Apgar Campground

Tucked beside the Lochsa River and shaded by towering cedar, Apgar Campground offers quiet seclusion, forested charm, easy highway access, and direct river frontage—ideal for travelers balancing natural immersion with simple logistics.

Located just off U.S. Highway 12 about 25 minutes northeast of Kooskia, Apgar is a small, primitive campground set among old-growth trees with a handful of level, unpaved sites. The sites vary in river proximity, with some offering direct access for fishing, wading, or simply soaking in the sound of fast-moving water. While there’s no potable water or modern hookups, each site includes a picnic table, fire ring, and vault toilet access. The setting feels deeply forested, with birdsong and the river dominating the soundscape, though highway noise can occasionally filter through the trees at certain sites. Site spacing offers moderate privacy—better than many roadside campgrounds, but not remote or dispersed.

Campers typically stop at Apgar for weekend escapes, scenic overnight stays along Highway 12, or as a launch point for exploring the Lochsa River corridor and its surrounding public lands. The nearby river and forest trails offer opportunities for fly fishing, wildlife watching, and short hikes within the Clearwater-Nez Perce National Forest.

Unlike the reservable and more open riverside sites at nearby Wilderness Gateway, Apgar offers greater shade and a quieter, less trafficked setting, though it trades amenities for simplicity.