Camping Along North Fork?

[Poke 'Em]

I'm planning a trip for later this week. Want to spend the night and fish two days. Can you camp (just a tent, no RV or anything) along the North Fork, specifically at the Blair or Patrick access? If not, I'll be forced to drive to and from the NFS campground (about 15 miles) every day.

Thanks for any info!

[Poke 'Em]

Well, I finally found the info from MDC that answered my question... But any additional info would be appreciated!

[Gavin]

You can camp at the MDC campground at Patrick, but I'd recommend Sunburst Ranch just up the road...the fees are reasonable, plus they have ice, showerhouse, boats for rent, and decent fishing on the property. Cheers.

[Brian Wise]

I would probably got to a private campground too, we usually stay away from the public campgrounds....teenagers like to party.

Brian

[Forsythian]

Lost Cabins is a nice place... though the fishing up there is not the best.

I'd still like to stay at the ROLF one of these days.

[Brian Wise]

Lost Cabins is way up in the warm water part of the river....good smallmouth fishing though! ROLF not only has the awesome cabins but camping as well---come on down!

Brian

[tippett]

I can attest to ROLF very nice a nd great fishing. For public camping I would recomend Patricks.

tippett

[steve l]

It's been a long time since I was on the NF. Way back when (umm, the early/middle 70s?) before the various campgrounds there was what I remember as limited open gravel on the river. Is there much opportunity left for gravel bar camping?

[Gavin]

There are some good spots to camp between Twin Bridges and Hammond, and on public land in the Devil's Backbone wilderness between Hammond and Rainbow spring. Lots of developement from Rainbow Spring to about a mile past the falls...There are some potential camp sites between there and the first island upstream of Blair Bridge....Lots of development from Blair on down to Dawt. Cheers.

[2sheds]

Above HIghway CC is Mark Twain National Forext where you can camp on the banks of the Northfork.

Below CC is Forest Service campground called Hammond (modest fee, often others nearby(.

Next campground is River of Life (at the falls) which is a great private campground with some very cool treehouse cabins, well managed, good rainbow trout fishing territory

http://www.riveroflifefarm.com/

Blair Bridge Access (Country Road H-354) and Patrick Bridge Access (Highway H) both have public "primitive" campsites, but tend to be haunted by a rowdy crouwd on weekends.

Next downstream is Suncurts Ranch

http://www.sunburstranchcanoe.com/

Last private campground in the trout water is Riverside which is also well run and has good fishing for brown trout.

http://www.riversidecanoe.com/

I can recommend these 2-day fishing floats:

• Hammond to RiverOfLife to Dawt
  
• Kelly Ford to Riverside, Blair Bridge to Riverside