Best Dispersed Camping near Garden Valley, ID

If you're looking for a place to dispersed camp near Garden Valley, look no further. Here you'll find a diverse selection of places to camp, including remote dispersed camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Garden Valley's most popular destinations.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Garden Valley, ID (16)

    Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Boise National Forest Willow Creek Campground (Mountain Home)
    Camper-submitted photo from Boise National Forest Willow Creek Campground (Mountain Home)
    Camper-submitted photo from Boise National Forest Willow Creek Campground (Mountain Home)
    Camper-submitted photo from Boise National Forest Willow Creek Campground (Mountain Home)
    Camper-submitted photo from Boise National Forest Willow Creek Campground (Mountain Home)
    Camper-submitted photo from Boise National Forest Willow Creek Campground (Mountain Home)

    2. Boise National Forest Willow Creek Campground (Mountain Home)

    4 Reviews
    8 Photos
    165 Saves
    Idaho City, Idaho

    Overview: Willow Creek Campground is located along the Middle Fork of the Boise River Forest Service (FS) road 268 and the north end of the Arrowrock Reservior. There are 9 campsites at the campground. A stay at the campground enables guests to enjoy all the beauty and recreation offered along the river and reservoir. Weather is usually good from mid-May through late September and is easily accessible by car in good weather, although the road is sometimes rough and the drive can be seemingly long. Checking with the District on road conditions before heading out is recommended. Natural Features: Wildlife watchers may want to look for deer and elk. Waterfowl, eagles and osprey are attracted to the river. Recreation: There are several trails in the area including trail #189 beginning near Cottonwood Campground, leading to Bald Mountain Peak. Check the Idaho City Ranger District Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for trails in the area that are open to hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers and off-road vehicles. Click here for an Idaho OHV safety message. The Middle Fork Boise River and Arrowrock Reservoir offer excellent trout fishing and good swimming holes. Big game hunting is a popular activity in season.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Picnic Table
    • Toilets
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from Mores Creek by Steamboat Gulch
    Camper-submitted photo from Mores Creek by Steamboat Gulch

    3. Mores Creek by Steamboat Gulch

    1 Review
    2 Photos
    69 Saves
    Idaho City, Idaho
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • ADA Access
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    Camper-submitted photo from Herrick Reservoir Access
    Camper-submitted photo from Herrick Reservoir Access
    Camper-submitted photo from Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
    Camper-submitted photo from Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
    Camper-submitted photo from Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
    Camper-submitted photo from Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
    Camper-submitted photo from Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
    Camper-submitted photo from Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground

    5. Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground

    4 Reviews
    16 Photos
    145 Saves
    Idaho City, Idaho

    Irish Point is situated on the north shore of Arrowrock Lake. The hills are sagebrush covered with a few pine trees in the valleys. The camping sites have mature trees for shade. This is fairly isolated as the access road is rough and slow. This camping area is a good example of what is available at several spots along the road except Irish Point has an outhouse toilet available.

    Campsites: There are no developed camping sites here. People have camped here for many years because of the trees. There are stone fire rings but no tables.

    Water: No water.

    Garbage Services: No garbage service here.

    Restroom: There is one older outhouse toilet here.

    Handicap Accessible: This is not handicap accessible.

    Pets: Pets should be on a leash, however, this is not practiced from our observations.

    Recreation: The main attractions here are camping and fishing. I am sure bird and wildlife watching are also available. We saw many four wheelers and motorcycles in the camps as well.

    Fishing: Fishing is available in Arrowrock Lake for trout, bass and crappie. There are some small streams in the area which would also have trout fishing.

    Boating: There is a boat ramp a few miles away.

    Wildlife: There are deer tracks everywhere but we did not actually see the deer. There are also elk and geese seen here.

    Phone service: No phone, we also had no cell service on our ATT phones.

    Nearby Services: No services closer than Spring Shores Marina 13 miles away, which has a convenience store for ice, gas, drinks, telephone and other supplies, even a sheriffs office.

    RV Dumping Site: The nearest RV dumping station is at Boise, Idaho.

    Location/Driving instructions: Take Highway 21 NE from Boise to Arrowrock Road(turn right) then Irish Point is 14 miles. This road is a slow gravel winding road.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    • Dispersed
    • No image available

      6. Boise NF Road 82

      1 Review
      13 Saves
      Idaho City, Idaho

      Within the national forests, the majority of land is open for “dispersed camping”, outside of developed campgrounds. These locations are usually wide spots off of forest roads, with no facilities provided, such as water, bathrooms or tables. Many people enjoy the solitude of camping away from developed campgrounds. Follow these guidelines to ensure that these areas can be enjoyed safely by you, and future generations.

      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Dispersed
      • Drinking Water
      • Alcohol
      • No image available
        • No image available
          Camper-submitted photo from Alpine Lake
          Camper-submitted photo from Alpine Lake
          Camper-submitted photo from Alpine Lake
          Camper-submitted photo from Alpine Lake
          Camper-submitted photo from Alpine Lake
          Camper-submitted photo from Alpine Lake
          Camper-submitted photo from Stanley Lake FS 638 Road Dispersed
          Camper-submitted photo from Stanley Lake FS 638 Road Dispersed
          Camper-submitted photo from Stanley Lake FS 638 Road Dispersed
          Camper-submitted photo from Stanley Lake FS 638 Road Dispersed
          Camper-submitted photo from Stanley Lake FS 638 Road Dispersed
          Camper-submitted photo from Stanley Lake FS 638 Road Dispersed
        Showing results 1-10 of 16 campgrounds

        Recent Dispersed Reviews in Garden Valley

        33 Reviews of 16 Garden Valley Campgrounds


        • Elise S.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
          Oct. 12, 2024

          Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed

          So pretty

          Loved this spot! Parked our tow behind camper right on the beach. It is very muddy so don’t get too close to the shore, we had to help two vehicles get out of the mud. Also very buggy which is why is lost a star

        • SThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
          Aug. 6, 2024

          Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground

          Beautiful spot, but difficult to get to

          About an hour off the highway, 7 miles of which are washboard-bumpy gravel roads along the lake cliffside (Had to drive under 10mph those last 7 miles). We were in an AWD sprinter van, and the road conditions definitely put a damper on the night. Site is right on the water gorgeous once you’re there. The stars were incredible. Toilet on site but the flies were swarming.

        • Conner The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
          Jun. 2, 2024

          Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed

          If you want lake access this place is magical

          There are many group sites and single sites. Many sites own a corner turn. Also your entire campsite will be visible to every car passing. There are other sites on the other side of the road that are more private. Be wary the road is very dangerous getting in. Take it slow.

          Some people park their trailers at lake front but beware of the dune sand , you might get stuck.

          I love being able to jump into the lake and ride my bike along the lake.

          T

        • KThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Rapid Creek Dispersed Camping Area
          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. ◦

        • Tee C.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
          Jul. 14, 2023

          Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed

          Rough road but beautiful location

          Entering the park is beautiful! There’s a paved road with campsites you need a reservation for. Where the coordinates are on this map is about 30 minutes down a gravel road that looks ok, but is very rutted. I drive a cargo van and it shook everything to the point where I didn’t want to do 30 minutes of it. There are signs that say “no roadside camping next 7 miles”, but after mile marker 7, you’ll notice fire rings off the sides of the roads on both sides, including lake front. So I just want to make sure y’all know that you don’t actually have to drive all the way down to the dispersed spots to find camping. Other than that, it’s a gorgeous area. No Verizon service for me.

        • lThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Mores Creek by Steamboat Gulch
          Jul. 1, 2023

          Mores Creek by Steamboat Gulch

          good for a short stay

          A variety of free and dispersed sites, most of them with rock campfire rings, near a nice shallow creek. A fair amount of RV and ATV traffic but still feels pretty secluded. No bathrooms or anything like that but it's only a 3 minute drive from Idaho City.

        • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Iron Creek Camp on Forest Road 619
          Jun. 28, 2023

          Iron Creek Camp on Forest Road 619

          Designated Dispersed 2023

          This area along lower Iron Creek Road had some rough free dispersed spots that had cell signal from Stanley. As of June 2023 there are info boards and signage that notes dispersed camping only in designated spots marked on the ground with new signs. I saw an A group and a B group and may be more farther up but the road was so rough washboard potholed I did not check. These sites are small and not suitable for RVs and large TTs in my opinion. No toilets, no dumpsters and no water. However, this is very close to Stanley town.

        • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Stanley Lake FS 638 Road Dispersed
          Jun. 25, 2023

          Stanley Lake FS 638 Road Dispersed

          FS road #638 Dispersed

          Area of FS road #638 and #630. Large flat area around an old burrow pit. Very popular and lots of campers when I visited. Not a lot of privacy in my opinion, but it is only a few miles from Stanley Lake boat ramp.

        • Jacob M.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Boise NF Road 82
          Aug. 30, 2022

          Boise NF Road 82

          Ok area

          Was fairly trashed campground. Cleaned up two trash bags full of garbage. Random shoes, shell casing and mysterious empty glass containers.

        • LThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Stanley Lake FS 638 Road Dispersed
          Aug. 22, 2022

          Stanley Lake FS 638 Road Dispersed

          Great views and close to the lake

          I love this place as dispersed camping is our favorite. We are not stacked in n together and have great views of tue Sawtooth. My speed test was done with Verizon and I was using a WeBoost.

        • CThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
          Sep. 18, 2021

          Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground

          First Dispersed Solo Moto

          Rode in on my GS fully packed and as previously reviewed it was a bumpy road from the dam but not difficult. I was the only one here but the neighboring site had a couple people. Very quiet location. Happy I didn’t stop at hotel as it was getting near dark as I rode in and wasn’t sure what to expect. If I’m ever passing through Boise again I’ll be stopping back here for the layover. Also, a toilet was available. That was unexpected.

        • Mike E.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground
          Aug. 30, 2021

          Irish Point Dispersed Camp Ground

          Tough to get to but worth it

          Located on the shore of Arrowrock reservoir, this camping area is bare bones. The road in is all gravel on a steep hillside along the shore and several miles to get in. Many potholes and ruts. It will take you about 20-30 minutes from Boise to get to the dam and then another 30 minutes to get to Irish point if you are towing a trailer. You'll have to go slow. This is a nice reservoir and great sunsets and some shoreline camping. In the late season, the water level is usually quite low making it difficult to launch boats. We have a 30ft travel trailer and once was probably enough for quite some time. Tough access. Bad road. The only site improvement at Irish Point is a vault toilet.

        • Caley M.
          Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
          Jul. 22, 2021

          Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed

          Quiet and free, Dispersed

          We drove way past Lucky Peak Res until we saw trees. There are 2 pull offs here with lots of spots to camp. There are lots of firepits around the area and water access. Cool spot.

        • Mike E.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
          Feb. 18, 2021

          Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed

          Beautiful area, lousy road

          The road is severely pot-holed. with many lengths being 4-ish MPH if you are towing a trailer. This road is mainly good for razors and toy haulers, not RVs.  Many spots are 1 lane only. There are also washouts intruding into the roadway making it a little tight to get by for a pickup truck sized vehicle

        • Amy S.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Ice Springs
          Oct. 27, 2020

          Ice Springs

          Great for ATV's

          If you are a fan of motorized vehicles and access to lots of off road adventure, this would be a great campground for you.  I like quiet tent camping, hence the 3 star rating, others might rate it higher.  We were here in the fall and there were a lot of hunters staying here.  We did see some road hunting so be careful if you are out here during hunting season.

        • John T.
          Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
          Oct. 12, 2020

          Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed

          Arrowrock off season

          Super great spot that is close to town - pro's and con's are already covered and i agree - especially packing out more than you pack in as trash spoils the appeal.  Driving a large bed camper isn't so bad but is slower for sure and the narrow spots can be sketchy with multi-vehicle with trailers meeting there.  I like the shoulder seasons best - wish i had a boat to add additional fun.  Your results might vary but I've had nothing but fun in the area.

        • Rachel A.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Alpine Lake
          Jun. 24, 2020

          Alpine Lake

          Breathtaking, peaceful

          Alpine lake is approx. 5.5mi from the Redfish Lake Inlet. With a 2000ft elevation gain and some killer switchbacks as you hike into altitude, the lake rests at about 8300ft. Never have I witnessed such beauty and serene, crystal clear waters. Absolutely no services, only dispersed camping—pack in/pack out and worth every step! We have snow mid-June that was up to our thighs on the way up (ouch!) but by two days later had melted enough to reveal the trail floor. Don’t forget your sunscreen ;) You will not regret visiting this heaven on earth spot

        • April S.
          Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
          Jun. 15, 2020

          Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed

          Fun for the day!

          This was a super fun spot to go play in the water for the day. Only thing I would change is the fact that there is no shade. The weather wasn’t great so while camping at night, it was crazy windy which was rough haha. Also, there were people blasting loud music until super late, but otherwise this is a nice spot.

        • Tiffany M.
          Camper-submitted photo from Ice Springs
          Jun. 11, 2020

          Ice Springs

          Beautiful

          I thought it was beautiful here. There are places to barbecue and have a fire and there is a river right below the camp sites. Very quiet.

        • B
          Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
          May. 1, 2020

          Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed

          RAV4 Camping

          Awesome place! Like some of the others said, drive in could be a bit sketchy it you’re towing or have a large vehicle - but we passed plenty of boats/RV’s, just have to go slow. There’s multiple spaces and if you’re not too specific about being near the water, you can have some decent privacy.

        • E
          Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
          Feb. 12, 2020

          Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed

          Irish Point

          We camped at Irish Point at Arrowhead's designated dispersed camping area. The road around the reservoir is pretty tight, though that doesn't discourage long trailers and toy haulers. We're pretty self-contained so didn't miss any usual camp ground amenities. Our neighbors were sparse and quiet and we enjoyed the peace of this area.

        • KThe Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Ice Springs
          Jul. 14, 2019

          Ice Springs

          Deer Carcasses

          Deer carcasses and no toilet. The campground is used by hunters in RVs/trailers. The place was rancid, we did not stay here.

        • Laura C.The Dyrt PRO User
          Camper-submitted photo from Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed
          Jun. 5, 2019

          Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed

          Private

          Me and boyfriend enjoy going here in the fall and spring to get away from the city for a day or two. There is hiking right across the street. Mt Heinen which is a very strenous hike. Its over 9 miles(up and back) and over a 3,000 ft gain so be prepared if you try to tackle this summit. Anyways, the campground has some fire pits but no picnic tables. There are a few trees for shade. One part of this campground that confuses me is that there use to be a small outhouse in summer of 2018 but when I came in 2019 in march and April there was not one? When we come in the fall and spring theres no one other than us there. In the summer it does get quite a few people there. Also it gets super hot in the summertime so be sure to bring plenty of water. Good thing is you can take a dip in the cold reservoir to cool off. There's no trash services so pack it in and pack it out. A lot of people come here to party and leave trash around so i make it a point to pick it up. Please don't be those people to ruin a beautiful free spot. 💚



        Frequently Asked Questions

        • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Garden Valley, ID?

          According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Garden Valley, ID is Arrowrock Reservoir Dispersed with a 4-star rating from 17 reviews.

        • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Garden Valley, ID?

          TheDyrt.com has all 16 dispersed camping locations near Garden Valley, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.