travel trailer dry camping

Does it exist? What about campsites below the dam? Any of that area BLM land?

I have a 21 foot travel trailer in tow, so access needs to be reasonable.


Lower Owyhee River, as in below the Owyhee Reservoir, below the dam, as in where there's fly fishing for trout, due to cold water releases from the dam, 35 miles southwest from Ontario, OR or Caldwell, ID.
  • Niner,
    The last 9 or so miles before the dam is all BLM (except around the hot springs). So why don't you give the Vale BLM office a call. BTW. It was very dry in that country this past winter and the Owyhee Reservoir is really low, so I don't know how cold that water will be.
    Steve
  • SteveAE wrote:
    Niner,
    Many of the Idaho Sportsman Access points allow camping.
    Steve


    I'm afraid I am looking to be on the other side of the Snake river, in Oregon, below Owyhee Reservoir and the dam.
  • Looking at Google Maps (Satelite Photo) there appears to be places to pull off between the road and river. Havent been on the ground there though. There is always the Lake Owyhee (Oregon) campground about two miles above the dam if there are no suitable spots along the river for your trailer. Good Luck.
  • Niner,
    Many of the Idaho Sportsman Access points allow camping.
    Steve
  • Folks, I will be coming in from the East side, Caldwell, ID, heading Southwest, closer to where the Owyhee dumps in to the Snake River. In the fly fishing section.

    If push comes to shove, I'll just get a room in town. Not my first choice, but it is what it is.
  • Niner,

    You can camp anywhere in that area you want, but hauling a TT on many of those roads would not be my idea of fun (and I take my trailer on some pretty interesting "roads").
    I doubt there would be any fish in the creek, but the camping at Succor Cr. CG is really pretty. IMO, the best in the area.
    Leslie Gulch CG isn't very pretty, but there are some nice canyon hikes close by (you'll drive right past them getting to Leslie Gulch) that are reminiscent of Southern Utah canyons.
    You could drive right downstream along the reservoir (you are tougher than I am if you do) to some amazing places. But I seriously suggest you leave the trailer and check it out with your truck first. Better yet, take a small boat with a motor.
    The best hiking/biking book for the area that I know of is "The Owyhee Canyonlands - An Outdoor Adventure Guide" by Steve Stuebner. But, take a good map and GPS as his maps and directions are somewhat lacking in some places.

    Hope this helps,
    Steve
  • There's a cafe, gas and I believe a small RV park at Rome Station on the 95 at the Owyhee River crossing. Might be a place to base from? Google owyhee river camping, it has a plethora of places.
  • Not exactly sure what you mean by the "lower part" of the Owyhee- can you be more specific per location you're looking at? It's been awhile since I've been over there, but as I remember the lower part it's a lot of steep canyonland accessible only by boat.

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