Tent camping areas near Gibbonsville, Idaho range from primitive riverfront sites to established forest service campgrounds throughout the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The area sits at approximately 4,600 feet elevation with temperatures frequently dropping into the 40s at night even during summer months. Winter season typically brings heavy snowfall from November through April, making most dispersed camping accessible only from late spring through early fall.
What to do
Fishing access points: Camp Creek BLM sites provide direct Salmon River access with multiple fishing spots within walking distance of campsites. "Amazing drive-in BLM campsite right on the Salmon River. Primitive site; no water/bathroom. Great stargazing," notes Noah M. about Camp Creek BLM Camping.
Wildlife viewing: The remote nature of Pintler Lake Campground creates excellent wildlife viewing opportunities away from busier areas. Lisa K. reports, "The lake is lovely but covered for the most part with lily pads on the backside of the lake. A creek coming from the lake also is adjacent to campground." Pintler Campground offers a quieter experience for nature observation.
Stargazing: Minimal light pollution makes the best tent camping near Gibbonsville, Idaho ideal for night sky viewing. Kristy A. describes Camp Creek: "Perfect view of the big dipper between the canyon view made for a beautiful night of star gazing by the fire ring."
What campers like
River proximity: Sites positioned directly on the Salmon River provide water access and natural cooling during summer heat. Andrea C. shares about her Camp Creek experience: "We had the first pull through spot and was perfect. Great views! Very little Verizon service. There are three spots to camp here."
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds feature well-spaced sites that provide separation from other campers. "Site: moderately clean and private. Spaced apart about 3 sites alongside the river access. Trees for hammocking and shade," notes Kristy A.
Uncrowded camping: Even during peak summer weekends, Bobcat Gulch often has available sites. Evan H. reports, "Pretty quiet for the Saturday night I stayed - 4 open spots at 8:30pm. Only downside is it's rather close to the highway and you can hear cars driving by pretty regularly."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Most camping areas have minimal to no cellular coverage. Andrea C. notes about Camp Creek, "Very little Verizon service," while others report complete absence of signal at most primitive sites.
Road conditions: Access to more remote camping requires careful driving on rough forest roads. Lisa K. explains about the route to Pintler Campground: "Pinter Lake is 10 miles from the main road hwy 43. The mostly gravel road is far from smooth with uncomfortable washboard feeling much of the route."
Highway noise: Sites near Highway 93 experience traffic noise despite their natural settings. Mandi W. mentions about Camp Creek, "Only con is that it is close enough to hwy 93 that you can see and hear cars going by, but it's not a super busy road."
Limited facilities: Eric D. provides a practical assessment of Camp Creek: "It's just a pull off. Not much for flat spots or anything else. You will need to have everything you need with you."
Tips for camping with families
Accessible spots for children: Crazy Creek Campground provides water features safe for supervised children. Annie C. notes, "Right next to the creek, with another small branch cutting through the middle of the campground, the only thing I could hear was the water."
Wildlife education opportunities: Several campsites offer regular wildlife sightings appropriate for teaching children about nature. Annie C. shares, "Saw a doe and fawn on the way out in the morning," while Matthew F. cautions, "Be aware of your surroundings, we had a coyote visit us unexpectedly!"
Swimming access: Several riverside sites have shallow areas suitable for family water play during warmer months. Mandi W. explains, "We were the only ones there, each spot is super private, there aren't many spots. Ours was right on the river and we could easily go down and swim from our site."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Finding level spots for larger vehicles requires advance planning at most sites. Andrea C. mentions, "We travel in a 23 foot camper van. Plenty of room for our rig," but notes specific spot selection was important at Camp Creek BLM Camping.
Limited turn-around space: Several camping areas have constrained maneuvering room for larger rigs. "We had the first pull through spot and was perfect," notes Andrea C., indicating the importance of finding appropriate sites for easier parking.
Site selection for size: Lisa K. observed at Pintler Lake, "Three spots are available, although people did make two ad how sites down by the river. Both were RVs." Selecting appropriate sites based on vehicle dimensions is essential for tent camping near Gibbonsville, Idaho.
