Join the fun near St. Maries. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Find the best campgrounds near St. Maries, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"Great elevated views of Rose Lake through the trees at the boat ramp. Several fishermen loading up after a day on the lake. A little noisy, but not distracting."
"The morning revealed a beautiful lake/dock, clean pit toilet and pet friendly space. It was very simple, but perfect quick stop for us."
"Lots of spaces and places to turn around. After crossing the bike path, take the first right onto the dirt road at the sportsmans access sign (parallel to the small paved parking lot.)"
"If you drive past the first couple grass campsites and continue on the narrow road with water on both sides, just off to the right is a single secluded campsite amongst the tree."
"There are secluded dispersed campsites on Big Creek between the campgrounds on Big Creek RD. If you're set up for off grid its definitely worth spending a few days fly fishing or hiking the area."
"While this is not my favorite spot, it’s very close to where I live. This is my go to spot when I just want to get a quick overnight camp in."
"This campground is a pack-it-in, pack-it-out area close to the swiftly flowing Marble Creek."
"Fantastic access to the river for great fly fishing. Several spots in the trees and several in the more open areas. Vault toilet is to the right as you pull in about 1/8 mile away from pull off."
"I met some cool Idaho locals that said they’ve been coming here since they were kids!"
GuideWe were able to get our fifth wheel (40ft long, 13 1/2 ft tall) in and out easy! Lots of spaces and places to turn around. After crossing the bike path, take the first right onto the dirt road at the sportsmans access sign (parallel to the small paved parking lot.) Like another said, the best spot is past the first circular area. Keep going down the road and you’ll see a big shady area in the trees. (You can go further along to two more sites more suited for smaller pop-up campers, tents, or vans.) Close to the water so of course, there were some bugs: lots of bees and mosquitoes.
GuideThis is primitive off grid camping. No services, no water, no tables, just a bathroom in a field with a few campsites around it near the creek. Great location to stay if you're doing the Hiawatha trail and want to camp in the area. The busses picking up hiawatha trail users go right by the campground multiple times a day in the summer.
TravelerWent with the family in mid May on a perfect weekend weather-wise. If you drive past the first couple grass campsites and continue on the narrow road with water on both sides, just off to the right is a single secluded campsite amongst the tree. The best site there imo. privacy, lots of trees so the site gets a good amount of shade but sun still pokes through, perfect.
Mosquitos weren't so bad that it affected us but we all had a few bites. My only knock on this site, which isn't much, is that you can see homes from the sites. What can I say I like to feel like I am far from everyone.
Good site to camp for a family.
TravelerI spent 1 night here on my way to Coeur d’Alene. I might spend a couple more! Great elevated views of Rose Lake through the trees at the boat ramp. Several fishermen loading up after a day on the lake. A little noisy, but not distracting.
There is a vault toilet with its own parking space. I van camped there. Above me were 2 parking lots where 2-3 other campers were. Plenty of room to spread out and have decent privacy.
TravelerBy far one of my favorite Mt lake hikes! With great camping at both the lower and upper lakes, I recommend using the trails app to help navigate through the switch backs, and have lots of water! Me and my friends stayed at the lower lake, both hammock and tent camping.
GuideThis is a primitive site on an island in Bonnie Lake in Eastern Washington. Bonnie lake is a canyon lake, about 4 miles long and narrow. The island and surrounding sq. mile of land is owned by the BLM. Access is by paddling up Rock Creek about a mile and another 1/2 mile paddle up the lake. The creek can be seasonally shallow and you'll have to portage across at least one beaver dam. The island is rocky and brushy with enough flat spaces for a tent or two and trees for hammocks. The steep canyon walls provide a stage for coyotes to sing back and forth. Please use sanitary bags to pack out your waste (poop). The island's soil isn't deep enough for proper burial.
There is a spit of land on shore where you can camp too, but I've not done that.
LegendNice little loop camp ground, 3 sites that were pretty spacious all include a fire ring and picnic table. Free camping for up to 3 days. Right on the lake! Nice dock to go out to fish on as well. 1 vault toilet. Nice big parking lot for boats and trailers! Right off of i90.
GuideHwy 3 > Cross the 1 lane bridge called "South Bull Run Rd" > continue to the right past a few houses until you reach Coeur d'alene Trail access parking area > cross over trail and continue down parallel West Bull Run rd
4 spots that I found. One is a large loop with fire pits already setup (where I stayed). There's one back-in that used to be a 2 track trail next to a small pond, another pull-through loop next to the main sign, and one more site down the road towards the forest.
You're really close to highway 3 so there's road noise from that. More common actually was the sound of boats going down the Coeur d'Alene river which is even closer. There's another camping area across the river (which is apparently contaminated with toxic materials from mining lol). I was here during 4th of July so people were lighting off fire crackers there as you'd expect.
Overall it's a very beautiful spot, with multiple small lakes, deer grazing around, and plenty of wildflowers.
Had no issue with my 25ft trailer as the road was in good shape. Larger rigs would probably be okay too, but I'd scout it out.
This is Idaho Fish and Wildlife property and has a 3-day maximum stay.
RangerWhile this is not my favorite spot, it’s very close to where I live. This is my go to spot when I just want to get a quick overnight camp in. I will be returning here soon and will take photos to share.
Depending on the time of year it can be loud as motorists past. However, I have wondered into it wilderness to camp farther away from the trail.
The coordinates from this listing are incorrect and take you down the wrong road.
Laird Park is just down the road and you can get to nice river areas from both campsites. If you can’t get a spot here you can always try down by Laird as a backup.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near St. Maries, Idaho, where nature's tranquility meets the freedom of the outdoors. With a variety of locations to choose from, you can enjoy stunning landscapes and peaceful surroundings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at dispersed camping sites around St. Maries?
Dispersed camping around St. Maries is primarily primitive with minimal amenities. Cliff Creek Campground Primitive Dispersed offers basic vault toilets near the creek but no water, tables, or other services - just open spaces for camping. Similarly, Rose Lake provides vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables at its sites, plus a dock for fishing and a large parking area for boats and trailers. Most dispersed sites in the area feature natural clearings for tents or vehicles and sometimes established fire rings, but you'll need to bring your own water, toilet supplies, and all other necessities for self-sufficient camping.
Where can I find dispersed camping near St. Maries, Idaho?
Several excellent dispersed camping options exist near St. Maries. Bull Run Access Dispersed offers multiple camping spots with room for large rigs - take South Bull Run Road, cross over the Coeur d'Alene Trail access, and continue down West Bull Run Road to find several spots with established fire pits. For secluded camping along a creek, Big Creek, Calder, Idaho provides peaceful sites between established campgrounds on Big Creek Road that are perfect for off-grid camping and fly fishing. Other options include Saint Joe National Forest dispersed areas, where free camping is generally available throughout the forest on public lands.
When is the best season for dispersed camping in St. Maries, Idaho?
Late spring through early fall (mid-May to October) offers the best conditions for dispersed camping around St. Maries. Stevens Lakes Backcountry is a favorite during summer months when the mountain lake hikes are accessible and both lower and upper lakes provide excellent camping spots. For paddlers, Bonnie Lake Island is ideal during the warmer months when you can access this primitive BLM site by paddling up Rock Creek. Weather is typically mild during summer, with perfect conditions often found in May and September when crowds are smaller but temperatures remain comfortable. Winter camping is possible but challenging due to snow and cold temperatures.
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