Granite Creek Campground

Absolutely gorgeous campground with amazing hosts especially Ben the cat!!! Super quiet and sites are spacious and far enough away from others you still feel secluded. It is incredibly dark at night, I've never seen so many stars in the sky! No light pollution at all. I really wish I had brought my telescope. Very nice park approved fire rings at each site and firewood available for sale at the host lot. Also large bear resistant food boxes and large picnic table available at each site. Water is available to fill your fresh tank but there is no where to dump grey or black tanks so be mindful of that especially when you have to travel 8 miles down a rough dirt road. Hosts did however reccomend we could empty a couple buckets of grey water in the vault toilet if we had to and even offered to let us use one of their buckets. There are vault toilets available and bear resistant dumpsters. Also no cell service at all but I didn't mind. Beautiful waterfall and hot springs you can walk or drive to. Many beautiful trails to walk as well. This is real camping folks; no hookups, no wifi or cell service ...only fresh water and firewood available. Make sure to bring everything you need as it's nearly an hour from town. Generators allowed until 10pm. $15 a day and I believe it was a 16 day limit. First come first serve, no reservations.

Be sure to throttle it way down into low gear as the long in road is really rough! If you like remote with at least the basics of picnic tables, bear boxes, and fire pits, this is your place. The sites next to the creek are the nicest and most level, and all have bear boxes (and notices about mandatory food storage). While I didn't see any bears, there were quite a few mule deer in the meadow in the evening., and I had to kick elk scat out of my tent space before set up.The vault toilet was clean enough, but could have been better. The campground is very close to Granite Creek Hot Springs, a pool type hot spring with a fee to swim instead of a natural hot spring pool. Word is that there were some pools at the base of the falls, but I wan't up for the hike or the very cold fording of the "creek" as it was very full with spring runoff. The manager let me hop in to test the water (too cool for real enjoyment according to him), and didn't charge me when I got out after just 15 minutes. The whole time I was in the pool he was regaling a couple with his story of a grizzly killing an elk calf the week before a few miles away. He was quite the story teller, and had the video on his phone to prove it. It was a "grizzly" tale.

First things first- the road is rocky on the 9 mile dirt road to the camp ground. It doesn't require 4-wheel drive, but I would recommend taking it slow. 3 flat tires in 2 days that I know of, 2 were members of my party. It is still worth it though! It will take 30 minuted drive time to reach the campground from Hwy 189.

Campground Review: The Granite Creek Campground is a great campground in a beautiful setting within a pine grove. There is a crystal clear creek nearby, a roaring waterfall, hot springs and granite monoliths surrounding the area. Multiple trail heads are accessible from this area. There are 53 sites available. Two vehicles are limited per site, $15 per site with +$7 for the additional vehicle. The camp host is very helpful with directions and also has firewood for purchase $6.00. The campground has water available, several toilets which were tidy and good condition. There are bear-proof dumpsters throughout the camp ground and bear-proof boxes for food storage in each campsite. The campsites were adequately sized and could accommodate multiple tents. There is enough room for 2 vehicles in each site, we also had a trailer with our raft at one with plenty of room to spare. There is an abundance of deer in this area and so many species of birds. No bear sightings. There is no cell service at the campground or for 30 miles in any direction. Hoback junction is the closet area with fuel and groceries, however, I rarely was able to get even 1 bar with Verizion.

There is free dispersed camping along the stretch of road to the campground. No amenities.

Granite Hot Springs- Granite Hot Springs is 1 mile north of the campground. Cost is $8.00 and is cash only. The water is not too hot in summer months, luke warm- just right for relaxing. HINT there are undeveloped hot springs below the falls if you prefer free, primitive, and trail finding.

Granite Falls- Within walking distance from the campground, stay right when the road forks, you will see/hear the falls from this diversion. There are trails around this area, some to the top of the falls. Spectacular!

Backpacking- Multiple trail heads in the area for back country exploration

Fly Fishing- world class fly fishing in Granite Creek!

Kayaking- the Granite Creek joins the Hoback river right were the road to the campground turns off Hwy 189. We saw several kayakers.

Whitewater rafting- the Snake river is not far, there are multiple campgrounds along the Snake, but they fill fast. It is about 35 miles to the West Table launch where we put our raft in.

Gear Review: OOFOS OOlala Sandal https://www.oofos.com/collections/womens-oolala-sandal

Last time I was in Scheel's, I really eyeballed these shoes. I was so excited to have the opportunity to demo these for the Dyrt! These sandals are like walking on a cloud! Sooo comfy! I wore these around camp the entire weekend. It felt like heaven to put them on after wearing water shoes rafting and stiff approach shoes while hiking. They are so cushiony and supportive in the arch. Watch my gear review video…I say 'amazing' like 50 times. ;-)

I wore these Oolala sandals when I visited Granite Hot Springs, talk about ideal recovery after a long day on the water, hiking, and in the sun. On our way out we decided to visit the Granite Falls. I did not have other footwear to change into, so I hiked in the OOFOS Oolala sandal. These sandals are not designed for hiking and they are not stable on the uneven and steep terrain. If you use these for what they are designed for, recovery, you will not be disappointed. I'm a firm believer on wearing the right footwear for the right activity and these OOFOS are excellent recovery shoes, as designed! 5 stars OOFOS!