Best Tent Camping near Murphy Hot Springs, ID

This whole area is absolutely lovely and extremely accessible. No cell signal anywhere near. Note that Murphy Hot Springs is not open as of August 2023 and no dates are planned for its opening

The drive to this campsite is a mind-blower. Excellent quality gravel road, crazy rock formations, pretty trees, and crystal clear and accessible creek. The roads and campsites are all very clean. With the exception of the Jarbidge Wild and Scenic River launch site, there are very few camping pullouts until you get past the town of Jarbidge when there are many. There are many camping options in this area and all are free. No potable water in this area. No cell signal at all anywhere near. The nearest reliable cell signal to the east is 35 miles east of Murphy Hot Springs, which is closed with no opening in sight. Not many people or much traffic. The Jarbidge Wilderness looks amazing.

Upper Bluster has one campsite on the water, nearest pit toilet is at Lower Bluster or Pine Creek. The drive to this campsite is a mind blower. Excellent quality gravel road, crazy rock formations, pretty trees and crystal clear and accessible creek. The road and campsites are all very clean. With the exception of the Jarbidge Wild and Scenic River launch site, there are very few camping pullouts until you get past the town of Jarbidge when there are many. There are many camping options in this area and all are free. No potable water in this area. No cell signal at all anywhere near. The nearest reliable cell signal to the east is 35 miles east of Murphy Hot Springs, which is closed with no opening in sight. Not many people or much traffic. The Jarbidge Wilderness looks amazing.

Lower Bluster has three creek-side campsites, all on the water and very private, and a pit toilet. The drive to this campsite is a mind blower. Excellent quality gravel road, crazy rock formations, pretty trees, and crystal clear and accessible creek. The road and campsites are all very clean. With the exception of the Jarbidge Wild and Scenic River launch site, there are very few camping pullouts until you get past the town of Jarbidge when there are many. There are many camping options in this area and all are free. No potable water in this area. No cell signal at all anywhere near. The nearest reliable cell signal to the east is 35 miles east of Murphy Hot Springs, which is closed with no opening in sight. Not many people or much traffic. The Jarbidge Wilderness looks amazing.

I stayed here for a night while passing through. A nice free spot to camp if you’re in need near Twin Falls. Easily accessible by any car it seems like (I have a Nissan Versa) and there were camper vans and RVs  there too. Picnic tables at every sight, plenty of birds flying around and I think there might be at least two beavers in the creek. I tent camped and the grass was a luxury! (Was here on a Friday so didn’t have to worry about the sprinklers, they go off every morning Monday-Thursday)

Bonanza Gulch dispersed area has two sites, one on each side of the bridge. These are the most scenic spots for seeing the mountains, having wide open camp, and some amazing rock formation views. The drive to this campsite is a mind blower. Excellent quality gravel road, crazy rock formations, pretty trees and crystal clear and accessible creek. The road and campsites are all very clean. With the exception of the Jarbidge Wild and Scenic River launch site, there are very few camping pullouts until you get past the town of Jarbidge when there are many. There are many camping options in this area and all are free. No potable water in this area. No cell signal at all anywhere near. The nearest reliable cell signal to the east is 35 miles east of Murphy Hot Springs, which is closed with no opening in sight. Not many people or much traffic. The Jarbidge Wilderness looks amazing.

It is a long drive from Twin Falls to get to this park, so you’d better hope there is space when you get here! It was full when we arrived, but we would definitely come back at a less busy time. Primitive camping right on the water (bugs could be a problem) and most of the camping was in tents (although it was posted that tents are not allowed Monday through Thursday), however, you could park your van/RV alongside the water. I only saw pit toilets and they were reasonably clean (others mention bathrooms which to me mean flush toilets but maybe I missed them). Note that THE Balanced Rock is about a mile down the road from the campground.

Pleasantly surprised at the quality if this BLM camp ground. Each site has a concrete slab covered with a hard topped shade structure covering a picnic table and BBQ grill. Just past this there is a fire ring. Sites are well spaced and most have a tree or two. Pit toilets and surrounding areas very clean. In mid-October there were about 4-5 other tents/RVs.

The place is beautiful and you have a hiking trail through the canyon and the balance rock is 5 min by car. Thegood: It’s free, has water, trash cans, and bathroom pits, roofed picnic tables, fire grills, fire rings. Can stay 7 days, tent on grass only Thursday through Sunday (sprinkles during the week), camp near the river, kayak, fishing... The bad: limited space, flies are something out of this world (seriously, they won’t let you do anything outside), very windy because of the canyon walls, no service not even with boosters, fish tiny and bony.

Stopped here on way south to NV because there wasn't much free camping to be found on the route. Unfortunately it was during the massive western fires and the horizon was smoky. Couldn't really see anything but smoke, scrub brush, and lots of flies. The flies were horrible. Half the campground was under construction - should be nice later. There is a dump station, which is nice. There were only 2 sites left at 4pm and the last one was taken by an RV behind me. The rest of the open CG was full of fishermen and invisible men in camo from head to toe in muddy trucks - assume hunters as Idaho allows everything to be killed in early fall for some reason. The road in was in good shape, but it's far to drive if you were to find it full - so I wouldn't try it after 4 pm in hunting season.

Excellent free place to stop over for a night or two. It doesn't really have a campground feel or setup, but rather it's a park that allows overnight camping for 7 nights.

Tents are ok but not allowed to stay on the grass during the week, because the sprinklers are on all night long (and will also spray your vehicle if you park along the grass).  There aren't any designated or numbered camp spots, but it seems that each picnic bench and grill sort of counts as an individual spot.  But I'd say if you have a small vehicle and all the "spots" are taken it would be fine to just squeeze in somewhere for the night.

No cell service down here.  There are trash bins and a pit toilet.  Nice river running through and a lot of people come here for the day to fish and picnic. There's also a little playground for kids.

Easy access for medium-ish RVs, not sure if I'd attempt to bring something huge down here.  The park is a long road with a small turnaround area at the end but when we were there a big class A was blocking a lot of the turnaround area (because they didn't parallel park at the site and pulled in straight instead).  Also a lot of low hanging branches scraped as we drove through, so something taller or bigger might have issues.

So the spot at the end where my pics are is awesome, but that’s it.

This is a park that allows camping. It’s not a place you feel comfortable driving off and leaving your stuff out. The toilet is dark, no light, so filthy, and a real loooong walk from the last site, you’ll want to drive it.

The grass areas are nice, but camping there is weekends only. The stream is pretty, loaded with suckers, and at night an otter or similar animal, whatever idaho has, lives there, I wouldn’t swim in it. There are lots of birds an owls in the cliffs.

So far below the cliffs that you get cooler air than up top, plenty of light all day but direct sun for about four hours.

It’s funny I had friends near the front. The way the sun travels they would be cold in the morning wearing coats while I was basking. In the evening i was sipping tea by the fire and they were seeking shade.

If you stay in that best spot be prepared as it’s the trail access and you have to let people come through. Idahoans are nice though so it’s not a problem

Details: Tables everywhere Trash and toilet available Water spigots available but conflicting reports on their safety Twin falls is a 25 minute country drive away Balanced rock is right around the corner Seasons go like this; pleasant, snake city, bugs galore, cold as my heart. Good luck timing those Free, staycation days limited to 7 on my visit but a local said it might change. Wear gloves but take a visual in the trash cans after any weekend parties, especially if you have kids. I took a visit to the cop shop and the pawn shop after i looked, just sayin

Juniper Grove has four campsites and fire pits, a pit toilet, a lovely creek with accessible pools, tucked up against a rock wall. No water, no data access. A short distance down the road, there is a developed site along the river with four camps as well. super pretty area, easily accessed by passenger vehicles. No services anywhere near.

I didn't want to leave but we were running out of previsions. However before we left I hit a rather large root in the pathway and popped a tire. It is all dirt roads. I had to change a tire on a soft dirt road, it was almost impossible. We caught some sprinkles, which was awesome to escape the Las Vegas heat. The hike at sawmill was great. Not to hard. We made it to a peak. Seen horse's, lizards rabbits, and preying mantis. No amenities or water source. There is no fires allowed, stoves ok. There is a picnic area at sawmill trailhead with tables, grills and bathrooms. A few minutes walk or about 1 minute drive. I will be back. It is first come first serve there are no fees except gas and maybe a tire.

Called about 2 hours out. They had room. Great level spots. Very nice landscaping. Helpful staff. Absolutely a come again place.

Edited by geometry dash subzero 1 day ago

Primitive & hard to get to but worth it. Trees, privacy, year round (mostly) creek. Take everything you need & pack it out please. It's 60 miles one way to town. Go slow on 4 ply, 10 ply greatly preferred on these dirt roads. Awesome hiking & horseback riding- some of the best in the country, my opinion.

Camp Draw Trailhead is basically a free and easy place to kick off into the Jarbridge Wilderness Area. The area is under the authority of the U.S. Forest Service so no one really keeps tabs on when it opens and closes; this is the definition of dispersed. Due to the weather conditions in the area of the country, it can snow well into June, so be sure to keep an eye on the forecast.

Amenities include vault toilets and packed dirt parking areas. No water! Bring your own anticipating what you need depending on your plans and the season. The closest town is all the way back in Jarbridge.

I went there with my family and it was great. The only thing was if you do not go as far in you are bound to see more people.

Wow! What a campground. I love this excellent campground location.

Big bend campground is a nice little oasis in the high desert. It was hunting season and the road was busy, campers all over in the campground (they were very friendly and quiet) and hunters camped in the area but it was still peaceful. Very scenic camp sites and cooler than the surrounding area. No camp host, talked to a few folks that frequent the campground and commented they have never seen a ranger there. 8 bucks self pay, very reasonable price. 2 bathrooms that need attention, had my own in the camper so I didn’t mind. Water hydrants throughout but not charged, no water available. Haul out your own trash and waste water. Remote so not cell service or WiFI. Great base camp to explore the surrounding public land. 11 miles of good dirt road to access it. A nice base camp to go visit Jarbidge, a must visit!

Campground was pretty clean and easily accessible. Close-ish to Wild Horse for fishing or boating. Nice views on the drive in. Nice and shady spots! Will come back for sure.