Alder Thicket Campground
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Alder Thicket Campground
Welcome to the northern gateway into the Blues. This campground is located just off of Forest Service Road 40, which is just three miles into the Blue Mountains. Overgrown trees and tall Alder shrubbery will provide plenty of shade for Grouse, White- Tailed deer and yourself on hot summer days. Hiking trails are within five miles and the Clearwater Guard station is six miles from the Alder Thicket Campground.
Before you go
Season
Late May – October/Nov.
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
No fee.
Hours
This campground is accessible from May through November, depending on weather conditions. Forest Service Road 40 is closed at Rose Spring snow park from December 1 through March 31 for snowmobile trails, and grooming. The campground is not actually available for camping in the winter, it’s used more for a rest stop for snowmobilers.
Accessibility
Vault toilet and tables are wheel chair accessible.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.