Copperfield Park Campground

A grassy, treed oasis with terrific access to Hells Canyon. RV sites are mostly back in, some pull-through. Spaces are somewhat close together so don't expect privacy. Nice large grass area next to the river. Lots of campers were obviously here for fishing. We took the 20 mile or so drive up to the Hells Canyon visitor center (still closed Memorial Day weekend due to pandemic). Nice scenic drive and views up the canyon. Campground seemed well maintained though we didn't use restroom or showers. Drive in from the Idaho side via SR 71 has MANY curves. Drive out to Baker City much easier. Don't bother with the PineTel wifi unless you really need it, the connection kept dropping every few minutes while we were trying to make a wifi call.

This immaculate oasis at the bottom of Hell's Canyon would have merited 5 stars, but we had issues with the automated iPad signing up for another night.

We paid $17.36 for the first 2 nights (8.68/ night)....(50%discount for disabled vets)...were enjoying the area and park so much that we decided to stay another night.. We had not created an account when we had first registered, but the dang thing would not let us get another night. Asked for help from other campers.. nobody had any luck. One guy was so helpful he logged into his account at the kiosk, and with the discount the price was over $19 with the discount and reservation fee. He wanted to treat us to the night. I thanked him profusely, but couldn't accept it. After 90 minutes at the kiosk I went back, and mulled it over. Went back to the kiosk for a second try , created an account with a different internet address, it still wouldn't work!!

The host had left for the season, but before he left , he told me that Idaho Power had an Verizon wifi bubble across the street, behind the school, for the employee housing. So in the dark, I crossed the street, was able to get a signal...and finally the software let me create an account! Yay..when I went to get the site it was still >$19!!!
Time for bed...

In a last ditch effort I went over to the kiosk in the morning, used my new account, and got another night for $8.68.....Whew!!! The reservation site charges $23/night per site, instead of the $16 for walk-ups, plus a res. fee, has a lower discount for vets, then there is tax.

As I said, would have been 5 stars....
Also you should know that because of covid the restrooms and showers were locked. They brought in portapotties...At least there was water at our site, and they had a dump station.

...Although he visited in Sep and we were there in Jun our experience was the same...same dog feces and camp host who ignored it.

The showers were excellent. We did not look at the restrooms.

We did encounter another problem but it was not ours. A Dutch couple was trying to register but the automated check-in system (camp host was nowhere to be found and when he was he said "Yeah lots of people have problem with it.") would not take their phone number so they could not register. They ended up just going to a site for the night and the host did not charge them. There is no signage of what to do if there is a problem so our suggestion is that if you have reservations simply go to your site and when the host comes along tell him. If not, go to an unoccupied site and wait for him to come or stop by his trailer and leave a note.

We did pay for the PineTel internet connection as we needed it and it was OK but unless you really need it and can't connect anywhere in the CG it's not worth it. There IS a payphone across the street from the CG on the wall of what is apparently a church. It does work. We used an old ATT calling card with no problem.

The drive up the ID side to Hells Canyon is spectacular and we agree with driving up in the afternoon. The drive from here to Joseph is long and very different bt worth the time.

We too left through Cambridge. We stopped for gas in Richland OR on the way where the gas was $3.24 in June 2019 ($3.09 in Mountain Home ID a week earlier)

As for the sprinklers, the camp host did come around to warn us about them so we were prepared.

This was a delightful, impeccably maintained and spotlessly clean campground (except for dog feces). My nightly rate of $19 resulted from a $16 rate (for a pull-through with water and electric hookups) plus fees and taxes, less a $2/night senior discount.

The campground has two loops with the exit up the middle. For site 38 or above, ignore the "Camping" arrow at the entrance. Turn left at the entrance and go all the way to the end. If you follow the "camping" sign, you will go all the way round the first loop and end up back where you came in. Although the campground is in Oregon, the check-in/out times are mountain time.

I came in on Hwy 86 from Baker City, and left on Hwy 71 to Cambridge. Hwy 86 was excellent and very scenic. Hwy 71 was narrow, windy and hilly, with many 20-25 mph blind bends. There was very expensive gasoline ($0.80 more than Oregon and $1.20 more than Idaho) available 2 miles from the campground, and according to the signs, there was also gas at Halfway. I filled up with cheap gas in Cambridge on the way out.

I had no Verizon voice (the phone would ring but there was nobody there, and I could not make outgoing calls), but I had 1X or 3G about 50% of the time. It was adequate for checking emails and getting the news and weather. There were 3 PineTel wifi connections, but I could not connect to any of them from my campsite, so I did not bother buying the paid service.

Beware the sprinklers! I was woken up the first night by water lashing the wall of the trailer, so I put a towel over the offending sprinkler the next two nights.

I would have given this campground 5 stars, but for the host's failure to enforce the clearly-signposted dog leash regulation. Multiple campers let their dogs run loose, and I saw the host driving his golf cart through the dogs without taking any action. There were feces in some of the campsites, and on the children's grass play area.

The road to Hell's Canyon Dam and the visitor center was excellent. Plan on visiting the dam in the afternoon. In the morning, the sun is right behind it, which does not make for good photos.

Nightly rate reflects a $2 per night discount for 60 and over.

This is really a nice little park that it well maintained but a little overwatered from sprinklers.

Fishing, boating, hiking and a senic drive along Hell’s Canyon. There is a small store that also sells gas and diesel just three miles back the road. Not much else around.

This park was full over the weekend. They are now taking online reservations. There are several parks run by Idaho Power in the vicinity.

No cell with either ATT or Verizon. Park does offer 15 minutes of WiFi every day. After that, it’s $5 a day, $10 for 3 days and $25 a month. WiFi is provided by Pine Telephone. 10 Meg down and not bad. Note, once you pay your Voucher WIFi fee online, you’ll receive and voucher code by email. You need that code so save you 15 minutes to check your email for the code. The WiFi works best in the center campground sites. We were at the end of the sites and had to walk down a few for access. Took our chairs and enjoyed the view of the river.

Best sites seem to be in the middle of the campground. Only a couple pull thru but several back-in that would accommodate 45’. Have a look at sites 51 and 49. They’ll let you park your tow vehicle in the parking lot.

This Idaho Power Company "Utility" campground was a total surprise in this land of rustic National Forest Service campgrounds and forest camps. Fueled by plentiful water-powered electricity, this deluxe but remote campground along the Snake River doesn't cut any corners and the $16 dollar a night rate ($10 for tents) is super reasonable.

The only reason we didn't stick around is that it was too early in the day, the temp was 100 degrees and climbing, and we needed to make some more progress towards home. Otherwise, I can't think of a better spot in the hot summer. We'll definitely check out more campgrounds with the Utility label on them in the future.

Rates are cut in half during the off season which is November through March. There's a sign (dated 2012) saying that WiFi is free for 15 minutes every 12 hours, but we didn't try it.

Other Idaho Power Company "Utility" campgrounds on the Idaho side of the Snake River are Woodhead, McCormick and Hells Canyon. If they're anything like Copperfield, they are well worth visiting.