Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Garden Valley, ID

I was here alone with my two dogs during the heatwave of June 2021 (104°+). The dogs and I didn't leave the RV much due to the heat. But we were parked next to the pool, it's small and busy late afternoon early evening. The little dog park was nice although we only used it a couple times since one of my dogs does not always get along well with other dogs.

5G and 2G wifi were excellent. Towers throughout property for access points. Never a week signal. I was able to telecommute and stream without any issues and never used my Hotspot or cell data.

I would have given 5 stars except for closeness of RVs, it's difficult to reserve a site, and because of the heat and my dogs, I didn't use any of the amenities or visit any destination.

I do prefer dispersed RV sites, however this site came through in a pinch for the heat wave.

Glorified parking lot. Sewer connection isn’t threaded, instead they provide you with a rock to place on top of your line so it doesn’t blow out everywhere. Pets are allowed but the only grassy area in the whole park dogs aren’t allowed in. The entire front of the dumpsters had broken glass scattered all over the ground mixed in with the dirt and rocks. And my last complaint BEES!Hornets and wasps were surrounding our outdoor area. The laundry building was clean and maintained. Overall it worked for the 3 nights we stayed but I wouldn’t want to stay longer.

Camping is free, limit of 10 days. Not really any designated sites and surrounded by private land with aggressive signage. Not all roads around the reservoir are public, so be prepared to turn around and back up at dead ends. We came to an orange gate that said "private property", and stopped. While trying to turn around, we noticed a white truck sitting behind us. When we turned around and passed him, he motioned to roll down the window, and then berated us and called us idiots, even though we had not even entered the private land, nor did we want to. We felt threatened. In the end we chose a site on the upper road of the reservoir. The view was nice but not close to the pit toilet. No fire ring. No table. A no frills place. Like many lakes in Idaho, the reservoir is mostly dry. Not a huge deal but not the prettiest to look at. There is only one single pit toilet for the whole reservoir and someone was set up right next to it like it was their own. People ride off-road vehicles here. In an area with slim pickings for free camping, I guess you have to take what you can get.

Cascade Lake is beautiful and an excellent stop over. Water sports and beaches and sand to get into everything.

Sage is a roadside campground with moderate size sites, NO SHADE and level cement pads. My site overlooked the beach , however we had to walk the trail to gain access to the beach. The beach was never crowded, though on occasion it had some annoying and loud boaters who seem to think they were the only ones that were there to enjoy the area. Their dog even tried to attack my leashed dogs. I just did my best to stay at the area of the beach with no one else present.

There was a constant haze in the sky from the wildfires in the area. Kudos to the fire men and women .

Town was very nearby and everything you could need was there, including a huge laundromat and snow mobile dealership. Worth the visit.

Like most (it seems) campgrounds, this place is badly in need of maintenance. When it rains, the "roads" (term used loosely) are mud puddles. Your site is too, unfortunately. Most of the park is long-term scum campers, junk all over the sites, loud trucks, loud music.

To top it off, many of these hobos take pleasure in putting dog food bowls of duck food out, so you can count on duck crap all over the place, on your rig, on your vehicle. The constant quacking makes you think you're on an island in the river. It will drive your dog nuts too.

The Greenbelt:

Pretty, but VERY overcrowded. If you're looking for some peace walking by the river, forget it. Spandex wearing cycle maggots, too self-important to even bother to say "on your left" or ring a bell, come ripping up behind you, inches away, as if they despise you "being in the way". Most are wearing mirror shades so they don't have to smile at anyone.

All in all, there are much better places to spend time in Idaho. Try Idaho Falls, or Twin Falls. Stanley and Coeur d'Alene are both gorgeous. Boise is basically California, including the the corresponding batch of jerks just like you find in California.

Originally planned to stay here three months, left after a few weeks. Obviously, won't be returning.