Best Tent Camping near Murphy Hot Springs, ID
The remote wilderness surrounding Murphy Hot Springs, Idaho offers several primitive tent camping options within the Jarbidge Field Office management area. Tent-only sites can be found at Juniper Grove Campground, which operates from April to October and features four designated campsites with fire pits. Big Cottonwood Campground, located along the river, provides additional tent camping opportunities with several riverside sites. The Jarbidge Wilderness area, just south of Murphy Hot Springs, contains numerous dispersed tent camping locations along gravel roads leading into Nevada.
Sites throughout this region typically feature packed dirt surfaces with minimal improvements. Campers should bring all necessary water supplies, as no potable water exists at any of the campgrounds near Murphy Hot Springs. According to recent visitor reports, Murphy Hot Springs itself remains closed with no announced reopening date. Most tent campsites include designated fire rings, though fire restrictions may apply seasonally. Vault toilets are available at some locations like Lower Bluster Campground and Pine Creek Campground, but many backcountry tent sites lack facilities entirely. Cell service is nonexistent throughout the area, with the nearest reliable signal approximately 35 miles east of Murphy Hot Springs.
The tent camping experience in this region offers exceptional privacy and natural beauty. One visitor noted that Juniper Grove's tent sites are "tucked up against a rock wall" with "a lovely creek with accessible pools." Walk-in tent sites at Lower Bluster Campground provide creek-side camping with "very private" settings according to camper reviews. The area features dramatic rock formations, clear creeks, and relatively light traffic even during peak seasons. Tent campers frequently observe wildlife while exploring the surrounding wilderness. The gravel access roads are generally well-maintained and passable with standard vehicles, making these primitive tent camping areas more accessible than their remote location might suggest.
