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Deadman Hole Recreation Site accommodates pets in all camping sites along the Salmon River, with covered picnic tables and fire pits at each location. This free BLM campground features multiple camping areas with generous spacing between sites, maintaining a quiet atmosphere even with other campers present. Pets can explore the riverside, though the bank may be muddy in spots. East Fork Recreation Site and Winged Fork Dispersed camping also welcome pets, with East Fork offering drinking water and toilet facilities for $10 per night ($5 when water is shut off in October). Despite sitting close to Highway 75, these pet-friendly locations provide access to the Salmon River where dogs can cool off during summer months.
Several campers report wildlife sightings near these pet-friendly locations, including moose with twin calves at Winged Fork Dispersed camping. The remote setting offers excellent stargazing opportunities and river access for fishing or cooling off pets during hot weather. Dogs should remain leashed in most areas due to occasional wildlife encounters and grazing cattle. No cell reception exists at most sites (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile report no service), though some campgrounds like Torrey's Burnt Creek Inn offer WiFi as an alternative. When planning longer stays, campers should bring ample water supplies for drinking and pet needs, as many dispersed sites lack potable water sources.
"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?)"
"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"
"I did it with my Tacoma pulling a tiny camper but when I arrived at the lake, there were much larger vehicles than mine already there."
"This place was recommended by our camp host in lower Idaho. We made the drive up in our F-350 diesel and it felt sketchy in a few places. Took about 45 min."
"This is a very well manicured campground that sits directly off of highway 75. It is very small and mostly sunny."
from $5 - $10 / night
Check Availability"Decent dirt road but great drive. Just past private land into National Forest, can see Germainia trailhead from there. Old settlement remains on river."
"We were hauling across Idaho and Stanley was BUSY! Campgrounds were loaded with people RV’s. Stanley looked like a great little town, but we had to get away from the crowds."
"About 20 minutes away from the "hussle and bustle" of tiny mountain town, Stanley, Blind Creek is situated in the Yankee fork of the Salmon River."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"Sure there are a bazillion to choose from along the highway, but I wanted to soak in the highly reviewed waters. I was NOT disappointed!!!"
"showers; camp store with ice; WiFi; wildlife(two mountain goats lead me in on the road); walking trail; shade trees(no hammocks allowed). And it is next to the Snake river. Seriously??"
from $29 - $43 / night
Check Availability"Redfish lake was all reserved, so we ended up camping across the highway here. Great campground with the Salmon River running along right next to the site. Little trails leading down to river. "
"We found this National Forest dispersed campsite 1/2 mile North of Sunny Gulch campground on Highway 75 outside of Stanley, Idaho."
from $24 - $125 / night
Check Availability"Close to hwy20. Convenient but you can hear the traffic. Camp host Denny was great guy. Ask him about his impala."
"Campground was right on the Salmon River and right off of the highway. Great location just a few minutes outside of Stanley,ID."
"Could be better- but hard to beat location. Local hot spring nearby. Salmon river flowing alongside."
from $18 - $36 / night
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ScoutBeautiful campground located at the mouth of Sawtooth Natl Forest. Right next to Wood River and surrounded by huge cottonwoods. Vault toilets and well water from spigot available. Pets allowed on leash. Good basecamp for exploring the Sawtooth area and Ketchum! I only knocked it down to 4 stars for highway noise which was rarely bothersome.
ScoutWe set up our daughter in our Super C here for 2 months while she worked in nearby Salmon during the busy season. We were so happy with the beautiful scenery, quiet grounds, and excellent service from the owner. If she ever needed anything, they were happy to help. There is a clean laundry room, showers, and bathrooms onsite, and more than enough space for a 40 foot RV. There are shade trees, some grass sites, some landscape rock sites, picnic tables, a gas firepit, and an onsite mini-store if you need. The owner waited for us until we arrived, helped us get our bearings, and then grew to be a friend. If you are needing to camp(even in a tent!) anywhere near Salmon, Idaho, you need to go and see Stewart at Elk Bend RV Park. Say hi to the deer that roam the area, too, or walk across the street and listen to the Salmon River. Just a beautiful area! Sites with full hookups and not. Would not hesitate to recommend Elk Bend RV Park.
Pet Friendly!
TravelerThis 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.
TravelerGood for dogs! Beautiful place and good access to water. Can walk around and trailheads close by. Hiked Elk Meadow Trail in burned area but still really good hike and interesting to see new growth coming up. Great sites to pick from and they keep the bathrooms very clean. Host was friendly.
ScoutOn a motorcycle trip through Idaho and this place met my needs. It is close to town but no noise from the highway. It was walking distance to grocery store and gas station. Check in was fast and rates are reasonable for tent site. I had a site with power and water. It was close to the bath house. Overall, a great place for a nights stay on the road.
RangerSituated 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.
LegendRedfish lake was all reserved, so we ended up camping across the highway here. Great campground with the Salmon River running along right next to the site. Little trails leading down to river. Sites were spacious and had picnic tables and fire pits (no fires allowed when we visited).
Got day-use access to Redfish lake, which had a great "dog beach" for us to stop at.
TravelerWe found this National Forest dispersed campsite 1/2 mile North of Sunny Gulch campground on Highway 75 outside of Stanley, Idaho. We fit 3 campers down here no problem but the biggest camper was 21’ long and we don’t recommend much bigger. We also had to use 4–wheel drive to get over the bull rock down to the site. Can’t ask for a better spot next to the river though!
GuideAlong Baker Creek Road—on the way to and past East Fork Baker Creek Campground—there are over 30 designated dispersed campsites. We chose #30, which borders a large meadow and is steps from the river. No cell, but Starlink worked fine. Cranes, prairie dogs, rushing water, and practically no traffic. A slice of heaven.
Dispersed camping opportunities near Clayton, Idaho provide access to the Salmon River in a high-elevation landscape averaging 5,000 feet. The area experiences hot summer days with cool nights and occasional thunderstorms during July and August. Campers find sites along Highway 75 with varying levels of amenities from basic dispersed locations to developed campgrounds.
Fishing access points: Casino Creek Campground offers direct Salmon River access. "There is access to the Salmon River at the end of the campground road for bank/fly fishing; caught a nice rainbow trout" notes one camper who visited in September 2024.
Hot springs soaking: Natural hot springs flow into the Salmon River just south of some camping areas. At Challis Hot Springs, campers enjoy "two different hot pools from Hot springs" and "walking trails behind the campground."
Mountain hiking: Multiple trailheads start directly from camping areas, providing hiking options without driving. "There are a couple of trailheads right in camp which is cool, and there are dedicated spaces for equestrian camping," reports a visitor to Casino Creek Campground.
Peaceful atmosphere: Despite proximity to Highway 75, Blind Creek Campground offers quiet camping with just five sites. One camper noted, "We were grateful to find a spot here for our anniversary trip after it seemed everything around and near Stanley and redfish was full or super crowded."
Wildlife viewing: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Clayton provide opportunities to observe local animals. A visitor to Blind Creek mentioned, "We saw beavers catching fish, deer, chipmunks eating wild currants and rainbow trout."
Star viewing: The limited light pollution creates exceptional stargazing conditions. A camper at Big Bayhorse Campground reported, "Very quiet and the sky view at night was amazing... clear view of the Milky Way!"
Road conditions: Some campgrounds require navigating rough roads. Big Bayhorse Campground sits at the end of a challenging drive. One camper warned, "The road can be a bit sketchy in spots" while another mentioned, "We only made it partially up the steep narrow road before our truck started to over heat."
Connectivity challenges: Most camping areas have no cell service. A visitor to Sunny Gulch Campground noted they "picked up starlink service but no Verizon signal" - important for those needing to stay connected.
Weather preparation: The area experiences significant temperature swings between day and night. Bring layers and rain gear, especially during July and August when afternoon thunderstorms can develop quickly.
River safety precautions: The Salmon River runs cold and swift near most pet-friendly campsites. Supervise children carefully, especially during spring runoff when water levels are higher and currents stronger.
Alternative accommodations: For families wanting more amenities, Torrey's Burnt Creek Inn offers cabins alongside RV sites. A visitor mentioned, "They have 6 cabins and RV park on 15 acres along the river... there is a camp store with beer, ice cream and other basic."
Activity planning: Plan activities during cooler morning hours. One camper at Sunny Gulch mentioned, "Got day-use access to Redfish lake, which had a great 'dog beach' for us to stop at" - making it ideal for families with children and pets.
Site selection factors: Choose sites based on size limitations and shade preferences. At Sunny Gulch Campground, "the lower loop being closer to Highway 75 (not noisy at all at night) and more appropriate for smaller rigs while the upper loop has some larger sites."
Water management: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Clayton have limited or no water sources. A Big Bayhorse visitor advised, "Bring plenty for drinking and other daily uses! We left early only because we didn't have enough water."
Power considerations: Most areas lack hookups. While generators may be permitted at some locations, respect for the quiet atmosphere is expected. For those needing power, Challis Hot Springs provides electric hookups for an additional fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Clayton, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Clayton, ID is Deadman Hole with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Clayton, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 75 dog-friendly camping locations near Clayton, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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