Salmon-Challis National Forest, ID is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Salmon-Challis National Forest and user-submitted reviews.
Stanley Lake Campground is located on the shoreline above beautiful Stanley Lake at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains.
Stanley Lake offers excellent boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, brook and bull trout. A boat ramp is located just outside the campground. The Idaho Centennial Trail passes nearby and can be accessed from the Stanley Lake Trailhead across the lake.
The campground is situated on a hillside above the lake in a thick grove of lodgepole pines, at an elevation of 6,500 feet. Most campsites have partial shade and views of the lake and/or the rugged 9860-foot McGowan Peak. Temperatures are cool, with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.
Stanley Lake lies within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, which offers a myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities. An estimated 750 miles of trails crisscross the valley and surrounding mountains. Numerous sparkling lakes and streams, including the Salmon River, dot the area, making for great rainbow and native Westslope cutthroat trout fishing. Redfish Lake is nearby, offering additional water recreation opportunities. Popular area events include an Arts and Crafts Fair in July, and Wagon Days, Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair and Fireman's Ball in September.
$24 / night
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to__first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival__as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
The Challis Hot Springs is a 5th generation family-owned destination in the Round Valley, home of Challis, Idaho. The property is on the bank of the Salmon River, 70 miles from the headwaters of the “River of No Return.” Our primary amenity is natural odorless hot springs which constantly replenish with continuous freshwater supplied by nature through the river rock bottoms. Most guests enjoy the springs while camping in the RV and tent campground, which features mature trees, and irrigated grass sites, all within a stone’s throw of the Salmon River, which fronts the entire property. Our campground is the perfect location to launch your kayaking or rafting trip, fish for trout and steelhead, or just watch the wildlife. In particular, the herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep frequents the cliffside above the property.
$29 - $43 / night
Casino Creek Campground is composed of 19 sites including 2 double-sites along the Salmon River. Sites 18 & 19 are for tent camping only and sites 12, 13 and 14 accommodate livestock tethered to hitching rails. Casino Creek trailhead is located within the campground leading to trails along Big Casino Creek and Little Casino Creek which lead to the Casino Lakes in the White Cloud Mountains to the east and the Sawtooth Mountains to the west. This area is terrific for fishing and hiking along the beautiful Salmon river and surrounding creeks. All sites are first-come, first-serve.
$18 - $36 / night
A beautiful high mountain lake is the setting for this out-of-the-way campground. Plenty of fishing in lakes and streams. Good hiking and ATV trail access. Campsite facilities include picnic tables and fire rings with cooking grills. Within the campground, there are vault toilets and a day-use picnic area. On Bayhorse Lake campers will find a boat launch and two boat docks for use by non-motorized watercraft.
This dirt road is narrow and steep and while trailers are allowed, caution is advised; best fit for trailers and motorhomes less than 32 feet long. No drinking water is on-site, and please pack out your trash.
Sunny Gulch Campground sits along the shores of Salmon River in the forests of central Idaho.
Excellent fishing is right out your back door on the Salmon River, with rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout and occasional hybrid cutbows and bull trout available. Sunny Gulch lies in the heart of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. A myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities are available, and an estimated 750 miles of trails crisscross the valley and surrounding mountains.
The campground offers spectacular views of the Sawtooth Mountains. Summer wildflowers are plentiful and lodgepole pines provide partial shade. Temperatures are cool with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.
The Alpine Way Trail begins less than a mile from the campground, and the Idaho Centennial Trail passes nearby. Redfish and Stanley Lakes are nearby with great boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Numerous additional sparkling lakes and streams dot the area. Popular area events include an Arts and Crafts Fair in July, and Wagon Days, Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair and Fireman's Ball in September.
$24 - $125 / night
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to__first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival__as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to__first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival__as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to__first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival__as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Glacier View Campground is located next to beautiful Redfish Lake, beneath the Sawtooth Mountain Range, at an elevation of 6,500 feet.
Glacier View is in the heart of the beautiful Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where outdoor activities abound. Redfish Lake offers excellent boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing for rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon. Little Redfish Lake is just down the road, offering additional fishing and canoeing. The Redfish Lake Visitor Center is within 1/4-mile, offering interpretive activities, evening programs and wildlife, geology and historical exhibits.
Summer wildflowers are plentiful, lodgepole pines provide partial shade and Fishhook Creek is nearby. Temperatures are cool, with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area offers a myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities; an estimated 750 miles of trails crisscross the valley and surrounding mountains. Alpine Way, Fishhook Creek, Redfish Lake Creek and Bench Lakes Trails all offer trailheads in the immediate area. The Idaho Centennial Trail passes nearby. The Salmon River offers excellent fishing for rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout and occasional hybrid cutbows and bull trout. Popular area events include an Arts and Crafts Fair in July, and Wagon Days, Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair, and Fireman's Ball in September.
$40 / night
Stanley Lake Campground is located on the shoreline above beautiful Stanley Lake at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains.
Stanley Lake offers excellent boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, brook and bull trout. A boat ramp is located just outside the campground. The Idaho Centennial Trail passes nearby and can be accessed from the Stanley Lake Trailhead across the lake.
The campground is situated on a hillside above the lake in a thick grove of lodgepole pines, at an elevation of 6,500 feet. Most campsites have partial shade and views of the lake and/or the rugged 9860-foot McGowan Peak. Temperatures are cool, with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.
Stanley Lake lies within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, which offers a myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities. An estimated 750 miles of trails crisscross the valley and surrounding mountains. Numerous sparkling lakes and streams, including the Salmon River, dot the area, making for great rainbow and native Westslope cutthroat trout fishing. Redfish Lake is nearby, offering additional water recreation opportunities. Popular area events include an Arts and Crafts Fair in July, and Wagon Days, Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair and Fireman's Ball in September.
$24 / night
The Challis Hot Springs is a 5th generation family-owned destination in the Round Valley, home of Challis, Idaho. The property is on the bank of the Salmon River, 70 miles from the headwaters of the “River of No Return.” Our primary amenity is natural odorless hot springs which constantly replenish with continuous freshwater supplied by nature through the river rock bottoms. Most guests enjoy the springs while camping in the RV and tent campground, which features mature trees, and irrigated grass sites, all within a stone’s throw of the Salmon River, which fronts the entire property. Our campground is the perfect location to launch your kayaking or rafting trip, fish for trout and steelhead, or just watch the wildlife. In particular, the herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep frequents the cliffside above the property.
$29 - $43 / night
Casino Creek Campground is composed of 19 sites including 2 double-sites along the Salmon River. Sites 18 & 19 are for tent camping only and sites 12, 13 and 14 accommodate livestock tethered to hitching rails. Casino Creek trailhead is located within the campground leading to trails along Big Casino Creek and Little Casino Creek which lead to the Casino Lakes in the White Cloud Mountains to the east and the Sawtooth Mountains to the west. This area is terrific for fishing and hiking along the beautiful Salmon river and surrounding creeks. All sites are first-come, first-serve.
$18 - $36 / night
A beautiful high mountain lake is the setting for this out-of-the-way campground. Plenty of fishing in lakes and streams. Good hiking and ATV trail access. Campsite facilities include picnic tables and fire rings with cooking grills. Within the campground, there are vault toilets and a day-use picnic area. On Bayhorse Lake campers will find a boat launch and two boat docks for use by non-motorized watercraft.
This dirt road is narrow and steep and while trailers are allowed, caution is advised; best fit for trailers and motorhomes less than 32 feet long. No drinking water is on-site, and please pack out your trash.
Sunny Gulch Campground sits along the shores of Salmon River in the forests of central Idaho.
Excellent fishing is right out your back door on the Salmon River, with rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout and occasional hybrid cutbows and bull trout available. Sunny Gulch lies in the heart of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. A myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities are available, and an estimated 750 miles of trails crisscross the valley and surrounding mountains.
The campground offers spectacular views of the Sawtooth Mountains. Summer wildflowers are plentiful and lodgepole pines provide partial shade. Temperatures are cool with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.
The Alpine Way Trail begins less than a mile from the campground, and the Idaho Centennial Trail passes nearby. Redfish and Stanley Lakes are nearby with great boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Numerous additional sparkling lakes and streams dot the area. Popular area events include an Arts and Crafts Fair in July, and Wagon Days, Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair and Fireman's Ball in September.
$24 - $125 / night
This campground is the first of several campsites along the canyon formed by the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River. Fishing for rainbow trout in the river, and interpretive and historical tours available nearby. Each site has picnic tables, fire rings with cooking grills. There is a Vault toilet. The sites accomodate trailers and motorhomes up to 32 feet.
$5 / night
Legend
Camped in site #15 on Sept 27, 2024. Paid $10 with senior pass. Nothing remarkable about the campground itself, but the trails leading out of the campground are really good. There is access to the Salmon River at the end of the campground road for bank/fly fishing; caught a nice rainbow trout. Sites along the river appear larger than those backing up to the hill. The river side sites are open sky, good for solar recharging and Starlink. The sites across the road have partial shade. There were a few pull-thrus; otherwise, back-ins. Campground is popular for OHV enthusiasts and hikers. Most sites are close to the dusty campground road. Vault toilet was not quite clean, although it was at the end of the summer season. There is a hand water pump. Site 15 is a small, almost level site with a pea gravel surface; it appeared to have a tent pad at the rear. This site has a table and metal fire ring. There is road noise from highway 75 across the river. It was very busy here during our stay, probably because forest service campgrounds west of Stanley were closed due to wildfires. There were a lot of drive-bys on the campground road. Nearby travel trailers with large noisy families kind of ruined the ambiance of this small campground; did not respect quiet hours. Campground probably okay for an overnight stay, fly fishing on the Salmon River or for accessing the trailheads. Overall, I did not enjoy camping here. I did, however, enjoyed hiking and fishing here. I am not likely to camp here again.
Ranger
Simple campground along Salmon River--beautiful setting, with maybe 5 spaces, not all of which are marked well but do have picnic tables to indicate. Also a vault toilet at loop campground. Buggy, even with river flowing and slight wind. Free, which is nice. Can hear US93 traffic, but not bad considering neighbor ran generator which drowned out some noise.
Guide
I enjoyed my 2 night stay here. I pitched a tent however it was quite windy due to it being an open area so just stake your tent down well. I had a spot right beside the salmon river and was able to access this campsite via my Honda Accord vehicle.
Traveler
My husband and I came to this spot with our 28ft trailer, luckily we were able to squeeze in. Lots of spots to choose from too. The campsites were clean and very peaceful place to camp for a few nights.
GuideThis was a great stay. I found a place to pitch a tent right beside the river. There seemed to be plenty of spots some vacant at times. It was close to Highway 75 but did get some traffic noise but the river drowned most of it out. Would stay here again!
Scout
I recently faced the big challenge of choosing the right signs for my office interior and found Bsign. Their selection of door signs was quite impressive, especially the modern and minimalist designs. For example, in the"Modern" category they offer a combination of stainless steel and acrylic glass with the option to add text in ADA format, which is not only stylish but also functional. Also worth mentioning is the"Wave" series with a combination of steel and wood, which adds coziness to any atmosphere. They have easy to install signs, which saved me a lot of time.
Traveler
Site 5, probably the best. Clean, cheap, safe, right on the river. 5 miles from downtown.Sure,it’s close to the road, but it’s not that bad. I probably wouldn’t make it a 5 day vacation site,but I’m sure people do. I’d stay here again
Guide
Stayed here for two nights. The first night I have the whole area to myself. The second night there was two other campers. Doesn't seem to be super popular or high in demand. So finding a spot shouldn't be a problem. There was about six or more parking/camping areas. No Wi-Fi or Verizon signal. There is a toilet available. Access to the river as well.
Guide
Clean bathrooms and showers, good space. Didn't see a store of any kind. Tiny view of mountains. They charge an extra amount for choosing your spot, but it makes no difference really as the place is quite small.
TravelerWe stayed at this campground initially because it was right at the trailhead for the hike to Goat Lake. We got there around 5 and there were still plenty of sites available. It was pretty buggy, but it’s right next to a creek, so that’s what you expect. It was quiet and the sound of the creek made it easy to sleep after a long day.
Ranger
Spend 6 nights here while exploring Stanley, the sawtooths, and Boise National Forest. Big sites, beautiful lake, and very private. Really enjoyed our stay here.
Ranger
It was the perfect location close to Stanley. It was a bit dusty. Bathroom was clean. Showers were good. The food at the restaurant was amazing. We have AT&T and no cell service. There is no trees for shade. Had to walk the dogs a little further to do their business.
TravelerClean bathrooms and showers, good space. Didn't see a store of any kind. Tiny view of mountains. They charge an extra amount for choosing your spot, but it makes no difference really as the place is quite small.
RangerStoped for an overnight on our way to glacier. Clean and nice park.
RangerThis place was great. Great view. Friendly staff. Had hot showers. Bathroom and laundry. The night sky was beautiful.
Traveler
Got to Stanley area around 6pm on a Friday. Drove to Stanley Lake and Iron Creek but everything was full. Decided to drive down Rd 653 then to Rd 633 to see if there was anything open and found a good spot about 2 miles in from hwy 21. I passed quite a few people but spots are pretty far apart and the only people I could see from my campsite were all the way across the valley. Only animals I saw were some antelope, ground squirrels, and cows. Pretty wildflowers all around too. It was a good place to stop for the night!
Traveler
We drove in on a late Thursday night, June 27th, to find the entire campground packed, and even struggled to find a dispersed camping site nearby. It's a great spot, but for it being a Thursday night, expected to find a bit more available.
Traveler
Beautiful grass in most of the spots. Fire rings, bathrooms near by. We have a 26 ft TT and this was perfect right off highway. Only stayed one day due to it being a little warm and we were heading up north. Did have shade and it cooled off at night . Lots of room for our dogs to run by site without bothering others.
ScoutIf you get one of the site overlooking the sawtooths count yourself lucky
Traveler
There are many sites up until the dead-end about 1.5 miles from the pay campground. I camped up on the stream. Great boondocking was here for a week. The road is in great shape. A couple of big rocks here and there. Plenty of places to do a 3-point turnaround with any rig.
No cell coverage. Got ok starlink between trees.
GuideThis area just up the road from the campground offers lots of dispersed camping. There are many established sites, some with fire rings, any car can make it.
Visited August 17-18, 2023 (adding reviews for past camp sites before I knew of the dyrt)
TravelerPulled over mid day to spend the afternoon and night. We took the second to last spot on the river side. Arrived at noon on a Tuesday, departed at 8am next day and were the only campers. Very easy river access from site, but water is moving quickly. We walked to the other side of the bridge and let our dogs jump in where the water was calmer. Overall really clean and well maintained space. The only thing that will prevent us from coming back is the cottonwood tree droppings. They’re everywhere and very sticky, so if you have long haired dogs, it’s a nightmare to get them out.
Guide
Nice view of the lake. Quiet time of year to visit.
ScoutWe love camping in this campground. The reason for only three stars is because of the extremely rude behavior of the"camp host". We will not be going back as long as she is still there. This is our third time camping there and we have never seen treated so poorly by a camp host.
Guide
We loved everything about Grandjean campground. After a 20 minute drive on a narrow dirt road we discovered the best site. Nestled between a mountain stream and the Payette river the sounds of moving water drowned out all else. The Sawtooth lodge is nearby, but the best is the proximity to several hot springs. Move the rocks to control the water flow (and temp) and you will be treated to a true joy of nature.
Ranger
Decent traffic now and then but overall nice quiet area on a peaceful part of the river!
TravelerNo camping signs everywhere- day use only
Camping near Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho, offers a fantastic escape into nature with stunning views and plenty of outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or just relax by the water, this area has something for everyone.
Camping near Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. With beautiful scenery, plenty of activities, and well-maintained campgrounds, it’s a perfect getaway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Salmon-Challis National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, Salmon-Challis National Forest offers a wide range of camping options, with 166 campgrounds and RV parks near Salmon-Challis National Forest and 23 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Salmon-Challis National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Salmon-Challis National Forest is Stanley Lake Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Salmon-Challis National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 free dispersed camping spots near Salmon-Challis National Forest.
What parks are near Salmon-Challis National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near Salmon-Challis National Forest that allow camping, notably Sawtooth National Forest and Payette National Forest.
