Best Dispersed Camping near North Fork, ID
Several dispersed camping areas surround North Fork, Idaho, with Deer Gulch being the most highly rated option. Located along the Salmon River just off Highway 93, Deer Gulch features vault toilets, fire rings, and open grassy areas with some shade trees. The site requires crossing a narrow bridge that can accommodate larger vehicles, including fifth wheels up to 30 feet. Verizon cell service is available, but T-Mobile has no coverage.
Bobcat Gulch offers nine primitive sites with designated fire rings and one accessible pit toilet. Sites back up to the river but sit close enough to the highway that traffic noise is noticeable. Further options include Salmon Creek Camp on Loening Road, though reviews indicate access issues with a closed first bridge and narrow second bridge. In Montana, Lost Horse Dispersed Campground provides sites along Lost Horse Creek approximately 4.6 miles from Highway 93, with the final 2.3 miles on rough forest roads. "This area just seems to attract a different kind of camping crowd, one that doesn't respect the land," notes one camper, mentioning trash problems despite the area's natural beauty.