Challis, ID is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Challis. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Challis, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
Deadman Hole has 5 first come, first served primitive campsites adjacent to the scenic Upper Salmon River. Anglers have access to great fishing opportunities. Amenities include restrooms, picnic shelters, drinking water, ample parking, and a boat ramp. This site has limited cell service.
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the__Recreation.gov__mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to__first download the free__Recreation.gov__mobile app__https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app\_\_prior to your arrival__as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
This small, but popular campground is near Challis and along the Custer Motorway. Nearby access for rainbow trout fishing in Mill Creek. The motorized trail to the east of the campground heads south to Bayhorse Lake campground and trail system. Eight camping units contain picnic tables and fire rings, with an additional larger site that fits group camping. The campground amentities include a vault toilet and hand pump for drinking water. No garbage collection service is available. ATV use on Forest Roads only - no riding within campground.
This campground is along the__Custer Motorway just above the townsite of Custer, a boom town during the late 1800's. Visit the museum, open 9 - 5 Memorial Day through Labor Day. Facilities include 6 sites with picnic tables and fire rings with cooking grills. Campground has a vault toilet and can accommodate trailers and motorhomes up to 32 feet long.
This campground offers camping adjacent to the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River. Fishing for rainbow trout in the river, and interpretive and historical tours is available nearby. Facilities at each of the 6 sites include picnic tables, fire pits with cooking grills. Campground amenities include a vault toilet, hand pump for drinking water but no full hookups. Sites accommodate trailers and motorhomes up to 32 feet long.
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the__Recreation.gov__mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to__first download the free__Recreation.gov__mobile app__https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app\_\_prior to your arrival__as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the__Recreation.gov__mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to__first download the free__Recreation.gov__mobile app__https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app\_\_prior to your arrival__as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Luxury glamping! Old world charm right on the Salmon River. The RVIA custom made Gypsy Wagon is cross between a tiny home and an RV. Your year around accommodation was custom made to have all the charm of the gypsy wagons from the past, but all the modern comforts and amenities. The wagon includes a queen bed, heating and air-conditioning, RV style shower/bath, microwave, toaster oven, two burner stove, pots and pans, cooking utensils, dishes, silverware, and single pod coffee maker. Free high speed Wi-Fi also included. Weekly linen service includes towels and sheets. Daily extended continental breakfast is provided.
A seasonal glamping tent (May to October) is true camping luxury and includes heating and air conditioning, draped 4 poster queen bed, toaster oven, microwave, single pod coffee machine, bottled water, private gas BBQ with one burner, separate private bath with flushing toilet, hot shower and hand washing station. Weekly linen service includes sheets and towels. Exended continental breakfast is included.
All accommodation are riverfront and have a view.
$135 - $160 / night
Stayed here for two nights. The first night I have the whole area to myself. The second night there was two other campers. Doesn't seem to be super popular or high in demand. So finding a spot shouldn't be a problem. There was about six or more parking/camping areas. No Wi-Fi or Verizon signal. There is a toilet available. Access to the river as well.
This is a fee based campground with a host that offers a first come first serve camping experience. We got in late in the day and were happy to find a spot. The ground was a bit limited for tent camping but we ended with a great location near moving water. The sound of water created a very serene environment for rest. The real treat came when we saw the beauty of the night sky unencumbered by city lights; the Milky Way was on full display.
Nice clean campground. Only issue you did have some road noise since it’s right on the road. Picked up starlink service but no Verizon signal. Campground was pretty quiet not busy at all.
expected this to be free but it is not any longer. $20 per night or $10 with your senior pass. well worth it. we were camped right by the river in site 14. cleanest vault toilets ever. asphalt roads and sites in good condition. picnic table and fire ring. would come back here for sure
Murdock campground has been lovely. There are 11 spots each with a picnic table, partial shade, and fire ring. There are two pit toilets and drinking water that is ice cold coming out of the tap. The camp hosts have been absolutely wonderful. The only downside is that the air quality is pretty bad due to fires in the surrounding areas.
Perfectly level paved sites, incredible views you are directly on the salmon river. Very spacious lots of space between sites.
Right off of Hwy 75 you’ll find this first come first serve campground that has camping on either side of the road. The river side is currently closed for revegetation, erosion control, and habitat restoration. The other side is open. The river side is nice with campsites close to the river while the other side is just a street crossing away. Both are very similar otherwise.
Dusty gravel roads will loop you through the campground. The sites themselves are dirt and gravel with mostly level parking areas and each site varies in length. We would fit in many of them in our 26' Class C but larger rigs may have a problem. Each site has fire pit and picnic table. There are pit toilets and hand pump water available as well. There is a dumpster for trash but no recycling. There are no bear boxes so store food appropriately as bears are common in this area.
Road noise is an issue during the day as the campgrounds sit very close to the highway, but it dies down at night. Only 2 other campers there when we went.
$18/night
Fire restrictions in effect at this time so NO FIRES
No cell reception ATT, Verizon or TMobile
Though this campground sits along the highway it is easier to tolerate noise when its free!
The campground loop is gravel and has “pull next to” (bump out?) type sites with covered picnic table and a fire pit. There are also pit toilets and a hand pump water spigot. There is also a boat ramp and a day use area.
The river is very shallow and the bank is quite muddy -- our little dog sank up to her belly.
No privacy here and lots of road noise but you get to see the river and the meandering cows across the river.
Did not see any wildlife unless you count the swarms of tiny bugs of the variety that squeeze their little bug bodies through your screens.
Zero cell reception ATT, verizon or TMobile. The WeBoost was able to give us bars of LTE but still was not very usable.
Good for an overnight but not much around to keep us occupied for anything longer.
Good spot not too far back the road. About 12 sites here. First come. Set against the side of the mountain. Simple bathroom. Nice creek running nearby. Quiet with good chance at wildlife sightings.
Close to hwy20. Convenient but you can hear the traffic. Camp host Denny was great guy. Ask him about his impala.
Primitive campsite near the river. Vault toilets were kept clean. Fire pits.
Just a short ways out of Lower Stanley is the Salmon River campground. There are sites on both sides of the road, but the best sites are riverside, especially numbers 7,13, 14, and 15 as they are closest to the river and have short trails to the water. Otherwise, the sites are pretty much the same with level areas for tents, some shade trees (might. Ot be mature enough for hammocks), and the campground is clean even after a holiday weekend. The super friendly hosts will come by to take your payment, exact cash is much appreciated. One of the draws of this campground is the fishing. The other is that you are fairly close to Boat Box Hot Springs.
This small campground is along the Adventure Road going up the pass between Custer and Challis, on the Custer side of the pass. Really cool massive boulders are in and around the campground, and even though it is along the pass and near a beautiful gorge, you really can’t see anything beyond the campground due to the terrain. Sites are on the larger side, but not necessarily level. There are picnic tables and fire rings and a clean vault toilet, but not much else. Shade trees are on the skinny side so it may be difficult to hang a hammock. During the day it can get dusty with OHVs going up and down the road. For a cool experience, check out the ghost town of Custer or go further along the Adventure Road to see the ruins of some of the stagecoach stops.
Small and up in the mountains, this campground has 9 first come sites with about half backing to the creek and the other half to the trees on the lollipop loop. The only sounds I heard while there were the wind in the pines, birds, one large group of OHV’ers, and the very infrequent truck going by out on the Adventure Road. Some of those trucks belonged to the road crew who were grading the road on this side of the pass. They kicked up a bunch of dust, but it blew away quickly. The two vault toilets were clean and stocked with TP. The campground was spotless. My top sites of choice are sites 2 and 3 because of the shade and proximity to the creek. Site 3 is closer to the vault toilet and the working water pump. There is also a nice day use group picnic site. Just down the road less than a mile is the foundation of the former Greenwood Ststion, a stagecoach stop on the road.
On one of the most beloved and popular lakes in the Sawtooth. Redfish Lake. Gorgeous views. Any kind of water sports you crave. Backpacking destination trails. Short or long hiking. Biking. The lodge next door offers live music on the lawn. A restaurant with really good food, full bar, ice cream stand, camp store, sandy beach, boat/kayak/SUP rentals. Boat shuttle. All this and close to Stanley to boot. It reminds me of the lake retreat in Dirty Dancing. There are pay showers $3, laundry and dump station on the main road. Very limited, ok just say no AT&T cell, but you can get wifi at the lodge.
$5 a night but only 6 pull in spots to choose from with all being about the same as far as benefits. Tables and fire pits in each one & 4/6 have shade.
One pit toilet which was very clean during my visit.
I pulled in on a Saturday @ 6pm and only one spot was taken so lucky me.
NO cell service whatsoever here either(AT&T)
Location works for exploring the local areas up and down the fork
Decent number of sites and tend to fill up last as there are only 4-5 sites actually on the water. The rest are on the other side of the highway. It has several bathrooms and dumpsters, at least one on each side of the highway. Site 15 was were I ended up. Last on the river and definitely overlooked because it is next to the dumpster by the water but not bad for getting there at 7pm on a Saturday.
Pros: *Views for miles *Steps from the Salmon River *Boat launch for rafting,kayaking,fishing *Covered picnic table *Generous spacing between sites *Serious star gazing opportunities
Cons: *No shade *Close to road, so some road noise.
Pros out weigh the cons for us. 2 thumbs up.
We took a chance and scouted a right before the 4th of July weekend and we scored big time. Site #1. Because of the view, we pulled our 30ft class A in instead of backing. We had long range, multi tiered views of the Sawtooth Mtn. The sites are generously spaced with picnic table and fire ring. There is a camp host and firewood is available at their site.. Water is available at the dump station located on the left before you arrive. It services all area NF service campgrounds as well as paid for others not. We had good ATT service 2 and 3 bars. Most of the sites have some shade. There are other disbursed campsites on the main FS road, but we were not disturbed by cars. It is super quiet at night. The night was cool. Lots of hiking , mountain biking and fishing in the immediate area. Ketchum and Sun Valley are 15 min away. The rails to trails multi purpose trail starts just down the road. Super safe place to ride. 30 + miles . We don't want to leave.
This is a smaller campground tucked back against the mountains. Good shade trees. Close to hiking, fishing and mountain biking. Campsites have a picnic table, fire ring with grill.
**Plenty of paths down to Salmon river level to fish or nap. **
Limited unlocked bathrooms toilet paper in early spring.
**Goose poop and ants everywhere around camp sites. **
Located on the banks of the salmon river beautiful spot just outside of town. Several sites located right on the river. Water available in the campground, firewood from the camp hosts, and clean bathrooms.
not many shade trees during the day but it's a cool spot not really for large rvs
Awesome campground near Stanley. Hiking, biking, hot springs
Stanley is always beautiful. This dispersed camping area was right on par. Quiet spacious and on the salmon river. Happened to catch a huge bull trout and a even bigger chinook salmon while swinging for trout. No facilities other than fire rings. We've stayed here twice!
The salmon river is absolutely gorgeous. It has some nice swimming holes or eddies along the river, and the water is perfect for swimming in late summer, though a little chilly in the early summer months. The white sand you can find along the river is soft and beautiful.
I am not the best fisherman but the water up there is so clear with a ton of fish! I was able to catch several trout and eat them! It can get a little crowded on the river but its a ton of fun!
Camping near Challis, Idaho, offers a mix of stunning scenery and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking to fish, hike, or just relax by the river, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Challis, Idaho, offers a unique blend of nature and adventure. With the right preparation, you can enjoy everything this beautiful area has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Challis, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Challis, ID is Deadman Hole with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Challis, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 glamping camping locations near Challis, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
