Best Dispersed Camping near Boise, ID
The Boise National Forest Willow Creek Campground serves as a starting point for dispersed camping around Boise. Free camping spots at Arrowrock Reservoir give you plenty of space away from others, but you'll need to bring everything with you. The Forest Service requires all visitors to pack out trash and follow Leave No Trace practices while camping on public land. Fire bans frequently affect the area during summer and fall, so check with rangers before planning to have a campfire. Public lands here have a two-week maximum stay rule that rangers do enforce. Many of the best dispersed sites sit at the end of rough dirt roads that become challenging after rainfall - trucks or SUVs work better than passenger cars. Without any facilities available, you'll need to haul in water and figure out your bathroom situation before arriving. Bears and other wildlife roam throughout these areas, making proper food storage in vehicles or bear canisters necessary. Always set up your camp at least 200 feet from creeks and rivers to help protect water quality. The basic, undeveloped nature of dispersed camping around Boise creates a completely different experience than developed campgrounds, but requires more planning and self-sufficiency.
