Looking for the best dispersed camping near Boise? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Idaho excursion.
Overview: Willow Creek Campground is located along the Middle Fork of the Boise River Forest Service (FS) road 268 and the north end of the Arrowrock Reservior. There are 9 campsites at the campground. A stay at the campground enables guests to enjoy all the beauty and recreation offered along the river and reservoir. Weather is usually good from mid-May through late September and is easily accessible by car in good weather, although the road is sometimes rough and the drive can be seemingly long. Checking with the District on road conditions before heading out is recommended. Natural Features: Wildlife watchers may want to look for deer and elk. Waterfowl, eagles and osprey are attracted to the river. Recreation: There are several trails in the area including trail #189 beginning near Cottonwood Campground, leading to Bald Mountain Peak. Check the Idaho City Ranger District Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for trails in the area that are open to hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers and off-road vehicles. Click here for an Idaho OHV safety message. The Middle Fork Boise River and Arrowrock Reservoir offer excellent trout fishing and good swimming holes. Big game hunting is a popular activity in season.
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: https://www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/
Within the national forests, the majority of land is open for “dispersed camping”, outside of developed campgrounds. These locations are usually wide spots off of forest roads, with no facilities provided, such as water, bathrooms or tables. Many people enjoy the solitude of camping away from developed campgrounds. Follow these guidelines to ensure that these areas can be enjoyed safely by you, and future generations.
Overview: The Ice Springs Campground has 3 campsites on Fall Creek near the Anderson Ranch Reservoir. The reservoir is a popular destination for fishing, boating, waterskiing and riding personal watercraft. It is also has good smallmouth bass and kokanee fishing. This area had a major wildfire in 2012 and conditions may have altered. There is a nearby trailhead at Camp Creek, south, to the end of Forest Service (FS) road 128, which heads north past Dog Mountain, all the way to Horse Ranch Mountain, about 17 miles. A shorter hike can be done by setting up a shuttle at Bear Hole Trailhead, north on FS road 129.
Dispersed camping. High clearance vehicle recommended. Please LNT.
Scout
Beautiful scenery, easy drive in for most vehicles and surprisingly good phone service. Had the place all to myself and got some really nice long exposure shots of the night sky.
TravelerWas worried about the weather when I pulled up at dusk during a storm but it passed south of me and I got to watch the lightening. It is remote without any services for miles in either direction off 20, so do check the weather and come prepared.
We had it to ourselves in mid September. Toilets had lots of TP and were clean. Saw some big scat (moose?).
Scout
After a couple dry creek beds there’s a less developed path that goes up a hill. There’s some old headstones from the 1800’s, (yes really) and a stone fire ring. Smooth dirt and very isolated
Guide
Nice lil spot to relax . Really rough road is the only bad part
Traveler
About an hour off the highway, 7 miles of which are washboard-bumpy gravel roads along the lake cliffside (Had to drive under 10mph those last 7 miles). We were in an AWD sprinter van, and the road conditions definitely put a damper on the night. Site is right on the water gorgeous once you’re there. The stars were incredible. Toilet on site but the flies were swarming.
TravelerNice level sites overlooking lake. Easy to get to. Lots of cows wandering around. Toilets were clean. We had the place to ourselves.
ScoutThere are vault toilets in two locations. No other facilities. Very few people. Where we stayed overnight, we didn't see anyone else. Lots of gnat-type flying bugs. Almost no mosquitos. Great views of the mountains around the lake and very quiet. Difficult to access the water as it is deep mud near the shoreline. Lots of grazing cattle nearby.
GuideI stayed here for about a week. My spot was a short distance from the water in an attempt to avoid the mosquitoes (didn't really work), but still really serene. It's about a 30 minute drive to stores in Mountain Home. I also appreciated that you're only on non paved roads for about 1/2 mile. Would definitely come back here.
TravelerWe parked right beside the river, and it was absolutely gorgeous. However, I don't recommend taking a car on this road. It's definitely an ATV road as it's very rough.
Guide
It's an absolutely stunning location, but there are very few spots with any shade at all and it gets HOT out there. Depending on how rugged your vehicle is, spots are limited. No T-Mobile service. Oh, and the bugs are insane.
TravelerFairly easy access off US 20. There is open grazing so we did have cattle close to our campsite by morning. Tons of bugs but not many mosquitoes. Quiet and not many others. T-Mobile worked well. There was some in/out movement around 5:30 am but as an early riser I wasn't disturbed.
Traveler
Pretty little spot with pretty decent cell service. Lots of space for my dogs to run around. Could see other campers in the distance. Everyone had lots of room to themselves. I could see it becoming a little bit busier on the weekend. No facilities available at all, which is fine by me! Unfortunately people seem to leave trash around. There was a fire pit which I appreciated but greasy tends in the pit. There also trash bags and a few other things around. Overall, this did not majorly detract from the site. I would recommend bringing bug repellent or a thermacell to ward off bugs.
GuideThere are many group sites and single sites. Many sites own a corner turn. Also your entire campsite will be visible to every car passing. There are other sites on the other side of the road that are more private. Be wary the road is very dangerous getting in. Take it slow.
Some people park their trailers at lake front but beware of the dune sand , you might get stuck.
I love being able to jump into the lake and ride my bike along the lake.
T
ScoutAll sites are on tent-stake-resistant river cobble, though some disguised with a thin layer of dirt, or a white layer of alkali or talc. Combined with the smell of dead fish, difficult fishing access (river level 2000+ cfs), frequent lack of shade, poison ivy, invasive plants, trash hither and yon, we yawned and went on. . .
ScoutThe views are beautiful, but some of the sites are less than to be desired. If you have a 4WD vehicle you should be just fine, but if you have a trailer or camper, that can really limit what spots you can get to. Also, people really need to learn how to not leave trash behind. There is no cell service so you really get to just enjoy the scenery.
TravelerThis place is absolutely beautiful and would be perfect if it weren't for people leaving so much trash behind. My wife and I spent a lot of time picking up countless bullet casing and other trash. We heard numerous birds in the area, such as killdeer, mourning doves and owls. We saw a few small bunnies, not sure of the kind. There's a lot of dispersed camping. We saw RVs, Vans and a few tents. It was very quiet and people usually only stayed a few nights. We were here for 9 days. The hot springs are off the road across the street from the sign. It was a little too hot for my liking but my wife enjoyed wading in it.
GuideA great little spot off the road next to the reservoir. Has a bathroom and a few camping rings. Nothing special but a peaceful place.
GuideBad roads, high tension wires crackled with electricity, and a lot of traffic on the main road.
RangerThis is a clearly dispersed location. There is a single pit toilet. Camped right next to the lake. Lots of bugs being close to water but seemingly few mosquitoes
Traveler
A variety of free and dispersed sites, most of them with rock campfire rings, near a nice shallow creek. A fair amount of RV and ATV traffic but still feels pretty secluded. No bathrooms or anything like that but it's only a 3 minute drive from Idaho City.
RangerOur site was located right off the road along the river. The views of the canyon were spectacular and our site was about a 5 minute walk along the road to Snively Hot Springs. Amazing backdrop for free dispersed camping. HOWEVER, the clientele around us wasn’t so idyllic. We were surrounded by loud campers that were partying and yelling well past 11 PM (most of the noise was coming from the hot springs). Cars were coming and going all night (Wednesday) so it was hard to get a peaceful night’s rest. To top it off, we witnessed our neighbor get into a verbal altercation with some interlopers who were fishing near his tent. He was very aggressive, threatening them with a large log and shouting expletive loaded threats at them….all in front of my 7 and 4 year old daughter. It was a bit freaky. I’d give the location 5 stars, the the experience 1 star. If you manage to hit it in a down time when you can get some solitude, this area would be hard to beat.
On a side note, we checked out the hot springs in the morning. They were cool, but again the experience was tainted by the amount of trash and litter around the fringes of the hot springs from partying the night before.
GuideDown a dirt road. This used to be a boat ramp, but it doesn't exist anymore. A few fire pits scattered around the hill and by the water. Vault toilet available. Great views of the mountains. No privacy other than some sage brush. No room for big rigs, 4wd not required.
TravelerWas driving thru to seattle from the Midwest. My last stop! Easy to find. No signal and no fires allowed due to BLM land. Was a brisk 12° in mid/late November. A few campers. If you have an off road vehicle- it’s great to climb up some hills to find the perfect spot!
TravelerWas fairly trashed campground. Cleaned up two trash bags full of garbage. Random shoes, shell casing and mysterious empty glass containers.
RangerThis is our 2nd stay at this campground but different season. The reservoir is low but the view is still gorgeous. We had the place to ourselves.
Good cell coverage (TMobile).
GuideFree camping among the sparsely located pine trees. Great views of the water and mountains. Vault toilet nearby.
ScoutDidn’t end up staying since the water was so low.
Camping near Boise, Idaho, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and unique experiences. Whether you’re in an RV or pitching a tent, there’s something for everyone in this outdoor paradise.
Camping near Boise, Idaho, has its ups and downs, but with the right preparation, you can have a great time exploring the outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Boise, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Boise, ID is Boise National Forest Willow Creek Campground (Mountain Home) with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Boise, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 dispersed camping locations near Boise, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
