Join the fun near Almo. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Almo is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Almo. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
"Being right next to the Breadloaves you have close to 100 routes to choose from with a combo of both traditional and sport."
"There are bathrooms interspersed throughout and the closest amenities are in Almo. There is also a restaurant in Almo where you can get a burger and beer after a hard day of sending!"
"Located about a 7-mile drive/walk to the entrance of City of Rocks, Smoky Mountain Campground is situated above the valley providing a wonderful view from many sites including space #19 where I parked"
"Smoky Mountain campground is very close to the entrance of City of Rocks NR and just slightly further is Castle Rocks SP, however, the grounds are managed by the state park."
"Loved hearing the creek as we tucked in for the night. The hike the next morning to the lake was a great challenge! There is an unmarked fork at about a mile and half in... go right!"
"There is no access to dumping trash. It's a 2.5 mile hike to the first lake. It inclines all the way up."
"We found this site on the Dyrt in looking for a stopover between Park city Utah and Boise Idaho. Wow, Bennet Springs is a hidden gem!"
"Our favorite site has a little creek right next to it. Great for kids to play in. There's also a trail that goes along the creek which starts at the bottom most campsite."
$5 / night
"This is another great campsite on the road that heads up to Lake Cleveland and Mt Harrison. "
"Just a short walk away brings you to incredible views and cool rock formations. There is an outhouse but no running water and it’s a trash in/trash out campsite."
"Conveniently located next to the rodeo arena. Nice grass between back-in RV sites. A few larger trees, but mostly fun sun. Power and water at each site, and a free sewer dump."
$10 - $50 / night
"Off the beaten path, the setting is worth it. Spacious camp sites, beautiful lake side setting."
"Nice smaller county campground surrounded by farmland and on a lake. Not very busy for early June. Gravel interior roads and campsites with power and water. No sewer or dump station."
GuideThe relationship between City of Rocks National Preserve and Castle Rocks State Park is still not clear to me as this campground appears on the National Park Service website, although it is an Idaho State Park. That said, the park rangers seem to work cooperatively. This campground is delightful. Located about a 7-mile drive/walk to the entrance of City of Rocks, Smoky Mountain Campground is situated above the valley providing a wonderful view from many sites including space #19 where I parked my campervan. I believe the walking distance to the reserve could be shorter by taking any of the hiking trails from the campgrounds rather than going along the paved roads which first go away from the City of Rocks then back up again, making a big "U".
During my one-night stay in February, water, showers and bathrooms in the campground were closed for the winter season. A very clean, pit toilet is located in the equestrian parking lot across from the campground entrance. The distance from the campsites to the bathroom will vary from quite close to about 1/4 mile max. And during the winter season, there won't be much competition for the spaces close to the bathroom, as I was the sole user during my time there.
In addition to the breathtaking views, the sites offer privacy from 3 sides though all face the loop access road. There are picnic tables, fire rings and electrical power. I did not note if water was available as it would have been shut off in February in any event. There is a dump station about 1 mile down the road toward the exit. I do not know if it is open in the winter.
Check-in during the off-season is accomplished by envelope collected at the entrance or directly to the ranger who came by in the morning to check-in. The rate was $27 per night. Definitely worth the money to stay in this tranquil campground so close to the magnificent City of Rocks.
LegendSmoky Mountain campground is very close to the entrance of City of Rocks NR and just slightly further is Castle Rocks SP, however, the grounds are managed by the state park. There are some RV/equestrian sites that have 30/50 amp power and water hookups. There is a dump station on the road to the grounds but it was closed for repairs when we visited. There are plenty of pit toilets around the area and the ones we used were quite clean. Spots are mostly back-in but pretty easy access. The camp hosts were very friendly and the camp reservation includes a parking pass for the State Park ($10 value). The RV sites are very private and nicely spread out with pine trees in between. Great views of City of Rocks. Plenty of biking and hiking trails around and TONS of climbing. The visitor center is about 2 miles away and a general store another half mile beyond that. There’s opportunity for gas and food on the way to the grounds (both Albion and Almo have options) but best to get what you need before you leave the major highway. Having hookups at a State Park with such awesome views was sweet and the grounds are very well maintained. Reservations seem hard to come by during the high season.
LegendWe stayed up by the Breadloaves group camp for a night and was treated to the entire Rockford being lit up by the moon. Being right next to the Breadloaves you have close to 100 routes to choose from with a combo of both traditional and sport.
There's toilets nearby in the parking lot and the trees offer a nice respite from the wind. There are amenities in nearby Almo. The steakhouse has good diner food and Rock City has all your grocery shopping needs! All campsites have fire rings and picnic tables.
BOOK YOUR SITE EARLY! The sites fill up quick there's close to 0% chance you'll get a walking site from May-Oct.
GuideClose to City of Rocks and the small town of Almo. Hot springs in Almo. Small market in town which makes their own ice cream and has a little restaurant across the street but not much in the way of groceries. Couple other restaurants in town but they were not open while we were there. Also water not yet turned on in the campground so bring your own water if you are coming through early in the season. But it was quiet and we were able to explore and hike without running into many people
LegendOne of the best no approach climbing areas in the country! We've come here numerous times and never get tired of it. There are bathrooms interspersed throughout and the closest amenities are in Almo. There is also a restaurant in Almo where you can get a burger and beer after a hard day of sending!
RangerStayed: 5/13/2021
Cost: $14/night plus $10 reservation fee
Site: 61
Vehicle: Volkswagen Atlas
Equipment: Tent
AT&T and T-Mobile: No Service
This is a very unique campground. Sites are dispersed throughout the entire park, as opposed to being condensed into one central location. It makes for some very unique and private sites - no two alike.
We went for site 61 for two reasons. 1) It was the most private that was remaining, even though 2) it was very close to a bathroom. Most of the sites near bathrooms, were more grouped together. The bathroom itself is less than a 1 min walk from the site. We had one neighbor on the other side of us, but you could only see them if you walked by to go to the bathroom. I think that site 61 could be the most private of all, with site 63 having some of the most beautiful sunset views (pictured).
This site was also nice, because it is tucked-in next to a large rock wall, blocking the wind coming from the north. Do be aware, that Area 7 of the campground (sites 61-64), are at a much higher elevation. Driving to the site from the main part of the park, we climbed over 1,000 feet (up a winding, dirt road), ending at 7,000+ feet. So, the temperature is going to be a little different than it is when you’re checking the weather in Almo. It was about a 10º difference when we were there.
Overall, this is a very nice campground with a fire ring and picnic table. All pictures are from Site 61, with the exception of the sunset from Site 63.
#DareToEverywhere
GuideGreat family camping. Gets hot in July-August. Lots of hiking and exploring to do. Main recreation activity is rock climbing. Durfee Hotsprings in Almo is a must on any visit. The Outpost for a good burger or Rock City for pizzas.
LegendWe literally stumbled upon this gem of a camping area while driving through Idaho. About an hour south of the Snake River, and Interstate 84, it rewards the modern traveler with a truly unique landscape of unsurpassed beauty, just as it greeted the wagon trains following the easily recognized formations over 150 years ago.
Rocks, rocks, rocks, everywhere are amazingly interesting granite towers and domes, though the mountains feel far away. The camping options are as unique as the formations, here. Rather than cluster the camping in a formal campground the park loop road links the small sites to the greater park and each other. Even on a busy day, this means that you can get enough solitude and quiet. Pit toilets, and water spigots are as fancy as the services get, but we found them clean and conveniently placed.
A hiker and rock climber’s dream the area offers bouldering, sport, and traditional climbing routes. If you’re not crazy about going vertical, you can easily link miles and miles of climber access trails for an hour or an all day adventure. The park also offers a few mountain biking trails, from easy to intermediate.
The small town of Almo, ID is the closest place to get gas, and pick up a few groceries, as well as grab a bite to eat. But come prepared to feed yourself, unless desperate, because Tracy’s General Store doesn’t offer much more than convenience or non-perishable food.
One hilarious and endearing quirk about this park is the pay envelopes at the iron ranger. They wanted cash, rather then check, which I can understand I mean, who doesn’t; but they had a very specific price, $12.72 and they wanted exact change!
RangerWe stayed here midway through a two-week adventure visiting national parks out West. This just so happened to be on our route after leaving Glacier, and it ended up being our favorite campground we visited during this journey.
We had a little trouble finding the campground, but that was because of human error when selecting the route via Google Maps. After stopping and scratching our heads a bit, we figured out our error and easily found our way. We didn’t realize that we had booked an “equestrian site” complete with a horse pen but had some fun with our friends later (good place for corralling the husbands). Our friends were in Site 34, and there was a small trail connecting our two sites.
We easily set up camp and made a quick meal before touring the campground. It was so quiet that we didn’t think there were any others camping there, so we were surprised during our walk to see so many fellow campers. The sites are HUGE and really offer a great deal of privacy and seclusion. The only issue we had was that there were so many bugs (gnats and flies)! This forced us inside sooner than we would have liked, but we were tired from the long journey that day anyway. We went to bed early and opened the blinds on the front stargazing window of our Lance. The view was breathtaking!!! It was such a clear night (and so dark in the campground) that we could see hundreds of stars and fell asleep looking at them. We awoke to a beautiful sunrise over the distant mountains. It was the most beautiful view from our trailer to date!
We begrudgingly left Castle Rocks after only one night wishing that we could have stayed much longer. If we are ever fortunate enough to be in the area again, we will definitely revisit this campground . . . hopefully for a longer stay next time!
Horse camping in Idaho offers a unique opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of well-reviewed campgrounds, equestrian enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to set up camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Almo, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Almo, ID is City of Rocks Campground — City of Rocks Natural Reserve with a 4.9-star rating from 25 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Almo, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Almo, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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