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Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.

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Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area

Anyone who enjoys connecting with nature and outdoor recreation should become familiar with BLM camping. The BLM, which stands for Bureau of Land Management, is a government agency with the huge task of protecting the nation's outdoor federal areas. Its administration extends to hundreds of individual sites, many of which boast established camping areas. If you are in southwest Idaho and search "BLM camping near me," you will find the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area.

This wilderness area is located in southwestern Idaho only a short distance from the Idaho-Nevada border. The Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area covers roughly 90,000 acres in the vast Owyhee Canyonlands. The most notable features of the area are the deep canyons carved by the nearby Owyhee, Bruneau and Jarbidge Rivers. In addition to the breathtaking landscape and peaceful camping opportunities, the beautiful wilderness area is also a haven for a wide variety of recreational activities. Visitors to the site regularly enjoy hiking, fishing, paddling, wildlife viewing, and many other outdoor pastimes. You can also choose to visit Grand Teton National Park, seven hours and five minutes southeast of the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area in Wyoming, or Great Basin National Park, seven hours and 34 minutes south of the wilderness area in Nevada.

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

Roberson East Trail

Roberson East Trail, located near Bruneau, ID an hour and 50 minutes north of the Bruneau-Jarbidge Wilderness Area, is a short out-and-back trail that's best visited between March and September. In addition to being a great destination for a quick, scenic hike, Roberson East Trail also provides opportunities for fishing in the nearby river. If you like, you can make a day of hiking the trail and reeling in a few fish for your dinner. Keep in mind that having a four-wheel-drive vehicle is strongly recommended for reaching this trail.

Length: 1.2 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Sheep Creek Canyon Rim Hike

The Sheep Creek Canyon Rim Hike is a challenging cross-country hike located at the edge of the incredible Sheep Creek Canyon. The trail is found within the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area, and all who visit are rewarded with some absolutely stunning views of the canyon. This hike offers some wonderful opportunities for experiencing pure solitude in nature. Dogs are permitted on the trail and can be off-leash in certain areas.

Length: 3.2 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Fishing & Boating

One of the most popular and exciting activities near the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers BLM area is whitewater rafting in the lower section of the majestic Bruneau River. You should only consider taking on the turbulent whitewater if you're experienced. However, if you know what you're doing, you can enjoy a thrilling experience in a beautiful area. If you're more casual about your boating, you'll want to stick to the waters found in the upper canyon. If you go that route, you can take out near the scenic overlook at Rogerson, but that does require a somewhat challenging climb out of the steep canyon. In addition to the diverse boating opportunities, the area's rivers are also renowned for their excellent trout fishing.

Climbing

To find any significant climbing destinations, you'll likely need to travel east toward the Twin Falls area, which is two hours and 49 minutes northeast of the Bruneau-Jarbidge Wilderness Area, where you can visit Snake River Canyon. Carved by the powerful Snake River, the canyon features roughly a dozen distinct climbing areas with many opportunities for bouldering and sport climbing. The bouldering routes range in difficulty from V3 to V7, and the sport climbing ranges from 5.8 to 5.11b. The most well-known climbing destinations are Dierkes Lake and Gawker Wall.

Wildlife Viewing

The Owyhee Canyonlands in which the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area is located is home to over 200 different species of wildlife. During your visit, there is an excellent chance you will spot some bighorn sheep as the area features one of the largest herds of the animal in the country. There are also golden eagles and red-tailed hawks soaring through the area, and both pronghorn and elk regularly roam the plains.

Picnicking

You probably won't come across any picnic areas or tables at the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers BLM site, so you may need to improvise when it comes to eating lunch. If you travel down into the nearby canyons, you could enjoy the unique experience of setting up a picnic beside the river with the towering canyon walls all around you. Alternatively, you could lay out your picnic blanket up above, where the views will be different but still impressive.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

If you're planning to partake in RV camping, you'll need to do so outside of the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area, as motorized vehicles cannot be used on any land designated as wilderness. The town of Bruneau to the north boasts some RV parks and camping areas with modern amenities. A couple of excellent choices are Bruneau Dunes State Park, which is two hours and 15 minutes north of the Bruneau-Jarbidge Wilderness Area, and Tumbleweed Self Storage and RV, which is two hours and five minutes to the north of the wilderness area.

Free Camping

If you're up for using a primitive tent campsite, then you do have the option of Bureau of Land Management free camping at the Bruneau-Jarbidge Wilderness Area. For convenience, your best option for dispersed camping in the BLM area will be to find a peaceful spot near the outskirts of the wilderness. Most of the area is open and rocky, so be prepared to rough it more than you may be used to. Other Bureau of Land Management campgrounds in the region include Jacks Creek, two hours and 12 minutes north of the Bruneau-Jarbidge Wilderness Area, and Scout Park, two hours and 20 minutes northwest of the BLM area.

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Credit: Vanna Mae, @vannamaeart

Planning your Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area BLM trip

When you're planning a trip to the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers BLM site, plan for the fact that many of the roads accessing the wilderness area are not well-maintained. As a result, it's recommended to travel to the site in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. If you plan on doing any boating, be very careful if you're not particularly skilled or experienced. Certain sections of the lower Bruneau River are very rocky and require a lot of maneuvering, so if you don't know what you're doing, the whitewater can be very dangerous. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.

Leave No Trace

Please do yourself, the BLM, and all future visitors to the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area a favor by making an effort to leave no trace of your stay. By cleaning up after yourself, keeping your campfires under control, respecting the wildlife and your fellow humans, and not disturbing anything you find on the land, you can help keep the area healthy and pristine for generations to come. Do your best to adhere to the Leave No Trace principles, and always try to plan ahead during your trip.

Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area Location

To reach the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area from the town of Bruneau, travel east on Hot Springs Road for approximately 15.6 miles until you reach the wilderness kiosk. Take a right at the kiosk, head west for about 3 miles, and you will arrive at the Bruneau River Overlook within the BLM area.

Ready to visit the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Area? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night, where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice, soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.

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