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CAMPING
INFORMATION
Clearwater National
Forest campgrounds are located in the Palouse
(84K PDF), North Fork (99K PDF)
and Highway 12 (314K PDF) Recreation
corridors. Reservations can be made for the campgrounds below by clicking on the links. The campfire program schedule is available here as a .pdf file in 8.5" by 14" format.
Powell Campground Reservations |
Wilderness Gateway Campground Reservations | Elk Creek Campground Reservations |
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Camping is also available in a variety of other developed campgrounds across the Clearwater National Forest or in "dispersed" sites of your own choice. There are are generally no amenities such as water and toilets at dispersed campsites.
Developed campsites range from day use areas like beaches or picnic areas, to campgrounds with a range of amenities and variations in fees. Developed campgrounds are generally open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Some stay open until the snow flies.
On most of the Clearwater National Forest, camping in any one area is limited to a total of 14 days from May 1st to October 5th. There is no camping limit during the rest of the year. But, any camp set up or in use during the restricted use period is subject to the 14-day limit. So, a camp set up on October 4th, for example will have to move in 14 days. But a camp set up on October 6th will not. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness as well as developed recreation sites and a few other areas, maintain the 14-day limit yearlong.
Camps must be moved a minimum of 5 miles from the original site to qualify for a new 14-day limit; camps cannot be returned to the original site within 45 days [36 CFR 261.58(a)].
A few rules may be posted in campgrounds or at popular dispersed sites. The rules are meant to protect the site and the environment and they're meant to help you enjoy your camping trip.
When using popular dispersed sites such as beaches and camping areas, pack out all your garbage and litter. Dispose of human waste by burying 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, trails, beaches, and campsites. Use biodegradable soap for washing dishes and dispose of wastewater at least 200 feet from streams or lakes. Charred wood and ash in the fire ring should be scattered before you leave. Leave the area better than you found it.
A firewood permit is not needed to cut wood for your campfire, but please use dead or down trees for your fuel.
FIRE INFORMATION
The 2010 Clear/Nez Fire Zone activity summary includes fire management activity information in the zone for large fires or entire "complexes" of fires. The zone includes the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests.
News releases related to wildfires on the Clearwater National Forest are posted on the Nez Perce National Forest News page. Forest Orders officially closing roads and areas for public safety reasons are posted to our Special Orders page. Information about wildfires managed to benefit fire-adapted forests is available here. Information about prescribed fires ignited for the same purpose is available here.
Additional links for Clear/Nez Fire Zone, Regional and National Information are available here.
When there is fire
in the mountains what do you need to watch for? What do you need to do? Read about the
role of fire in the forest, it's behavior and hazards in the Fire In The Mountains brochure.
FISHING
INFORMATION
Lakes, streams, rivers and other popular spots for fishing
on the Clearwater. Links to Idaho fishing regulations and the nationwide forest
service fish web.
GATHERING
FOREST PRODUCTS
The gathering and use of
firewood, berries, Christmas Trees, mushrooms, plants
and other products from the forest may require a permit. Information is available
on our gathering forest products web page.
HIGHWAY
12 TRAVEL BROCHURE
A long and winding scenic
road (317kb pdf) along the Lochsa River. Things to do, historic sites,
hiking, camping, points of interest, river access points along with a other
great information and a map.
HIKING
AND TRAILS
There are many miles of trails on the Clearwater. Information about the trails
can be found in the Trail Guide (1048
kb pdf). Please note that although we update the information often, conditions
change. It is recommended you call the ranger
district and ask about current conditions if planning to hike one of the
forest trails.
HUNTING
The Clearwater has deer,
elk, moose, bear, cougar, grouse hunting and other hunting opportunities.
You can contact the
State of Idaho Fish and Game for more information or one of the many outfitters
and guides that work with the forest in providing services.
HUNTING
and ATVs
ATVs provide many advantages
to hunters, and as a result the use of ATVs during hunting season has increased
dramatically in the last 10 years. Read about the issues and facts at the
Hunting
and ATVs web site. The Boise National Forest maintains the site but the
information is relevant to all.
The Idaho Off-Highway Vehicle Public Outreach Project promotes the responsible, shared use of trails. The Idaho OHV campaign coordinator collaborated with five state and federal agencies (including the Forest Service) on Idaho OHV issues to produce the "Stay on Trails" video. For more information, access their website at: http://www.stayontrails.com
LOLO
PASS VISITOR CENTER
The Lolo Pass Visitor Center serves as one of the many historical landmarks off Highway 12, the Lewis & Clark Highway. The Visitor Center displays information on the Lewis and Clark journey across the Bitterroot Mountains and the 1877 flight of the Nez Perce Indians and tells historical, natural, and general information about the area. There are 24-hour restrooms available to visitors. The Visitor Center also hosts a small gift shop, featuring books on the local area and history.
Beginning December 4th, the Visitor Center will be switching to winter hours. The Visitor Center will be open Thursday through Sunday from 8:00 to 4:30 PST. Winter season is quite busy, as the Lolo Pass area serves as a major trail head for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Cross-country ski trail grooming typically begins in December and runs through March depending on snow levels. Please remember dogs are not allowed on the trails once grooming begins. Winter Recreation Passes are required during the winter season. The Visitor Center also has a marked snowshoe trail that provides visitors with some fantastic views on a clear day. Be sure to stop in the Visitor Center for a cup of hot chocolate, tea or coffee and enjoy a cozy warm fire in the warming hut.
During the summer months, the Visitor Center is open 7 days a week. On-site interpreters are available to provide information on the Lewis and Clark Journey, the Nez-Perce and Salish Tribes and the local area and its rich history. Visitors can take the time to watch videos on the local area, walk our short wetland trail, or browse our bookstore.
Glade Creek State Park is just a short-drive from the Visitor Center, and an accessible trail leads to an overlook viewing the meadow where Lewis and Clark camped in 1805. Packers Meadow, just a short walk from the Visitor Center, is well known for its abundance of Camas flower. Full bloom is typically the end of June, and well worth the drive to view it. For more information, call the Powell Ranger Station: 208-942-3113.
Upcoming Events:
Full Moon Ski & Snowshoe:
December 10th & January 7th
Visitors are invited to come out and take advantage of the full moon to light their ski or snowshoe adventure. The warming hut will be open to visitors from 4:30 to 8:30p.m.. Participants can warm up next to a cozy fire and enjoy a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Don’t forget to get your Winter Recreation Pass and remember dogs are not allowed on our trails.
Mountain-To-Meadow 2012 Half Marathon and 5K Fun Run
Save the Date! June 30th, 2012 will be the annual Mountain to Meadow Half Marathon and FunRun at the Lolo Pass Visitor Center. All ages and four legged friends are welcome to participate. For more information or to register online: www.runlolopass.org. The event is sponsored by Discover Your Northwest.
LOLO
TRAIL - NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
The Lolo
Trail is an ancient Indian route that follows the ridgetops parallel and
to the north of Highway 12. This trail provided access to buffalo on the eastern
plains for those on the Columbia Plateau, and led people living east of the
mountains to salmon-rich waters in the west.
For more specific information about road and trail conditions and about the Lewis and Clark and Nez Perce National Historic Trails, contact the Clearwater National Forest Supervisors Office.
MAPS
We have a few maps on our
maps web page. There is a vicinity map of the Clearwater National Forest location within the state,
a map of our districts, and a map that shows the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in relation to the forest. You can
also find information on how to order maps on the page.
Geospatial data is available on our Geographic
Information Systems page. This digital data requires special skills and
software to use and display.
You can also purchase maps from the National Forest Store! - a national web site that sells national forest maps and passes. The Store’s mission is to provide prompt, courteous, and convenient service to our customers.
At the USGS Store you will find a variety of maps, including Topographic Maps, Federal Recreation passes, scientific reports, educational materials, and more.
NEWS
RELEASES
The forest maintains
a page of an ongoing list of news releases
about happenings on the forest.
NEZ
PERCE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL
A portion of
this trail crosses the the Clearwater National Forest, for historical information
and current events along the trail visit the
Nez Perce National Historic Trail website.
RECREATION FACILITY ANALYSIS
The Forest is implementing the Recreation Facility Analysis (RFA) program of work. Information and a link to the RFA document can be found on the Recreation Facility Analysis site.
RECREATION
FEES - INVESTING IN AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS
More and more people recreate on National Forests
each year, and keeping up with the needs of those visitors and natural resources
is becoming more difficult. In 1996, Congress authorized the Recreation
Fees program. The fees visitors pay are retained on the Forest where they
are collected. These fees are then spent on projects to maintain and improve
these areas.
RENTAL
CABINS AND LOOKOUTS
Rental cabins
and lookouts are available on the Clearwater. Information and a link to a
map of their locations can be found on our Rental
Cabins and Lookouts site.
RIVER
STAGES, STREAMFLOWS and RESERVOIR DATA
River information is updated several times per day from automated US Geological
Survey stream gauges. Note that for the Lochsa River, the information provided
here is for the stream gauge 0.7 miles above Lowell. This is not the stream
gauge at the Lowell bridge that is most often used by floaters. The Lochsa River Floating Guide (1.2 mb, pdf) provides valuable information for planning your whitewater adventure. Dworshak
Reservoir information is available from the Corps of Engineers.
SNOWPACK
and PRECIPITATION
The latest snowpack
information is provided by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for
Idaho. Precipitation
information shows current snow water content and total precipitation and comparisons
with their long term averages.
SUPERVISOR'S
OFFICES AND RANGER DISTRICTS
The Forest Supervisor's Office or headquarters
is in Orofino, Idaho. Ranger Districts
and work centers are located around the forest. You can find phone numbers
and addresses on the pages linked above.
TRAVEL
STATUS REPORT - current information
The Clearwater NF Travel Status Report
shows the latest information summary on road and trail conditions, and the
status of campgrounds and rental cabins/lookouts.
TRAVEL
GUIDE - MOTORIZED OPPORTUNITIES AND RESTRICTIONS
The Clearwater
NF Travel Guide provides information on opportunities for travel with motor vehicles and
shows roads, trails, and areas where certain types of vehicles are restricted.
It also includes some information to help you plan a trip to the Forest. The
2005 version is the latest and copies are available free at any Clearwater
NF office.
The Idaho Off-Highway Vehicle Public Outreach Project promotes the responsible, shared use of trails. The Idaho OHV campaign coordinator collaborated with five state and federal agencies (including the Forest Service) on Idaho OHV issues to produce the "Stay on Trails" video. For more information, access their website at: http://www.stayontrails.com
TRAVEL
PLANNER
The Clearwater - Nez Perce Country Travel
Planner (6.6 mb pdf) is your guide to recreational opportunities on public
lands throughout central Idaho. See the travel planner for information on
the major travel corridors, campgrounds, and things to see and do.The complete
Travel Planner immediately above is a large pdf file. It has been divided
into smaller pieces by area in the camping section at
the top of this page.
VISIT
IDAHO PLAYGROUNDS PASS NOW AVAILABLE
The Visit Idaho
Playgrounds (VIP) Pass is an optional pass program designed to provide convenience
and potential cost savings to recreationists in Idaho. Both the Annual and
5-day passes will be honored at select sites currently charging vehicle-based,
day-use parking fees and entry fees. For more information please visit the
Idaho
Recreation and Tourism site.
WEATHER
Weather information is the latest report from NOAA. It includes some current
data from selected automated weather stations in and around the forest. During
fire season the fire weather link will give you the most accurate weather
information; the Clearwater National Forest forecast will be listed as Zone
103.
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WINTER
RECREATION
The Clearwater has a wide variety of winter recreation. Snowshoeing, cross
country skiing, snowmobiling or just hiking and enjoying the scenery. Information
on those activities as well as snow information are available on our winter
recreation site.
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