Little Camas Reservoir

This is remote BLM camping at its best! Two miles down a dirt road and you come to the entrance to the boat ramp. Note: do not take any of the earlier public access entrances unless you have a car sized vehicle - roads are very narrow and rough and there is no place to turn around. When you come to the boat ramp, take the first entrance (coming from the south). This takes you to a large flat area with multiple existing fire rings. There is plenty of space to turn around. The second entrance is quite treacherous with sharp turns on narrow roads - we could not have got our 25 foot rig in this entrance.

We saw no other people while we were there. Cows, deer, and birds are abundant. Sadly (this is the reason for sad in my title), the reservoir is completely dry and, according to Google, has been for quite a few years. We bicycled around (and in when we could) the reservoir. The bottom is cracked mud columns that are sun-dried on the top and muddy on the bottom so somewhat unstable. The cows eat the scrub greens along the edges.

Good cell service. We loved it!

We got here late in the day but there are tons of flat areas and fire rings that indicate where to camp. If the reservoir (quite low when we were there) isn’t a nice view, the stars are absolutely astounding here. Could easily make out the Milky Way and shooting stars, it was wonderful.

There was one other vehicle near us but other than that, didn’t see much of anyone else!

It’s free!! There is cows everywhere!! The reservoir was very low when we were there but still a pretty view. There was quite a bit of traffic going up to the RV park near by. There is vault toilets and fire ring otherwise no other amenities. There was no one else camping there when we were there so as far as noise that way it was quiet. Bring your own firewood. Overall we enjoyed it and would stay here again.

Currently there is some sort of dangerous algae infestation with the water which is making it smell a bit. Can't go swimming or let dogs play in the water safely according to the signs.

Only a handful of fishers over the past few days. My third and last day is Saturday, only one other camper in a tent on the other side of the water.

The bugs are loud, but don't seem to bite. Netting in the window seemed to work for me.
4 and 5 Verizon bars although I've had a call drop twice.

One fisherman got caught in a mud puddle. I let him use my cellphone and got several followup calls from 2-4AM from his wife, the towing company, and his insurance company. :/

The vault toilet is clean, but the site areas are trashed with old boxes, beer cans, etc. I'm taking a bit extra with me when I go but I don't have the capacity to take enough to make a big dent.

This was a las minute "One Nighter" on way to Craters of the Moon. Main dirt road is fine, well kept. Side roads to camping "Sites" location maybe not so nice, narrow and slow. There are a few area locations and like Goldilocks, some won't fit all.
I tried one or two of the first ones, but a little too jammed and didn't want to get stuck. Solo here. you can see the "One Holers" at the main location points. I found the one, and up on a small mound for a "Room with a View" Which was nice.

Now, the dark secret, Bugs... I'm finally learning why reservoirs are so good for fish. As Carl Sagan used say, "There are Millions of Millions...." of bugs. Non threatening other than just an annoyance. You can "Hear" them swarming.

I did have great, SID (Solar-Internet-DISH) so stayed several days, but with the bugs it was time to move on. Also, occasional Stagnant water smell would waffle through the area... not a big deal, passes in a few minutes. Bugs, were the main thing, sorta like gnats...