roadtripper6705901

We arrived late afternoon on a stormy weekday in March. There is a long road in, with people driving in and out looking for a site without success. On the way out, we saw a "campground full" sign laying on the ground, probably blown over by wind, so we set it back up.
Across the highway from the entrance is a free parking area, apparently a former highway storage site, where we camped with 6 or 8 other rigs who couldn't find a site at the refuge.
My nephew lives in the area, and camped there earlier this year with his family. They were able to get a site, but it was the last one. Apparently it's now full more often than not.

Some of the hot springs books and maps still in print refer to the Basin Creek Campground & hot spring. The campground was flooded and removed years ago. However, there's a narrow FS road going up the right side of Basin Creek with several nice, flat dispersed sites about 1/2 mile up. The road's a little narrow, with steep approaches, so I wouldn't take a big rig in. There's no point in going further up the road...we did so and found no campsites. We spent the night there in a teardrop and went down to the hot springs for a dip. The spring is at the edge of the creek below the rock formation, just as you leave the highway. There may be some blue tarps and hand-made rock soaking pools, depending on the time of year. In the fall the hot spring water was quite hot, and the creek water is quite cold, so it takes some thermal management. A short distance upriver on the highway is the parking area and changing room for Kem Hot Spring, a very hot pool on the edge of the Salmon River. In low water you need a bucket to cool it off with river water. We didn't even check for cell service at our camp. It's in a tight canyon, and I doubt there's any.

We didn't stay here, just visited to hike the trail and check it out for a future campsite. It's a fine, wooded campground for smaller rigs, but I won't be bringing my 20' trailer in there. A few of the sites are long enough for a 20-24' rig, but quite sloped. I can deal with that, but the road in would be too tough on my trailer. Stayed at one of the campgrounds along the Big Hole River instead. A week earlier we went into the 18 mile dirt road to Mussigbrod Lake, and that was easier than the 6 mile drive to Seymour. The lake is more of a pond, but a pretty walk from the campground. A mile up the road is a main trailhead for the Pintlar Wilderness, Upper Seymour Lake, Goat Flat, and the Continental Divide Trail. If you're hiking those, this would be a good starting or ending camp. I just wouldn't take an RV of any size in there. There was one trailer there, about 18' long. But I'm sure it was a challenging drive in.

This is an unmarked, informal spot just downstream of the rail bridge crossing the Powder River, just above where it enters the Yellowstone. We have a 15' Aliner folding trailer, and wouldn't take anything larger in there. There are no facilities and barely a track in there, but it was private and peaceful. There are trains that pass through at night, but because there are no crossings, they don't blow their whistles. To get there we turned North off of the (Old MT Hwy 10) frontage road west of Terry, just on the east end of the Powder River Bridge. Then we (slowly, carefully) drove down the dirt track toward the river, turned right under the rail bridge, and followed the track as far as we could go. Apparently, at one time that track continued downstream to the Yellowstone, but the Powder has eroded it away at the base of a bluff.
It is possible to access the big cottonwood flat at the mouth of the Powder. We walked it that evening. It's a rough enough access that I would only do it with a pickup camper or a high-clearance trailer. If you want to go to that flat, here's how: After passing under the rail bridge, go up the hill to the flat pasture on top. There's a stock gate--be sure to close it behind you. Head north on that road until it turns left and drops back down to the river. There's another gate (be sure to close it). Below the gate is the roughest part of the access. You may want to walk it before risking your rig. Once you get down, there's a big cottonwood flat with numerous campsites. There was one pickup camper there when we walked through on a June weekend. This is apparently BLM land, but please respect the stock fencing. Since we spent only one night, prior to visiting Terry Badlands, we didn't even try to access the flat at the mouth of the river.
Our spot below the railroad bridge was private enough, but we had to park so close to the river that we had to be careful coming and going from our trailer. There are no toilets, fire pits, water, or other services.

This is one of my favorite campgrounds--not just because it's in a beautiful, old-growth ponderosa pine stand with plenty of space between sites. It's also named for Sam Billings, one of the fine old forest rangers I knew in my youth, along with his wife Florence. A WWI vet, he made a special effort in the '40's to preserve this flat from logging, because it had "everything a campground should have." It's about a mile from the paved road, on a gravel access road that can have a few pits and washboard, but is no problem if taken slowly. There are several sites that will accommodate our 20' trailer, and several pit toilets. There's a group site with 3 tables and 4 or 5 vehicle pads. It's near the trailhead for Boulder Creek, which is a nice walk, however far you go up. Only 1/2 mile up the Boulder Creek trail is one of those great granite "sluices" where the creek rushes and tumbles across bare rock. The Boulder Creek Falls is about 5 miles up the trail. We stayed 2 nights this time, and visited 3 areas of the West Fork. Next year the FS proposes a $10 fee for use. I support this plan, if the fee goes to maintain this great campground, access road, and trailhead.

We stayed here in an Aliner folding trailer for 2 nights in early September while bicycling the Hiawatha. It's not far from the freeway, but quiet and uncrowded. The outhouses are the basic USFS variety and were clean. The sites are level and widely-spaced. There is a nice nature trail from the campground. Because our trailer is small we didn't explore the left-hand loop, which, I believe, has some spots for larger RV's. I'm sure we'll stay there again.

We regret we had only one night to stay here, on our way home from the coast. The pre-reserved site was waiting for us, with our name already posted. We pulled in and didn't have to unhook our vehicle. It's next to the fairgrounds with the John Day River running next to it. There is a shaded trail running beside the river toward the edge of town, and we enjoyed walking that several times. This was on a Thursday in late August, and there were several sites not taken. On a weekend I suspect it would be full. The trees shading the park were most welcome in the heat, and we could run our AC when needed. The location was very quiet. We hope to return to John Day, perhaps in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom, and spend more time in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

This is a free National Forest campground just north of the highway. We stayed here on a June weekend, expecting to find lots of competition for a spot, but only 2 other parties spent the night. It's near the highway, and truck noise could be an issue, but we went to one of the farthest (northern) sites, and found highway noise not a problem. Also, that loop has some nice views to the north. There is no water available, and pit toilets only, but it's what you expect from a free FS site. Toilets were clean and well-kept. To reach the furthest sites, take the right fork when entering the campground. Watch for a big set of chuckholes about 100 yards in. We enjoyed staying here while we explored the Tongue River valley.

This is now known as the Three Frogs Campground and sits directly above the lake shore trailhead on the north side of Lake Como. this rate reflects 50% Senior Discount. We planned on spending our 1st nights in our new 20' trailer at the lower campground, which has hookups. That campground was full on a Tuesday morning, with only 2 sites planning to vacate that day, and several RV's poised for those spots. We came here instead, not sure if sites would be available or big enough for our rig. No problem. I wouldn't take anything larger than 22' in here, but were are several sites big enough for us. On a Tuesday and Wednesday in June, it never filled more than 50%. This camp has pit toilets and several water spigots. The camp hosts were friendly, and the winding one-way access limited unnecessary traffic. There was some boat noise, but nothing like on a weekend.
We stayed in site #3, with a view of the lake. The upper sites are more private, but further from the lake and after spring rains there was some standing water.
We live nearby, and I've been going to Lake Como for 60+ years. What was once a quiet local getaway has been developed by the USFS and by its own popularity, to the point that I NEVER go there on a summer weekend. That being said, there is still a great trail to the head of the lake, about 2 1/2 miles, where a waterfall plunges under a footbridge into the lake. About 1/4 mile up the canyon above the lake is another falls that splits into 3 during spring runoff. Halfway between the campground and the head of the lake is a view across the lake to Little Rock Creek Falls. In spite of its popularity, Como is worth a visit, if you can do it on a weekday.

We've stopped here scores of times over the years between Montana and points south. This is the first trip where timing was right for us to spend the night, in early April 2022. We were the only rig here, but there are room for many. There is no fee, but there is a donation box. We had no problem finding a level spot, where we wouldn't have to unhook. It's quiet and pleasant. There is are several pit toilets, and a new drinking water spigot has been installed in the north end. This is the historic site where, on August 15, 1877, after leaving the Battle of the Big Hole, the Nez Perce encountered a group of freighters and killed 5. There is an old marker on the far side of the creek commemorating this event. Also worth seeing in the area is Skull Canyon, about a mile north, on the east side of the highway. Be sure to close the gate if you go up there (don't bring a trailer).