Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233893
When Powell Campground reopens
Powell Campground's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
2
Openings · last 90 days
3
Only 3 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026 · of 35 monitored sites
Of the 1,496 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026): 1,496 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). Of the facility's 35 monitored sites, 20 can be reserved online and 14 are first-come, first-served (1 closed).
No online availability right now
Of the 1,496 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026): 1,496 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). A free alert tells you if any date opens online.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026Not open online100%
Open site-nights0 / 1,496
Of the 1,496 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026): 1,496 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026No month in range currently shows online availability. 0 open site-nights across the tracked window — these site-nights are on sites not offered for online reservation.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 21 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
About Powell Campground
Overview
Powell Campground provides direct access to the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River, one of Idaho's most scenic waterways. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness lies on the opposite side of the river. The campground is within walking distance of a small general store, fuel, lodging and a restaurant. The Powell Ranger Station is nearby as well, but all visitor services have moved to Lolo Pass Visitor Center.
Recreation
The Lochsa River provides visitors with opportunities for fishing and other water-related recreation. Cutthroat and rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and steelhead swim in the clear waters. The Lochsa is world-famous for its exciting whitewater rafting opportunities. A permit is not necessary to float the river, but technical expertise is a must.
A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are available in the wilderness area. The 1.5-mile Powell Complex Trail begins near the campground and leads west through cool, shady cedar and larch trees, making for a relaxing day trip. Hunting is also a popular activity in the rugged and primitive landscape.
Highway 12, also known as the Lewis and Clark Highway, winds along the narrow river canyon through evergreen trees and past large rock outcroppings. Visitors enjoy the scenic drive and historic sites along the way.
Facilities
The campground offers single-family sites for tent and RV camping. The sites in loop A offer electrical hookups (15 amp, 30 amp, and 50 amp.) Parking surfaces are paved throughout the campground. Additional sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water (spigots are located in 5 sites throughout the campground and are not intended for hooking up to, the sites do not have water hookups) are provided throughout the campground. An accessible flush toilet is adjacent to the day use area. Firewood is not provided and it is often not available.
Natural Features
Lochsa is a Nez Perce word meaning "rough water." The 70-mile river and its tributaries have no dams and the 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.
The campground is situated in a dense forest in north-central Idaho at an elevation of 3,400 feet. It is across the river from the border of the 1.5-million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Famed explorers Lewis and Clark passed through on their way to the Pacific Ocean in September of 1805.
Elk, deer, moose, bear, cougar and mountain goats make the steep canyon country their home.
Nearby Attractions
A variety of services are available in the rustic resort area near the campground including a general store, lodging, food and fuel. Fishing licenses are also available for purchase.
The nearest free dump station is 40 miles west on Highway 12, at the Wilderness Gateway Campground.
35 monitored sites14 FCFS sitesRVs up to 200 ft13 with hookups21 shadedMax party 8
Getting there
The campground is located 160 miles east of Lewiston, Idaho, and 60 miles southwest of Missoula, Montana. From Lowell, travel east on Highway 12 for about 65 miles, to milepost 162.
CampingDay Use AreaFishingHikingHuntingWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-233893 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233893 · Powell Campground6 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Powell Campground?
Campsite Sniper's current snapshot shows none of the 1,496 tracked site-nights open for online reservation at Powell Campground. That can mean dates are reserved, closed, not yet released, or offered first-come, first-served rather than online. Campsite Sniper has also detected 3 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Powell Campground?
Campsite Sniper detected 3 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which sites at Powell Campground fit a 35-foot RV?
20 of the 21 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 200 ft.
Does Powell Campground have online availability right now?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot, none of the 1,496 tracked site-nights are open for online reservation. That can mean dates are reserved, closed, not yet released, or offered first-come, first-served rather than online. A free Campsite Sniper alert tells you if any date opens online.
Stop refreshing. Let the app watch it.
Filter
Lakefront, hookups, your RV length, weekends only - set it as picky as you want.
Watch
We run paced availability checks for Powell Campground. One watch covers every matching online-reservable site.
Get the ping
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.
Alerts monitor online-reservable inventory only; first-come, first-served sites are not included.