Best Tent Camping near McCall, ID

Tent campsites in the Payette National Forest surrounding McCall, Idaho range from established campgrounds to remote dispersed areas. Brundage Reservoir Camping Area offers lakeside tent camping with boat-in access, while Northwest Passage Campground in Ponderosa State Park provides more developed sites with picnic tables and vault toilets. Lick Creek Area and Paddy Flat-Jughandle Mountain Area offer primitive tent camping options within the McCall and Krassel Ranger Districts, typically accessible from late spring through early fall.

Most primitive tent setups near McCall require campers to bring their own water and pack out all waste, as facilities are minimal or nonexistent. Sites are typically set on natural forest surfaces with minimal improvements beyond occasional fire rings. Walk-in tent sites at Northwest Passage Campground include picnic tables and access to vault toilets, but no running water at individual sites. Higher elevation backcountry camping areas like Granite Lake may remain snow-covered until July, with rough forest roads requiring high-clearance vehicles. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, particularly in dispersed camping zones.

Areas farther from town provide deeper seclusion for tent campers seeking quieter experiences. The Brundage Reservoir area offers lakeside camping with opportunities for paddling and fishing directly from tent sites. Lick Creek Area serves as an entry point to wilderness hiking trails, with Lick Lake accessible via a 3-mile hike. Tent campers at Northwest Passage appreciate the woodsy setting and river access. One camper noted, "Depending on what campsite you stay in, the river is close. There are only 22 sites so not a huge amount of campers and most of the sites are pretty private with woods separating them." Wildlife sightings are common throughout the region, with visitors reporting moose, deer, eagles, and occasional bear activity, making proper food storage essential for tent campers.

Best Tent Sites Near McCall, Idaho (60)

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Tent Camping Reviews near McCall, ID

365 Reviews of 60 McCall 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.

  • 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.
  • 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.

  • Christopher R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 25, 2018

    Upper Payette Lake Campground

    great camp on payette lake

    had a great visit loved the paved trails along the shoreline the lake offers a great place for kayaking fishing or canoeing it's about 20 miles from McCall and is approximately 6000 feet in elevation.

  • 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. ◦

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2024

    Herrick Reservoir Access

    Just ok

    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.


Guide to McCall

Nestled in the heart of Idaho, McCall offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. With stunning landscapes and a range of amenities, these sites provide the perfect backdrop for a memorable camping experience.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • The Granite Lake Camping Area is ideal for hiking, with numerous trails to explore in the surrounding wilderness.
  • For those interested in mountain biking, the Brundage Reservoir Camping Area is conveniently located near the Brundage Resort, offering access to thrilling trails.
  • The Goose Lake Camping Area provides a serene setting for fishing and enjoying the cool mountain air, making it a great spot for a relaxing getaway.

Unique features of these campgrounds

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near McCall, ID is Brundage Reservoir Camping Area with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 60 tent camping locations near McCall, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.