Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Burley? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. Find dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots from other campers.
With the development of the Rickett’s RV Camp, overnight stays in the Park are now permitted. This fee-free primitive camp offers a vault toilet facility and 13 individual RV parking pads, each with a picnic table and fire ring, but no electric or water hook-ups. Additionally, a large open area is available to accommodate oversized rigs and equestrian travellers. Corrals are located adjacent to this area. Stays are limited to 5 days. Any overnight parking and dispersed camping are prohibited anywhere in the Park outside of a designated campground.
Explore the Cotterel Mountains or hunt for upland birds and deer near this semi-developed camping destination. McClendon Spring was a favorite resting place for emigrants along the California Trail.
Camping, fishing for trout and boating are the favorite activities along the Snake River from this semi-developed recreation site.
Scout
Basic BLM land, dispersed camping about 2mi outside the City of Rocks on the Bread Loaves side, perfect for rock climbers. At least 3 rock fire pits spaced out for several different groups with plenty of room and flat areas for tents. Appears to be a similar area on the other side of the road too
Scout
Wonderful place for free camping, even better than some dirt but with 20bucks over....
Traveler
Excellent dispersed camping nice spaced out spots. Can hike along the river. Overall really liked this spot
GuideIt’s hard to believe this place is free. Nicer than some National Forest campgrounds with the same amenities. Pit toilets and that’s it. The toilets were clean and the one by our site even had a light on! It was a quiet stay and convenient to see Shoshone Falls, and resupply at Costco or Walmart just to the north in Jerome. Don’t skip the scenic overlooks at the bridge on highway 93, beautiful views, and we even watched a couple base jumpers there
ScoutIn the summer when the area is busier I think we would have love this more. Happy we were able to find free camping in this area. It’s a recreation area, so when we arrived we saw some in the distance fishing and another person bike riding. We were the only ones camping, and there was some unknown activities of others who came and went that we were unsure of. We would have felt better if someone else was camping somewhere. Nothing happened though and it was a cool spot. Definitely think when other campers are around this would be a great spot!
Guide
We ended up finding this spot to when we were looking at camping near Independence Lakes. It is a dispersed camping. The site was big enough for 3-4 trailers and had a picnic table and a fire ring. I recommend anyone coming in with a trailer or Rv to come in from the Elba side opposed to the Oakley Side. If your looking for a nice quiet location located a few miles from a nice hike to the lakes this is the place. This is one of those hidden spots for those wanting to stay a few days hiking or taking out their ATV/UTV.
ScoutRicketts BLM RV Camp just north of Twin Falls. This fee-free primitive BLM camp offers 2 vault toilets (in case you did not bring own) and 13 level RV parking pads, each with a picnic table and fire ring, but no electric or water hook-ups. There is also equestrian and overflow parking if needed.
TravelerThe BLM Cauldron Linn camp site is breath taking. The drive out and down takes awhile but damn is it worth it! Bring everything you need because it is complete nature. I wouldn’t recommend taking anything longer than 22’ out here, twisty curves. Have some new art on my rig.
ScoutBeautiful views, solitude, and, with a little work, a level camp spot for our camper. Trek up the road a ways to see Teepee Rocks - amazing!
Scout
The road down to it was silt. We were afraid we wouldn't make it back out. It was like an old goat trail. The camp spots were not near the water and people burned garbage on them. I really don't recommend this spot. There were wood pallets and an old headboard people were trying to burn.
ScoutWe found this spot last minute, late in the afternoon while on a multi day drive. Lots of spots, though we had the place to our on a Sunday night, early April.
Great little trail along the river and falls. Perfect after a long day of driving. The area was super clean (lets all continue this!) and beautiful.
If you do not have a car for high clearance (a Subaru would do fine) just use the upper two camp spots.
Our dogs loved it:)
ScoutSnake River Canyons Park- Rickett's RV Camp offers a peaceful and convenient location for an overnight stay. The campsites are mostly clean and equipped with fire rings and picnic tables. While the area is quite dry, it provides a safe and hassle-free experience. Nothing fancy. The Sherrif did a drive through at dusk(a feature I like) and the camp filled up before the sun had set. The availability of basic amenities such as pit toilets and horse corrals adds to the convenience of the site. If you're looking for a quick overnight stay this is a great spot that is pretty much a free campsite complete with a site host.
TravelerBeautiful spots and surrounding area. We sadly had to turn around because of a sketchy looking encampment. We did report to BLM so hopefully this spot will be more approachable in the future!
TravelerI don't know how people are finding the beautiful places they show here. I used the GPS coordinates from here and it led me to a maze of twisted little passages. Very deeply rutted roads challenging me and my 4wd led to a complex of turns and turnarounds. The only road that appeared to lead down to the river was dirt at about 45 degrees. There are many ways to go and I don't know how to could know which to take. Must be dumb luck to find a pretty place by the river.
So, I left and went to the location that the BLM website gives for this named place. It's not the same place. The official location of this place is farther west. That is poorly identified, too. There's a signed turnoff but down the road there's a "Y". I went right. That led to confusion and nasty flies going into my nose and eyes. I left.
Looking at the map later it appears that I should have gone LEFT at the "Y" instead of right. I have no idea what that's like.
Basically, this place has many roads that intersect and go to unknown places. I don't know why there are so many roads, circles, "Y"s, along the river, perpendicular to the river.
The BLM website isn't helpful. I called them and expected a call back but didn't get it.
I wouldn't go here without one of the people here who submitted great reviews with beautiful photos. It's not worth the confusing directions (both my Garmin RV GPS and Google Maps were wrong in different places) and ambiguity of destinations.
ScoutBeautiful camp site super easy to access, we got by fine without 4WD. Unfortunately people have kind of trashed some of the sites there was broken glass and lots of other litter
TravelerThere are only a few spots that I saw, and it’s first come first serve. There’s a river that a few people were fishing in, and a bank with plenty of space to hang out. The campsites are nicely spaced out so your not right next to anyone. There’s no designated trail that I could see, but there were some great areas for hiking and climbing.
TravelerThis site is Free and easy to find, and not too far off the main road. There are a dozen or so marked sites with their own tables and fire pits. This site is surrounded by trails used for ATVs and Bikes. It also has one bathroom on site. No Hookups.
I stayed there for a night in April of 2024 while passing through and it was a convenient and hassle-free location. Decent Cell service
Here is additional info on the site:
https://freecampsites.net/#!267314&query=sitedetails
Note: This site seems like it is relatively new and still undergoing construction/expansion so some details may vary from the time of this report.
GuideNice campground with 13 campsites with fire rings and picnic tables. There is also 2 pit toilets. Only stayed one night on our way to Oregon. There is a 5 night limit. Would stay here again if in the area. About 5 empty spots when we pulled in on a Sunday evening. There is also 3 horse corrals if looking for a place to ride.
ScoutWhat an amazing find! This camp site had 4-5 sites, some on the hill others near the water. There was even a little beach that could be see from the road near the river. We found the perfect shady spot with fire pits built and the sound of the river in the background. Only 1 other person was there overnight. It was quiet and relaxing!
GuideAs previously posted, about a dozen sites with no hookups. I was in the process of moving across country and exhausted. I loved that this place was close enough to town that I didn’t have to cook. Haha. If you’re an atv or mtb type, tons to do here. But if you’re looking for scenery, all you will find in this campsite is the occasional amazing sunset which I was lucky enough to catch. ;-)
TravelerShowed up late October around 6. It’s quiet, just out of town and there are toilets places I guess (didn’t use) and a fire pit by my site. Didn’t use either. Cold (34* last night) rainy, super windy, but felt safe and free is great 😊
Legend
This was a really really small camping area that's located along the creek road going through the south hills of Idaho. There are absolutely no amenities here however so take care of business at one of the more developed campgrounds along the road! It had wonderful shade everywhere but there wasn't any flat ground to be able to lay out a tent. There were also only 2 maybe 3 campgrounds if you squeezed it in and it required a high clearance vehicle to get to 2 of them. Good thing is if you get these sites you will have no one around you and personal access to a great hiking trail and in the winter snowshoeing back country skiing trail!
GuideThis site is right above the snake River so you can hear the water, wonderful way to fall asleep! You are in the High Desert of Idaho so this site is amongst sagebrush but has good shade trees also. When I was there I could start a tent but this ground does tend to get pretty hard during dry season so staking may be a bit more difficult.
There are actually 2 sites you can pitch a tent or park a vehicle. There is also a firepit. I got really good cell reception. There are fun trails to explore with beautiful scenery. This would also be a great spot if you like to pole fish. You can walk to the river and cast in! This spot os about 8 miles to the American Falls Dam where you can kayak, SUP, fish, and picnic
The directions were spot on. I recommend a vehicle with relatively high clearance. It os closer to the interstate than you would expect so you can hear vehicles but was super quiet at night
GuideRight on the Snake River. On the loop there’s half a dozen spots (no established fire rings, probably best for car camping) and I saw some people camped on the beach but I also saw early morning fishermen that would probably be angry if the beach was covered in campers, so just respect the multiple uses. Bring bug spray! Had verizon service.
LegendYou could choose one of the spots on the drive down to the canyon so you can have a view from above, or you can camp right on the “beach” like we did. It is a bit of a rough and dusty drive, nothing the Subaru Outback couldn’t handle. There were local people swimming and fishing when we arrived but they all left by sunset. Small waterfalls across the river that you could hear, overall great spot but a windy road down.
ScoutGreat place to stop and sleep. I would consider one of the upper spots next time, strictly for the morning views.
Comfortable with River noise.
GuideFantastic views of the canyon, both above and from within. Steep dirt road down. Several spots along the dirt path on the way down to the river bed of varying degrees of difficulty. No amenities save for a rock fire pit or two. Had full cell service w At&t. Looks like people have driven right onto the sand by the water. Hundreds of birds flying around the canyon walls and rocks. Could hear the cows at the nearby farm, and occasionally smell them when the wind was right. I visited in April and the water level was low.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Burley, Idaho, where nature meets tranquility. With a variety of stunning locations, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Burley, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Burley, ID is Cauldron Linn BLM Dispersed with a 4.2-star rating from 29 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 11 dispersed camping locations near Burley, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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