Best Tent Camping near Murphy Hot Springs, ID

Very clean sites, I watched the camp host pull in right after someone left and make sure it was clean and the sand was raked for the next guest. Camp host stopped and talked with us, very friendly, ready to share his fishing tips. Clean bathrooms with sinks and the bathroom on the southern loop had showers! Water hydrants everywhere, with great tasting water. Easy pull through spots. Nice tables with shelter over it, fire ring, nice sandy camp area and trees planted to shade the each site. Popular campground, stayed full and people do like their generators which we did here a lot of. Good cell service with AT&T. No WiFi. Trash dumpster at the ranger station. Boat ramp with ample parking. Sanitary dumps with water if you need to refill your fresh tank or to use the spray in the black tank.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This place is incredible and I’m so happy it’s reopened since the devastating Sugarloaf Fire some years back. Thank you BLM for cleaning up and repairing this special spot.

To get here, you literally just get off the highway in Elko and drive 70 (!) miles north. The end, it’s right there on the side of the road. No cities for miles around. You can imagine the dark sky and how awe inspiring it is in the middle of the night.

It’s a bit tricky to access in the winter, but one of the best places in the state to try your hand at ice fishing. The surrounding countryside is also great for snowmobiling! In the summer, you are free to do anything from fishing to canoeing to paddle boarding to water skiing.

Sites are basic but serviceable - about 20 sites with tables and fire rings. Plenty of trees to provide shade. There are vault toilets available and hand pumped water but no RV hookups. Super cheap at only $6 a night.