Best Equestrian Camping near Challis, ID

Mormon Bend Campground near Stanley, Idaho includes three designated equestrian campsites with adequate space for horses and riders. Located along the Salmon River, this developed campground provides access to multiple trailheads directly from the camping area. Standard sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and access to vault toilets. Drinking water is available via hand pump during the operating season from mid-March through November. The campground maintains paved driving surfaces with both pull-through and back-in sites that can accommodate horse trailers. The $18 nightly fee is reduced to $9 with an America the Beautiful pass. Sites are situated both along the river and backing up to hillsides, with river sites offering more open space for larger rigs and better solar access.

Trail access is a significant feature of the area's horse camping options. Casino Creek Campground, located across the river from Highway 75, also provides dedicated spaces for equestrian camping with direct trail connections. The campground serves as a popular base for OHV enthusiasts and hikers, with excellent trails leading directly from the campground. Most campsites are positioned close to the dusty campground road, which may be a consideration for those camping with horses. Casino Creek offers immediate access to the Salmon River for water and fishing opportunities. The campground is conveniently located near natural hot springs while remaining somewhat removed from the main tourist areas. Both campgrounds experience road noise from nearby Highway 75, though Mormon Bend's layout helps mitigate some of this disturbance.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Challis, Idaho (14)

    1. Watts Bridge Campground

    4 Reviews
    Challis, ID
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 756-2271

    "We walked to the other side of the bridge and let our dogs jump in where the water was calmer. Overall really clean and well maintained space."

    2. Deadman Hole

    4 Reviews
    Clayton, ID
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 879-6200

    "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

    • Easy drive to Challis"

    " 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?)"

    3. East Fork

    2 Reviews
    Clayton, ID
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 879-6200

    $5 - $10 / night

    " This is a very well manicured campground that sits directly off of highway 75. It is very small and mostly sunny."

    4. Casino Creek Campground

    12 Reviews
    Stanley, ID
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 727-5000

    $18 - $36 / night

    "Cross the bridge off of Hwy 75 and keep driving down a dusty dirt road to the campground. There is also private property near here so stay to the main road. "

    "There are a couple of trailheads right in camp which is cool, and there are dedicated spaces for equestrian camping."

    5. Mormon Bend Campground

    7 Reviews
    Stanley, ID
    35 miles
    Website

    "At first we were worried since it was right off the busy highway but it was an awesome place to stay for a few days. "

    " Another campground close to Hwy 75. This campground has paved drive throughout the campground with paved parking pads at the sites."

    6. Camp Creek BLM Camping

    5 Reviews
    Salmon, ID
    35 miles

    "Water: 1 minute walk to the river from all sites. No faucet for potable water, bring your own or filter from the river. "

    "Amazing drive-in BLM campsite right on the Salmon River. Primitive site; no water/bathroom. Great stargazing."

    7. Glacier View Campground

    11 Reviews
    Stanley, ID
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 537-8888

    $26 - $52 / night

    "We had very low expectations staying at a campground that is almost always booked solid (we figured it would be crowded and loud) and is in one of the most popular parts of Idaho."

    "A trip into the Sawtooth mountains and a visit to Redfish Lake has been de rigeur for any visit to Grandma’s for as far back as I remember... beginning with a trip in ‘84 when my younger brother heeded"

    8. Decker Flats Dispersed

    7 Reviews
    Stanley, ID
    45 miles

    "Got here on a Friday (8/26) around 7:30 pm. There were already some folks out here, but there were still some spaces. Although, they were a bit close to each other in the main area where you pull in."

    "There was road noise from the nearby highway but otherwise it was quiet. I saw people fishing so I assume it's good for that. The river is great for rinsing off as well."

    9. Pettit Lake Campground

    7 Reviews
    Stanley, ID
    48 miles
    Website

    "Situated next to Pettit Lake this campground served as a base camp while we explored the nearby hikes (Alice & Farley). Helpful host. Clean pit toilet."

    "It's a great place to set up camp if you're doing the hike to Alice lake (one of the best hikes).The campground is conveniently located right next to the trailhead."

    10. Mount Heyburn Campground

    4 Reviews
    Stanley, ID
    43 miles
    Website

    "We easily found a great site that gave a view of Redfish Lake and the long stretch of lodgepoles behind us. Sockeye Campground was below us on the lake but you won’t even know from our site."

    "We went to investigate in order to report with first hand knowledge

    On one of the most beloved and popular lakes in the Sawtooth. Redfish Lake. Gorgeous views. Any kind of water sports you crave."

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Challis, ID

71 Reviews of 14 Challis Campgrounds


  • Nancy C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2021

    Deadman Hole

    A little slice of paradise on the Salmon River

    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

    • Easy drive to Challis for supplies

    Cons: *No shade *Close to road, so some road noise.

    • No services, except a vault toilet, but with views like this, who cares.

    Pros out weigh the cons for us. 2 thumbs up.

  • Becbecandbunny O.
    Jul. 12, 2022

    Pettit Lake Campground

    Amazing campground

    Situated next to Pettit Lake this campground served as a base camp while we explored the nearby hikes (Alice & Farley). Helpful host. Clean pit toilet. Water accessible in an adjacent trailhead (Tin Cup) parking lot. Campsites are well spaced. All sites are FF. $18/night. No cell coverage.

    Only concern we had was that our site #13 was buggy given its proximity to the lake. Next time we will pick a site farther from the lake.

  • T
    Jul. 27, 2020

    Mormon Bend Campground

    Very rugged

    This site was right along a river that was very beautiful but the campground was on higher ground so most people walked down to the entrance where you could get to the river or some people stood on the bridge to fish. Not all spots have trees, so be careful if you have pets. They did have three campsites for people with horses to camp. Not our cup of tea but if you are low maintenance or bring it all with you then this may be your pace. No other amenities. Right up the road from Stanley.

  • Carrie B.
    Jun. 24, 2019

    Glacier View Campground

    Felt like kids at Camp!

    What a nice campground!  We had very low expectations staying at a campground that is almost always booked solid (we figured it would be crowded and loud) and is in one of the most popular parts of Idaho. However, the camping spots are large and are nicely spaced.  Even though almost every spot was taken, the campground was quiet and peaceful.  We prefer dry camping, so liked the spots not having hook-ups and drains. Paved roads made for fun riding of bikes, the flushing toilets in the clean bathrooms were a plus, the fresh drinking water was clean and tasted great, there were trash bins close by and our host "Wally" was so kind. With a short walk, you are on the North shore or Dog Beach and a little further is Redfish Lodge, beach and restaurants.  The food was so good and priced well, next time I will likely take less camping food and just eat at the lodge!  (Easy!)  The water in the lake is the cleanest you'll ever see....LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY PEOPLE!  Unfortunately, this campground is booked out almost the entire summer, so while we want to go back - it may have to wait until next year.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2022

    Casino Creek Campground

    So Much Room for Activities

     Another nice first come first serve campground along the Salmon River. Cross the bridge off of Hwy 75 and keep driving down a dusty dirt road to the campground. There is also private property near here so stay to the main road. 

    Most of the campsites sit above the Salmon River and just across the river is the highway so you will get some road noise. 

    There were a couple of hike-to sites as well (#18 + 19), where you park your car in the designated area then take your stuff up from there. Toward the end of the loop is a horse camping area and staging area for ATVs. There are plenty of trails for various activities for this place: Hiking, Biking, Horseback riding, ATV use, and Fishing.

     There are pit toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, dumpster but no recycling, and hand pump water. Some sites are small but there is plenty of room near the end for bigger rigs. Parking at each site varies by levelness or size. 

    There was only one other camper there. Shade/sun mix for all sites. 

    Store food appropriately as there are no bear boxes and bears do come to this area. 

    Zero cell reception ATT, Verizon, or TMobile.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2021

    Casino Creek Campground

    Clean and on the river

    This campground is not run by the forest service but by a concessionaire, and you will use the iron ranger as there wasn’t a host when I was there. Super clean, all sites along the river side of the lollipop loop are identical with the exception of a couple double sites. There is a fence between you and the river, but not something you couldn’t just hop over to get to the water. Sites on the no river side were less desirable as they didn’t seem to be as large or have good spots for tents. There are a couple of trailheads right in camp which is cool, and there are dedicated spaces for equestrian camping. There didn’t seem to be many campers here, maybe because you have to know to cross the river on the bridge to get back in here. The campground looks fairly new, with very new looking picnic tables and a fairly new looking vault toilet.

  • Kristy A.
    Aug. 29, 2021

    Camp Creek BLM Camping

    Coming Back ASAP

    Site: moderately clean and private. Spaced apart about 3 sites alongside the river access. Trees for hammocking and shade. Relatively even for van parking. Not buggy at all. Can see one person's cabin up the road but that's it. 360 views of mountains, placed at the bottom of a canyon.

    Water: 1 minute walk to the river from all sites. No faucet for potable water, bring your own or filter from the river. 

    Noise: A bit of noise from US93, not that busy of a road but close enough to hear what passes except if you're sleeping in a van, ours muted that out nicely. 

    People: saw about 5 people total in an overnight stay. Nobody bugged us. Mostly just turning around. 1 camper next to us the following morning.

    Activities: perfect view of the big dipper between the canyon view made for a beautiful night of star gazing by the fire ring. Plenty of fishing access and space to walk around the river. Beautiful place to adventure and be, would be a great spot for multiple nights. Space for people to bring their family or friends. Far away from cities and towns that it's not too busy. 

  • Jeremy A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 9, 2021

    Glacier View Campground

    Perennial Favorite

    A trip into the Sawtooth mountains and a visit to Redfish Lake has been de rigeur for any visit to Grandma’s for as far back as I remember... beginning with a trip in ‘84 when my younger brother heeded the call of the wild spirits and disappeared into the forest for hours, only to be found munching happily on the assorted snack foods of a group of elk hunters he had surprised. This area still retains a wilderness experience despite numerous infrastructure improvements and new campground development. Of note, Redfish lake is within the 1416 square mile Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, the first Gold Tier site in the United States. The result is world class spectacular night sky astronomy unimpeded by light pollution, and makes this area a top pick to do some star gazing or meteor watching.

    Fauna is abundant in the surrounding area. Deer, elk, bear, marten, moose, and pronghorn antelope all made appearances during my last rip to the area. Fishing at the beginning and end of season might net you Dolly Varden, Rainbow Trout, and Kokanee. The general store has some basic tackle, but the nearest gear and license is in Stanley.

    The lodge, separately owned and seasonally operated under USFS special permit, has been in operation since 1929 and offers day rental bicycles of multiple types, horseback riding, boat/canoe/kayak/SUP rentals, a general store, a restaurant, and minimal WiFi and cell service, staying true to its roots wherever possible.

    Pro tip: Enjoy the 17 1/2 mile lake loop hike, but if you’d like to split that distance or have other destinations in mind, the marina operates an on demand boat shuttle for hikers to the trailhead at the far end of the lake during daylight hours. No reservation is required, but you can call to schedule pickup.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 2, 2021

    East Fork

    BLM Campground but Not Free

     This is a very well manicured campground that sits directly off of highway 75. It is very small and mostly sunny. There are nice lush grass areas where the sprinklers were running and was very tempting to just lay there after a hot drive. 

    Sites are close together, lined up along the outer edge of the loop, and there is zero privacy. The picnic tables are covered with a shade structure and there are fire pits. Also toilets and water. 

    A friendly host was also on site. Sites very in size but we saw a couple of bigger trailers there. 

    There was a dumpster for trash but no recycling. The campground sits well above the river and very close to the highway so there is road noise. 

    It was nice but we did not stay here as it seemed cramped and there are too many free options in this area.

    $10/night

    $5/night when the water gets shut off generally around October. 

    No cell reception for ATT, Verizon or TMobile


Guide to Challis

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 campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the scenic trails.

Tips for equestrian camping near Challis, Idaho

  • The Deadman Hole offers several camping areas with easy access to the river, making it a great spot for horse camping while enjoying the natural beauty of the surroundings.
  • At Mormon Bend Campground, you’ll find paved parking pads and groomed areas for tents, ensuring a comfortable stay for both you and your horse.
  • Mount Heyburn Campground features clean facilities and is located near popular trails, perfect for a day of riding in the picturesque Sawtooth National Forest.

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy fishing and hiking at Casino Creek Campground, where you can also access the Salmon River for a refreshing dip after a long ride.
  • The East Fork offers well-maintained trails for horseback riding, along with drinking water and toilets for your convenience.
  • Experience the beauty of the Salmon River while camping at Watts Bridge Campground, where you can enjoy the serene environment and nearby riding paths.

Equestrian campgrounds include these features

  • Camp Creek BLM Camping provides a private setting with river access, ideal for those looking to unwind after a day of riding.
  • The Glacier View Campground is known for its stunning views and proximity to various water sports, making it a great base for equestrian adventures.
  • Nip and Tuck Road offers a free camping experience with ample space for horses, allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors without the hassle of reservations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Challis, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Challis, ID is Watts Bridge Campground with a 4-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Challis, ID?

TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Challis, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.