The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Bureau of Land Management sites are areas managed by the federal agency where you can escape into nature. Many of these locations have interesting historic and cultural landmarks, and Bureau of Land Management campgrounds can typically be found nearby to offer inexpensive camping during your visit. Marshall Mountain Wilderness Study Area is a forested area in Idaho that spans nine square miles. You can go hiking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and hunting here, and Payette National Forest offers additional opportunities for outdoor activities nearby.
Goose Creek Falls Trail is a beautiful out-and-back mountainside trail in Payette National Forest that takes you to a waterfall. There are bird-watching opportunities on this trail as well. In the winter, the waterfall may be frozen.
Length: 3 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Characterized by boulders and thick forest, the Boulder Lake Loop Trail in Payette National Forest provides breathtaking views. The temperature tends to be colder at higher elevations, so May through October are the easiest months to make the hike.
Length: 6.9 miles
Intensity: Moderate
If you're looking for an easy hike, consider the Bear Basin Grand Traverse Loop Trail in Payette National Forest. Mountain biking is allowed on the trail, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to take in views of the nearby forest.
Length: 4.8 miles
Intensity: Easy
Loon Lake Loop Trail in Payette National Forest features both a lake and river along the path, as well as a few bridges to cross. The best time for making this hike is from March through October. You're sure to love the beautiful colors that pop up in the fall.
Length: 11.9 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Payette National Forest has several high-elevation lakes, as well as rivers and streams, that are great for fishing. Trout is abundant in the lakes, but other native species to pursue include mountain whitefish, northern pikeminnow, and suckers. In Hell's Canyon Reservoir, the most common catches are bass, catfish, and crappie. Motorized boating is allowed on Goose Lake, Hell's Canyon Reservoir, and the West Fork of the Weiser River.
Slick Rock in Payette National Forest provides some of the longest continuous technical rock climbing opportunities in Idaho. It ranges from eight to 10 pitches. Summit Lake Ridge is another climbing spot in the area. The ridge allows for long turns and doesn't have a lot of forest.
In Payette National Forest, you may see mountain goats, elk, bighorn sheep, picas, Merriam's turkeys, boreal owls, pileated woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks, beavers, and otters. If you want to see beavers and otters, you could go canoeing along the flat water stretches along the Payette River.
You can enjoy a picnic at Goose Lake, Bear Basin, Burgdorf Campground, and Mackay Bar Campground. The Grouse Group Picnic Site at Goose Lake has a view of the lake, fire grills, tables, and vault toilets. At Burgdorf Campground, you also have access to tables, vault toilets, and fire rings. Mackay Bar Campground enjoys a prime location on the banks of the Salmon River.
Hunting is allowed at the Marshall Mountain Wilderness Study Area and Payette National Forest. Game you could target include mountain goats, moose, elk, sheep, deer, and bear.
Popular areas for OHV riding include the Ruby Meadows Trail and Brownlee Area East Fork. These trails offer easy access to additional off-road paths.
Because it snows a lot in this region, you can engage in winter activities like snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling. Brundage Mountain Resort and Little Ski Hill are popular areas to go skiing in Payette National Forest. You can find trails open for snowmobiling in the Brownlee Area, Bear Basin, the McCall Recreation Area, the Secesh/Warren/Elk Summit Area, and Mann Creek.
RV camping is available at Spring Creek Campground, Grouse Campground, and Big Flat Campground. Spring Creek Campground can accommodate RVs up to 50 feet long and offers vault toilets, potable water, tables, and grills. Big Flat Campground features these same amenities along with an RV waste station. They can also accommodate 45-foot RVs. Search for "BLM camping near me" to find locations that best suit your trip's needs.
You can find Bureau of Land Management free camping at the Island Bar Recreation Site and Shorts Bar Recreation Site. Both of these campgrounds are near the Salmon River.
The Marshall Mountain Wilderness Study Area is perfect for the backcountry camping experience. As a wilderness area, it provides a primitive, remote experience. The landscape is beautiful, consisting of a mixture of mountains and dense forest. When you're planning your BLM RV camping trip, be aware that there are no amenities in the wilderness area, and there may be fire restrictions in the region that you need to follow as well. The road leading to the Marshall Mountain Wilderness Study Area isn't paved, so you should bring a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Cycling isn't allowed in the Marshall Mountain Wilderness Study Area; you'll have to go to Payette National Forest for cycling opportunities. Winter conditions can change unexpectedly in the region. If you plan on engaging in winter sports, bring an avalanche beacon, probe, shovel, compass, and topographic map with you. Be careful when you cross Lick Creek in Payette National Forest in spring because it can sometimes swell up to eight inches within the day. Also, be aware that the marked trail is not very clear on the way to the Rain Peak rock climbing area because the trees are still regrowing from a previous forest fire. You'll want to bring a compass with you to help you find your way.
Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Leaving no trace of your stay is important to keep the land clean and safe for everyone. Food scraps and human waste can attract animals to your campsite when they aren't properly disposed of. Human waste presents an additional health hazard when it's not taken care of correctly. You should also avoid carving or drawing on trees, rocks, and any other items you come across during your stay.
The Marshall Mountain Wilderness Study Area is about 22 miles east of Riggins, Idaho. From Riggins, travel down US Highway 95 and turn onto NF-1614, which is also known as Salmon River Road. The road travels along the river and at some point, crosses the river. After you've crossed the river, keep your eyes peeled for NF-103, which is a non-paved road. You'll connect to NF-103 and turn right onto NF-318, which is also a non-paved road but rougher than the previous. You should arrive at the junction of NF-320. This path takes you into the wilderness area.
Ready to visit Marshall Mountain Wilderness Study 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.
