4.5098 reviewsSelect a month, then check for open campsites
Price
Varies
Booking
Reservable
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
No Pets
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
Varies
Booking
Reservable
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
No Pets
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email, SMS, or in-app notifications
Learn more about alerts →Backpack Campsites Campground
45.3151, -93.9515
Twin Cities backpackers wanting overnight solitude without a long drive: peninsula and shoreline sites feel genuinely isolated, the 40+ mile trail network keeps hikers busy, and late September through mid-October is the best window before cold sets in.
No vault toilets, no potable water, no fire rings, no cell signal, and a mandatory hike to reach any site, campers who need drive-up access or basic facilities will find this setup frustrating before they even set up a tent.
Context for the broader area surrounding Backpack Campsites Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Merritt+Dam">Merritt Dam</a>, a feature of the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Ainsworth Unit Project">Ainsworth Unit, Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program</a>, is on the Snake River 14 miles upstream from the confluence of the Snake and Niobrara Rivers. Recreation is managed by Nebraska Game and Parks. Reservoir open 24 hours. Good access roads. Available species include walleye, muskie, largemouth bass, crappie, and yellow perch. Irrigation supply reservoir experiencing moderate fluctuations. THe reservoir peaks has 2,906 water surface acres, 6,147 land acres and 44 miles of shoreline. Fishing season is year-round. <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/gp-bin/arcweb_mrne.pl">Current reservoir levels.</a>
Located 21 miles southwest of Valentine, Nebraska. Nearest highway is Nebraska 97.
Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.
Fall delivers the clearest upsides: hardwood color peaks in late September through mid-October, daytime highs run 45–65°F, and nights drop into the 30s and 40s. Mosquitoes and biting flies fade sharply after the first frost. Expect a few crowded weekends during peak color, but weekday visits feel quiet. Summer brings lush forest and warm overnights but also heavy mosquitoes and flies, a persistent complaint among Minnesota backpackers. Late spring (May into early June) offers good conditions before bug pressure builds. Winter draws cross-country skiers to the trail network; the park stays open and a few hardy campers use the walk-in cabins in snow.
Fall leaf color peaks late Sep–mid‑Oct; reviewers praise fall scenery as a highlight.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.
Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.
Be the first to review this campground
Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.
