Powell Ranger District — Wilderness Gateway Campground

Wilderness Gateway is a full-featured USFS campground sitting right on the Lochsa River along US-12, roughly 26 miles east of Lowell. At nearly 90 sites it’s one of the bigger operations in this drainage — which means you’ve got a shot at a spot even on a summer weekend if you roll in mid-week. Sites are spread under heavy conifer canopy along the river. A foot suspension bridge crosses the Lochsa to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness trailhead on the south bank. Fire rings, vault toilets, and a boat launch make this a legit anchor camp.

US-12 is paved right to the campground entrance — easy access for any rig, trailers included. From here you can launch north up into the Lolo Motorway corridor. Season is typically late May through September. River levels can be impressive in early season snowmelt — keep the kids back from the bank. No hookups, no showers, no reservations.

Big riverside camp at the Lochsa Wilderness edge