Smiley Creek Lodge offers a curated selection of glamping campsites in the Stanley region of Idaho, including safari tents, yurts, and cabin-style units equipped with comfortable beds, electricity, and rustic-luxe furnishings. A visitor noted, "The river side is nice with campsites close to the river while the other side is just a street crossing away." Unlike traditional camping, these boutique accommodations blend seamlessly with the natural environment while providing essential comforts like drinking water, toilets, and picnic areas. The lodge offers year-round access, making it an ideal base for exploring nearby attractions regardless of season, with several glamping campsites featuring exceptional riverside views.
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area provides a stunning backdrop for glamping adventures with multiple locations offering resort-style camping experiences. Guests enjoy direct access to the Salmon River for swimming, fishing, and kayaking, with several glamping sites positioned steps from the water's edge. According to a camper, "Plenty of paths down to Salmon river level to fish or nap." Safari tents and yurts at Redfish Lake area feature spectacular mountain views and proximity to water activities. Beyond outdoor recreation, glampers can visit nearby attractions including Boat Box Hot Springs, the ghost town of Custer, and live music events at Redfish Lake Lodge. The region's glamping accommodations typically operate from late May through September, though some locations like Smiley Creek Lodge remain open year-round for those seeking four-season glamping campsite options.
"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?)"
"Great little free campground. 1 clean outhouse and 5 sites all with picnic tables, shade covers, and fire pits. We were the only ones there!"
"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. "
"Primitive campsite near the river. Vault toilets were kept clean. Fire pits."
"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."
"Close to hwy20. Convenient but you can hear the traffic. Camp host Denny was great guy. Ask him about his impala."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"Bathrooms were clean. They had horseshoes and bean bags in a common area. No picnic tables or fire pits though. RV spots were pretty wide, which was nice One tip, avoid spot number #17 if possible."
"They officially don’t have tent sites but had some grassy area where I could pitch my tent anyway. That did mean there were no picnic tables or fire rings for me but the RV sites did have them."
"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."
"This site was excellent as it offers both spots for vehicles as well as a tent only area where the sites are walk-in."
"Alturas Lake Inlet campground is tucked into the lovely, shady forest around it. We saw plenty of birds, chipmunks and tiny wildflowers were all over our site in early July."
"This is one of the most gorgeous locations for camping. The campground is right on the lake which is perfect for those of us who like to bring our canoes and kayaks. It is well cared for and clean."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $48 / night
GuideFit my 35, 5th wheel into a beautiful spot 0.8 miles up Murdock Basin Rd. There are many spots thar are close to Provo River. The road i a little rough but not so bad with a 4x4 Truck at a slow pace. Surrounded by pine trees and the sound of a creek.
GuideWe stopped at Salmon River Campground for one night and found it to be a decent place to rest while traveling through the area. A note for fellow campers: although some websites mention this campground as being free, it is not. We paid$22 per night for our stay. The campground listing says sites are first come, first served, but we heard from other campers that some of the riverfront sites can actually be reserved online, so it’s worth checking ahead if you’re hoping for a spot along the water. We arrived around 3:00 p.m. and managed to get the very last available site—Site 24. It wasn’t on the river, but rather in the overflow area across the road. While it wasn’t the most scenic location(more roadside than we usually prefer), it was surprisingly quiet overnight and worked perfectly fine for a quick stay.
We never met the campground host, but we did see him driving around regularly and checking on the sites, which was a nice touch. The bathrooms could have used a little more attention, but overall the campground was perfectly adequate for a one-night stop. Not our favorite campground of the trip, but it served its purpose and would be a reasonable option if you need a place to stay while exploring the Salmon River area. Next time we would try to get a spot on the river.
ScoutNo fee area! 5 sites. Nice shady campsites, right next to Baker Creek, improved fire pits, picnic tables, and a single vault toilet. Very few bugs (in july). Nobody else here on weekdays. Campsites are close together so might feel a little cramped on weekends. 50 yards off Baker Creek Rd so occasional traffic noise.
ScoutGreat little free campground. 1 clean outhouse and 5 sites all with picnic tables, shade covers, and fire pits. We were the only ones there!
GuideThis is a nice campground right off the road though so you do get some car noise. A fire ring, shade cover and picnic table are provided for the five campsites as well as a pit toilet. The river is about a four -8 minute walk or so from most campsites. Very clean
ScoutThe staff at Smiley Lodge were super helpful and nice when I asked to check in early, and then needed to check out a couple hours late unexpectedly. The location is convenient just off the highway, and the sites were clean, easy to get into, and the hookups all worked great. With that said, $100 a night felt pretty steep for essentially a grass parking lot off the side of the highway.
ScoutWe stayed here to be close to redfish lake to snatch a spot for camping there in the morning. For that it served its purpose but that is all that is positive about it. We had to pay 114 dollars for an rv site that was not level, did not have a picnic table or a fire ring, or even place to put a table and chairs. The bathroom is very far away, and there is only one, which does not have a door, but a shower curtain. The location is nice, but if possible I would keep driving to find a better place.
ScoutSince the last reviews, the lodge has been sold. With that change in ownership has come changes in quality and service. The food is not good. The shakes are not great, and from my experience take 1.5 hours to make with not another single customer in the building. The service was horrible- the counter girl yelled at us for reminding her 4 times that I'd ordered a shake, telling us that they were busy when there was not another customer in sight. The table who left before us left without eating after they found an earbud in their salad. Yes, an Apple earbud that the cook claimed as his when they brought it to the counter. Being a local, I've heard stories about how customers have been turned away and yelled at regularly, how hours of operation are not consistent or reliable, how the quality of food has degraded drastically. We're all really sad because it's a community institution that we can no longer frequent. The new owners clearly don't have experience in this business, but we really hope they figure it out as it's a truly great business opportunity if they would learn some lessons from the previous owners about product quality, great service, and reliable availability. Everything about Smiley Creek Lodge is communicated word-of-mouth locally and in the surrounding communities of Stanley, Ketchum, Sun Valley, Hailey, etc. If it's bad, everyone knows really quickly, but if it's good, they'll know that too.
GuideThis site was excellent as it offers both spots for vehicles as well as a tent only area where the sites are walk-in. I stayed in a walk in site the night before a backpacking trip and had a great experience.
Dispersed camping around Clayton, Idaho offers access to diverse wilderness landscapes at elevations between 4,000-9,000 feet in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Campers encounter dense pine forests, alpine meadows, and riverside camping options within 30 miles of this small mountain town. Summer temperatures typically range from 40°F at night to 80°F during peak daytime hours, requiring layered clothing for comfort throughout the day.
River fishing access: At Deadman Hole Recreation Site, campers can enjoy immediate access to the Salmon River with a boat launch for fishing, rafting and kayaking. A reviewer noted, "Views for miles, steps from the Salmon River, boat launch for rafting, kayaking, fishing." The shallow areas provide safe wading spots for anglers.
Ghost town exploration: Venture to Custer #1 Campground for a unique historical excursion. Located along Adventure Road, this small campground serves as a base for exploring the nearby ghost town. "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," recommends one visitor.
Mountain biking trails: Multiple trail systems connect the campgrounds in the area, with some campsites providing direct trail access. During early fall, temperatures cool significantly, making daytime riding more comfortable. One camper at Murdock Creek shared, "Close to hiking, fishing and mountain biking. Campsites have a picnic table, fire ring with grill."
River proximity: Salmon River Campground offers sites directly on the water's edge. "Several sites located right on the river. Water available in the campground, firewood from the camp hosts, and clean bathrooms," notes one camper. The river access provides both recreational opportunities and natural cooling during hot summer days.
Night sky viewing: The remote location of many campsites around Clayton creates exceptional stargazing conditions with minimal light pollution. A camper at Murdock Creek Dispersed reported, "The real treat came when we saw the beauty of the night sky unencumbered by city lights; the Milky Way was on full display."
Small, quiet campgrounds: Many campgrounds in the region maintain a small footprint with limited sites. One camper at Mill Creek described their experience: "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."
Limited connectivity: Cell service ranges from nonexistent to spotty throughout the Clayton area. A camper at Deadman Hole Recreation Site reported, "Zero cell reception ATT, verizon or TMobile. The WeBoost was able to give us bars of LTE but still was not very usable." Some yurt camping near Clayton, Idaho may offer satellite internet access at an additional fee.
Road noise considerations: Several campgrounds sit adjacent to highways, creating potential noise disturbance. A reviewer at Flat Rock Campground mentioned, "Close to hwy20. Convenient but you can hear the traffic." Similarly, at Deadman Hole Recreation Site, a camper noted, "Close to road, so some road noise."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Clayton, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Clayton, ID is Deadman Hole with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Clayton, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 glamping camping locations near Clayton, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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