Best Tent Camping near Craigmont, ID

Stayed one night 10/13/22. Pulled in at dark, just right off of the 12 in Kooskia, ID. About 5/6 campgrounds, 2 were occupied (quiet neighbors), but with enough trees to feel there was privacy. Vault toilet and Lochsa river access(rock bar), no garbage services this time of year. Saw a black bear (juvenile) on the way in but didn’t see/hear anything else from the bear that night or the next morning. Soft ground, and flat even spaces. Fire ring and picnic table as well. Free made it the perfect price, given that a lot of the state campsites were closed (locked gate) this time. Looked as though some campsites backed to the highway, we chose a middle site and weren’t too disturbed by the highway. (Tent camped on a road trip to the Midwest)

The Selway is one of the most beautiful places in Idaho, and this campground is a good place to stay on your visit! There are plenty of sites (32) to stay at, however it can tend to get crowded, so I recommend reserving a spot ahead of time. The crowds are really the only downside to this site (if you prefer more quiet and privacy) but fortunately there are other sites along the river that are also great spots to camp. This campsites has plenty of amenities and many of the sites are pretty accessible. This is a great place for families, people with limited mobility, and the elderly to visit. There are vault toilets, potable water, and bear-proof dumpsters that serve the whole camp. Individual sites should all have tent spots, picnic tables, and a fire ring. The loop around the campsite is paved. Kids and families often ride their bikes around the loop. Like much of central Idaho, the wildlife includes black bears and rattlesnakes, so remember to be cautious and aware of our wilder friends! The area offers a great variety of recreation opportunities. Slower areas of the river offer great swimming, and the Lower Selway makes a great day trip on kayaks or rafts. There is lots of biking, hiking, and horseback riding along the river and through the mountains. Selway Falls are beautiful and a really fun stop.

This is an easy 1mi hike from Big Eddy Recreation area on the Big Eddy trail. Ok, correction, challenging out of the gate with a fairly vertical start but levels out quickly and you’re suddenly submerged in the trees and lush ferns. This spot has a long walkway out from the main trail offering tons of privacy. Great shallow ramp for a boat and easy access the a dip is the res or to get your water to filter. Fire ring, picnic table and vault toilets make for a comfortable stay. The closest site to this is another 3ish miles north. Waters are spectacular shades of blue and the trees in the sunset are hard to beat!

We were riding the Idaho BDR (Backcountry Discovery Route) and needed a place to camp near Pierce.  There aren't many options that are accessible for our Support Truck but found Deyo Reservoir as a welcome spot.   The West sites are very open and close to each other and are what you see first.  I kinda stumbled down to the East Campground which is more for Truck/Tent camping and is wooded and cooler (it was 95 degrees when we rode in).  Typical for Idaho the sites were nicely spaced, well maintained (it is hosted) and the Vault Toilet was very clean.

Beautiful area, incredibly scenic and photographable, but a few things to be aware of.

There is a heck of a drive to get into this place, there’s a very winding and steep road to get there and it took us about an hour from White Bird. That being said, it was a very lovely and scenic drive, and based on the number of trailers and boats that were down there it doesn’t seem to deter many people. Just be aware you’ll want to come prepared with whatever you’ll need while you’re there because it’s not a quick ride back into town to get supplies (and make sure you have enough gas in your tank)

Also, word of warning to any dog owners; I discovered as soon as we unloaded from the vehicle that there are sticky burs absolutely everywhere on the ground and our furry labradoodle was soon covered with them. The first thing we did when we got back into cell phone range was call and schedule him a grooming appointment to get shaved because they were on every inch of his body and would be impossible to comb out.

The campsites are all pretty close together and since this is a desert area there are very few trees, so you will be able to see your fellow campers and they will be able to see you. Each site has a little canopy thing for both shade and I suspect some wind protection (it got extremely windy one of the nights we were there).

It was $8 a night when I was there in August 2020. There was a burn restriction in place from July 1st to September 15th according to posted signs.

If you do not have a trailer, there are some dispersed camping sites at the “Upper Landing” that are clearly marked. They are walk in only but didn’t appear to be too far to walk and seem that they would afford a bit more privacy if that’s what you’d looking for.

Upon arrival, we immediately felt the peacefulness. Our site was tucked into the pines creating a canopy of coolness in the midst of the oppressing heat of this record breaking year.

The sites are somewhat level. Easily adjusted to make them work. The space between sites are not as generously spaced as with othe Idaho SP we have stayed in. There are vault toilets throughout the campground with one building that houses flush toilets and 2 shower stalls. They are older but squeaky clean.

There's a great day use area that has a large covered pavilion, playground and boat launch/ pier. I don't fish, but loaner poles are available at the visitor center. The boat launch is further around the lake and provides ample parking and a vault toilet. No motorized watercraft are allowed on the lake which makes it a wonderful place to kayak and SUP.

There are a few trails around the lake. Nothing hard. There are tons of thimbleberries bushes along the road yo the boat launch and were just about ripe. They are so delicious!

Enjoying the peace and quiet of the SP should be your expectation as there is not a lot of other options nearby.

2 bars AT&T LTE

Pro note: Wolf Track micro brewery is about 30 min. away in Cottonwood. Good beer. Also, stop at the Bark Park just as you enter the town of Cottonwood. You'll understand once you visit.