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Best Tent Camping near Donnelly, ID

411 Reviews

Payette National Forest offers numerous primitive tent campsites within 30 minutes of Donnelly, Idaho. Rapid Creek Dispersed Camping Area features vault toilets and picnic tables in a forest setting, while Paddy Flat Campground provides access to mountain terrain and nearby lakes. Brundage Reservoir Camping Area attracts tent campers seeking lakeside sites with multiple access options including hike-in and boat-in opportunities.

Tent sites throughout the area typically feature simple dirt or pine needle surfaces with minimal development. Most locations lack drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own supply or filter from nearby creeks and lakes. Fire rings are available at established sites like Rapid Creek, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry months. Vault toilets are present at some locations but completely absent at others such as Brundage Reservoir. High elevation sites experience significant temperature drops at night, even in summer months, with reviewers noting temperatures in the upper 30s during August stays. Mosquitoes can be abundant in early summer, particularly in areas near water.

The tent camping experience near Donnelly offers considerable seclusion and quiet compared to developed campgrounds. Sites along Rapid Creek provide audible stream sounds that create natural white noise without direct water views. Tent-only areas in higher elevations deliver cooler temperatures and darker night skies, beneficial for stargazing. For lake access, Brundage Reservoir provides tent sites near the water's edge, allowing for morning coffee by the shoreline. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the region's campgrounds. As one visitor described Rapid Creek, "It's really just a small meadow in the mountains that the BLM put a vault toilet and a couple of fire rings in. That being said, this place is beautiful."

Best Tent Sites Near Donnelly, Idaho (58)

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14 Photos of 58 Donnelly Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Donnelly, ID

411 Reviews of 58 Donnelly Campgrounds

  • E
    Aug. 4, 2019

    Rainbow Point

    Open and grassy campsites

    Nice grassy sites, water right there, vault toilets, fire rings and picnic tables, tent camping or RVs. Not a lot of shade but cools down nice at night. Lots to do nearby!

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 11, 2025

    Hazard Creek Dispersed Camping

    Nice spot off the beaten path

    Nice flat spot with a stone fire ring. Hazard creek nearby isn't too loud and sounds great. Not much firewood is around as its all been picked already.

  • K
    Aug. 20, 2019

    Horse Thief Campground

    Gorgeous waterfront

    Fish and game property, but managed under YMCA. $15 with no discount for anyone. Picnic table and fire ring. Pit toilet that is in desperate need of a simple fly strip! I had to wipe live flies off the toilet seat to sit down. Haul your garbage out. No electricity. Bear sites in campground but no notifications! No potable water. Seemed a bit pricey ! Perfect for canoes. Boat launch area.

    Hawks, ducks, gorgeous waterfront!

  • C
    Oct. 31, 2019

    Summit Lake Campground

    Quiet spot

    This is a pretty quiet place! It about an hour drive/17 miles from Cascade on a paved road. True to it's name, the lake and campsite are right on a summit! The lake is pretty small and a little muddy, but a fun dip nevertheless. It's about a 5 minute hike from the campsites. There are 3 campsites at the campground and they are all first come first serve! Dispersed camping is allowed in the area as well. Managed to find 2 empty spots here on Labor Day weekend, which was a real treat! The sites all have fire rings and picnic tables and share a vault toilet. The sites are well spaced and there little noise carries around the area. The campground is a little close the to highway (Warm Lake Rd) but traffic at night is pretty low, so the noise isn't bad. There is a wilderness airstrip not too far off, so some plane noise as well! Otherwise, a nice spot with some great views of the night sky.

  • Amanda C.
    Aug. 24, 2021

    Amanita

    Good camping close to Town

    This is a typical campground with Vault toilets, no showers, no water or electric hookups. However, it is just a couple miles from nice dining, mountain biking, and hiking.

  • T
    Jul. 27, 2020

    Sugarloaf Campground — Lake Cascade State Park

    Middle of the road

    We have high expectations since we’ve been at so many places, so please bear that in mind when reading this.

    1. Only vault toilets and water spigots placed randomly around.
    2. No electric/water hook ups, flushing toilets, or showers
    3. Outside of one vault toilet building some animal made a nest above out of dirt where they continually poop out of that looks like it hasn’t been touched in months so when you go to use the restroom you walk by a giant pile of poop.
    4. Pea gravel pads where they encourage you put your tent, not bad if you have a blow up mattress. It is nicely raked upon arrival.
    5. Campsite was clean.
    6. Most sites had trees, but not all so definitely check site pictures online if you need shade.
    7. Most sites have a view of the lake, since it’s almost like a peninsula campground.
    8. Nice boat ramps and lots of parking for boaters to leave trucks and trailers.
    9. Bugs would get a bit crazy at random times of day depending on weather.
    10. 20 minutes south of McCall if you wanted to get out and see a quaint little town.
    11. Cows on opposite side of water from campground; you can hear them, but not smell them.
  • Ed E.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 23, 2018

    Boise National Forest Warm Lake Campground

    A Pleasant Camping Area North of Boise, Idaho

    This campsite is located east of Cascade Lake and Donnelly, Idaho. It's a scenic road to get there. The camsite we were in was dry camping with no hook-ups. The camping pad for our 27' Travel Trailer was nice and level. Each campsite had a picnic table and a firepit. There are some nice hiking trails in the vicinity. Mountain biking and horse riding is acceptable there as well. Since we had kayaks, we had a short drive to the boat ramp. There is excellent trout fishing. There is a small swim beach near the Warm Lake Lodge and Restaurant, near where the cabins are. All in all, a great stay, away from the city :-) It's a nice peaceful setting.

  • Phillip C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2024

    Poison Creek Campground — Lake Cascade State Park

    Always a good stay

    We’ve been here twice now. First 2021 and again June 2024. Campground is well kept. Showers and facilities clean. Minutes from Donnelly Idaho for “the things you forgot”. Great views coming back again for sure.

  • K
    Aug. 13, 2023

    Rapid Creek Dispersed Camping Area

    Great secluded spot

    The fir trees stand tall and still. I can’t figure out if they are waiting for something to happen or if they simply don’t care.

    If you’re looking for sone sort of gorgeous panorama, this might not be the place for you. It’s really just a small meadow in the mountains that the BLM put a vault toilet and a couple of fire rings in. That being said, this place is beautiful.

    You can’t see rapid creek from the campground but you can hear it. And that’s really just as good. The white noise from the creek matched with the occasional bird or other nature sound is one of the most relaxing things on the planet.

    It’s high enough in elevation that this place gets nippy at night. I stayed in early August and the temps dropped into the upper 30s at night.

    The campground is well maintained and the vault toilet was reasonably clean when I arrived. It became Kevin clean shortly after I set up camp.

    There are trails from both sites near the vault toilet that lead down to Rapid Creek.

    I never saw any bear scat but signs on the property warn of them so be smart with your food.

    All in all, Rapid Creek dispersed camping is excellent if you just want a quiet place where no one is around. It’s amazing but not for the reasons people usually like in my opinion. ◦

Guide to Donnelly

Primitive camping options around Donnelly occupy National Forest land between 4,800 and 7,500 feet elevation. The camping season typically runs May through October, with Forest Service roads becoming impassable during winter months. Access to most dispersed sites requires travel on rough dirt roads, often unsuitable for low-clearance vehicles or larger RVs.

What to do

Fishing at nearby lakes: Brundage Reservoir supports smallmouth bass and rainbow trout fishing. "We spotted a beautiful lake through the trees. We unpacked, pitched our tent and settled in for the night. Waking up with the sun and making french press by the fire was a great way to start the day in this majestic area," notes a camper at Brundage Reservoir Camping Area.

Hiking to alpine destinations: Multiple trail networks connect camping areas to high mountain lakes. "Lick lake is a 3 mile hike into the wilderness and is gorgeous!" reports a visitor to Lick Creek Area. Most trails gain significant elevation through pine and fir forests.

Hot springs access: Several primitive hot springs sit within driving distance of Donnelly camping areas. A visitor to nearby Four Mile Campground writes: "About a mile and a half up the road is 16 mile hot springs which was wonderful!"

What campers like

Waterfront camping: Many sites provide immediate lake access for morning coffee and evening relaxation. "The gps for this site was off. It says to take a left at the fork. But the reservoir is to the right. Just follow the posted sign. It was nice and peaceful," reports a recent visitor to Brundage Reservoir.

Mountain biking proximity: Some tent campsites offer convenient access to established trail networks. "We went here for mountain biking. This campground was awesome because it was so close to Brundage resort, and the ski lift up, it was such an enjoyable stay," explains a camper at Granite Lake Camping Area.

River sounds: Creekside camping locations provide natural white noise for sleeping. At Four Mile Campground, a camper notes: "It was nice and quiet and you could hear the river nearby. Spot 3 has a great access trail that takes you down by the creek which flows into the river."

What you should know

Limited facilities: Most dispersed camping areas lack basic amenities. "Lick creek campground has 3 spots. One large one with stock holding. A CTX toilet and fire rings," explains a visitor, highlighting the minimal infrastructure typical of the area.

Water requirements: Pack in water or bring filtration systems for all camping areas. Surface water requires treatment before consumption. Most locations lack potable water sources.

Wildlife concerns: Food storage protocols reduce animal encounters. At Penny Spring Campground, a camper warns: "The squirrels are out of control aggressive, worst I've had to contend with. Make sure everything is secure in a bear canister and/or hung up off the ground, don't even turn your back on your food!"

Temperature variations: Nights remain cold even during summer months. Bring appropriate sleeping gear for sub-40°F nighttime temperatures in all seasons.

Tips for camping with families

Bathroom considerations: Select established sites with vault toilets for easier family camping. "The bathrooms are clean and well-kept. There is no running water at the bathrooms. There are three total in the campground," notes a visitor to Northwest Passage Campground.

Insect preparation: Mosquitoes remain a significant issue in early summer. Apply repellent especially near water sources and during evening hours. Pack head nets for children.

Swimming options: Look for gradual-entry shorelines for safer water play. "There is a beach area for the campers that is perfect for kids to play and to relax and watch for floaters," reports a Northwest Passage Campground visitor.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many camping areas support diverse wildlife watching. "We saw bald eagles, moose, deer and chipmunks," notes a family at Northwest Passage Campground.

Tips from RVers

Road conditions: Access to many tent campsites near Donnelly requires travel on unpaved, sometimes difficult roads. "Quite a drive to this beautiful lake but apparently it is well liked by locals because it was crowded!" notes a visitor to Picnic Point.

Limited hookups: No electricity or water connections exist at dispersed sites. "No hooks. No cell," reports an RVer at Northwest Passage Campground, highlighting the primitive nature of camping in this area.

Site selection: Arrive early midweek for better site options. "This campsite is non-reservable. It's first come first serve and usually very busy. The best time to get a spot is Sunday afternoon or Monday and Tuesday," advises a camper from Northwest Passage Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Donnelly, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Donnelly, ID is Rapid Creek Dispersed Camping Area with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Donnelly, ID?

TheDyrt.com has all 58 tent camping locations near Donnelly, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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