Wilderness Gateway
Wilderness Gateway Campground provides direct access to the Wild and Scenic Lochsa River. Visitors enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, including world famous whitewater rafting. Hiking and horseback riding trails abound in the nearby Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area, which is the 3rd-largest in the lower 48 United States. This large and unique campground offers respite for a variety of campers, including those with horses, horse trailers and RVs.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Idaho · reservable in Idaho · big rigs in Idaho · pets allowed in Idaho · group sites in Idaho
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 69 |
| group shelter nonelectric | 1 |
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 99 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
70 sites in 6 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOST | AREA WILDERNESS GATEWAY | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 001 | GPAV | Group Shelter Nonelectric | Paved | Full | 200 / 40 | |||
| Group | GROUP LOOP A | Group | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 208 / 52 | Yes |
| B | GW B | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| B1 | GW B | Standard | ||||||
| B2 | GW B | Standard | ||||||
| B4 | GW B | Standard | ||||||
| B6 | GW B | Standard | ||||||
| B8 | GW B | Standard | ||||||
| B03 | GW B | Standard | Pull-through | 99 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 99 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers dozens of accessible, single-family campsites and a large-group site, available for tent and RV camping. Utility hookups are not available and parking surfaces are paved. The group campsite can accommodate up to 208 people and 52 vehicles. If the group campsite (Loop A) is reserved, a combination code will be provided in your confirmation email to gain access to the site. Loop D hosts equestrian sites, which provide access to hitching rails, a watering and feeding station and staging area. Please only reserve Loop D if you have stock you intend to bring with you. From April until June 1 of every year, individuals with boats or campers are allowed to camp in the site. After June 1 - no other campers are allowed. All campsites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible vault toilets, flush toilets and drinking water are provided throughout the campground. An adjacent, accessible group shelter is also available and can accommodate up to 200 people.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | opens may 14 to closes september 30 |
| Forest | Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests |
| Booking | Reservations can be made by visiting Wilderness Gateway at Recreation.gov or by calling their toll-free number 1-877-444-6777. |
| Fees | $14.00 per site with an 8 person site maximum. $2 per extra vehicle. Senior Passes are accepted. |
| Rules | Stock camping Loop D only. |
Weather by month
Getting there
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, Mont. It is located at milepost 122 on Highway 12.
| Coordinates | 46.3400° N, 115.3067° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Firewood is not provided, nor is it always available at the campground.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Rescue Jensen Nfrd
19 mi from the campground · 44 acres
- PrescribedRx Stray Creek Lcrd
23 mi from the campground · 150 acres
- WildfireMoose Mountain
30 mi from the campground · 5,832 acres · 90% contained
- PrescribedRx Barnyard Units Nfrd
33 mi from the campground · 41 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Rae Bros. Sporting Goods ↗ | 48.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Hamilton RV Sales Of Montana ↗ | 55.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Wilderness Gateway, ID from adelia
Worth a stop
*1 hour from access to the National Historic Lolo Trail Corridor *1 mile from the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station and Visitor Center
- 8.7 mi
- 9.8 miEagle Mountain Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miLoop Aunder 0.1 mi trail
- 0.2 miLoop Bunder 0.1 mi trail
- 0.2 miLone Knob ↗5.9 mi trail
- 0.3 miBird Watching1.5 mi trail
- 0.4 miBoulder Creek ↗27.5 mi trail
- 0.4 miLochsa Down River ↗14.6 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest.
- inNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 4,072,795 acres
- 5.4 miSelway-Bitterroot Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 1,347,644 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Weippe Community HallBuilding · Weippe · 14.6 mi
Natural features
The campground is located in heavily wooded forest in north-central Idaho at an elevation of 2,100 feet. It is adjacent to the Lochsa River. Lochsa is a Nez Perce word meaning "rough water." The 70-mile river and its tributaries have no dams and 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.
Recreation
The Lochsa River is world famous for its exciting whitewater rafting opportunities. Visitors do not need a permit to float the Lochsa, but technical expertise is a must. The river is also a destination fly fishing experience for cutthroat and rainbow trout, chinook salmon and steelhead. There are a number of river access points near the campground, along Highway 12. Highway 12, also known as the Lewis and Clark Highway, winds along the narrow river canyon through evergreen trees and large rock outcroppings. Visitors to the area enjoy the scenic drive and historic sites along the way. Elk, deer, moose, bear, cougar and mountain goats make the steep canyon country their home, as well as other wildlife. A variety of birds are also active in the area. Boulder Creek cascades down into the campground on its descent from the neighboring 1.5-million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area. Several trails head into the wilderness from the campground, including the 15-mile Lochsa Peak Trail and the 27-mile Boulder Creek Trail. A 1-mile birding trail loops around the campground and the half-mile Downriver Trail leads to a scenic river overlook.
Guidebooks for Idaho
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Wilderness Gateway?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Wilderness Gateway?
$14.00 per site with an 8 person site maximum. $2 per extra vehicle. Senior Passes are accepted.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Wilderness Gateway?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Wilderness Gateway open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season opens may 14 to closes september 30.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Wilderness Gateway have?
71 sites, including 69 standard sites without power, 1 group shelter nonelectric, and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Wilderness Gateway?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Wilderness Gateway?
Accessible vault toilets, flush toilets and drinking water are provided throughout the campground.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Wilderness Gateway?
Yes, pets are allowed at Wilderness Gateway. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Wilderness Gateway?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Stock camping Loop D only.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Wilderness Gateway?
The Lochsa River is world famous for its exciting whitewater rafting opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Wilderness Gateway is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Knife Edge Campground and River Access (11.1 mi, first-come), Glade Creek Campground (13.4 mi), and Apgar Campground (13.9 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby