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.
$40 / night
"Driving up to Yellowjacket and through the abandoned mine sites feels like a step into the past. The "ghost town" looks more like several abandoned mines, but is still so interesting to see."
" Though this campground sits along the highway it is easier to tolerate noise when its free!
The campground loop is gravel and has “pull next to” (bump out?)"
"Pros: *Views for miles *Steps from the Salmon River *Boat launch for rafting,kayaking,fishing *Covered picnic table *Generous spacing between sites *Serious star gazing opportunities
- Easy drive to Challis"
$50 - $70 / night
"Stay one night after being off grid for days. Did some cleaning and laundry $2.50 a load. Amazing views from our spot."
"Bathrooms, showers and laundry room are pristine for a campground! Hot water was no issue and they have a great little store if you’re out of anything. 10/10"
$26 - $52 / night
"A gentleman with a golf cart will come up to your site and collect the fee and give you a parking pass. I have a car and a tent, 3 people, and it was $20/night."
"We had very low expectations staying at a campground that is almost always booked solid (we figured it would be crowded and loud) and is in one of the most popular parts of Idaho."
$30 / night
"Our site had plenty of space for our trailer and truck and then some. It has recently opened so a work in progress."
"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."
$26 / night
"Lovely little campground with many amenities close to Redfish Lake Lodge. Each campsite has a dedicated level pad for tents, a picnic table, a bear box, and fire ring."
"Rredfish Lake is absolutely gorgeous but with that beauty draws pretty big crowds. Be sure to reserve or arrive very early to get a walk in spot anywhere around the lake."
"We went to investigate in order to report with first hand knowledge
On one of the most beloved and popular lakes in the Sawtooth. Redfish Lake. Gorgeous views. Any kind of water sports you crave."
"Clean campground with fire ring. Camp hosts were very nice."
$15 - $34 / night
"This campsite is located east of Cascade Lake and Donnelly, Idaho. It's a scenic road to get there. The camsite we were in was dry camping with no hook-ups."
"Warm Lake Campground
Quite a drive to this beautiful lake but apparently it is well liked by locals because it was crowded!
The water is crystal clear and fishing is popular."
$15 - $50 / night
"Nice, fully paved campground with easy access to the lake, swimming beach and rustic lodge. The best part is that you can drive all the way to the campground (from Boise) without leaving pavement."
"Warm Lake Shoreline Campground is a nice walk in area right on the shore of the lake. You can walk down to fish, swim or kayak/paddle board."
$40 / night
RangerThis is one of the coolest places that I have ever stayed. I stayed here for a couple of nights before venturing into the Frank Church. Although this spot isn't quite in the wilderness, it sure feels like it! Driving up to Yellowjacket and through the abandoned mine sites feels like a step into the past. The "ghost town" looks more like several abandoned mines, but is still so interesting to see. The guard station sits in a little meadow beside a creek in a small canyon. The first night that I stayed here, the loudest thunder that I have ever heard rolled through the area! This is truly a wild, unpredictable, beautiful place. The guard station is a lovely building. Depending on the time of year, there is available water, as well as water from the creek. There is a fire ring surrounded by stump seating in the field. There is a pit toilet a little ways from the guard station that oddly smells like pipe tobacco. There are also corrals for horses, and it seems like a great place to go riding. There aren't official tent sites, but there is lots of flat, grassy spaces that several tents can be comfortably set up in. I was in this area for about 2 weeks and didn't see anyone I didn't plan to! A refreshing breath of solitude. It is a pretty far trek to drive out, make sure to have directions ready ahead of time. In mid-May, this place was seemed like ground-zero for ticks. Watch out and check often! Other wildlife seen included rattlesnakes and deer, and I wouldn't be surprised if Bigfoot was hanging out here somewhere. This is a really unique place to experience and a great starting point to explore the Frank Church Wilderness and Salmon-Challis National forest. I would absolutely recommend visiting this spot.
TravelerLovely little campground with many amenities close to Redfish Lake Lodge. Each campsite has a dedicated level pad for tents, a picnic table, a bear box, and fire ring. The sites are a bit open, so privacy can be a bit lacking if that's a concern. This campsite is also walk-in, so you will need to use provided wagons to bring your stuff to your site and park your car in the provided parking lot. There are also bathrooms which had flushing toilets and running water and are well maintained. We loved that Point Campground is within walking distance to Redfish Lake Lodge, which has a bunch of different activities: horseback riding, kayaking, a dog beach, mountain biking, fishing, etc. This campground is great when camping with children, especially with the bathrooms & lack of car traffic on the tent-only side. We will be returning!
TravelerI decided to stay here for one night. Spots were open but were reserved for a few days later. Other folks came in and are doing the same. A gentleman with a golf cart will come up to your site and collect the fee and give you a parking pass. I have a car and a tent, 3 people, and it was $20/night.
There is running water and bathrooms available. The sites have fire pit, picnic table and area to place tent.
We walk easily to the lake to fish in the morning or later in the evening.
ScoutWhat a nice campground! We had very low expectations staying at a campground that is almost always booked solid (we figured it would be crowded and loud) and is in one of the most popular parts of Idaho. However, the camping spots are large and are nicely spaced. Even though almost every spot was taken, the campground was quiet and peaceful. We prefer dry camping, so liked the spots not having hook-ups and drains. Paved roads made for fun riding of bikes, the flushing toilets in the clean bathrooms were a plus, the fresh drinking water was clean and tasted great, there were trash bins close by and our host "Wally" was so kind. With a short walk, you are on the North shore or Dog Beach and a little further is Redfish Lodge, beach and restaurants. The food was so good and priced well, next time I will likely take less camping food and just eat at the lodge! (Easy!) The water in the lake is the cleanest you'll ever see....LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY PEOPLE! Unfortunately, this campground is booked out almost the entire summer, so while we want to go back - it may have to wait until next year.
ScoutClean facilities and super friendly staff, I’m looking at you sierra! Stay one night after being off grid for days. Did some cleaning and laundry $2.50 a load. Amazing views from our spot.
GuideThis campground has paved roadways, paved parking, and pretty good separation between campsites. Most sites have good shade from pine trees, and some have views of the Sawtooth Mountains. Unfortunately, there are no hookups, so prepare accordingly. There are water spigots about every 3 sites, so filling your tank via 5 gallon bucket is possible if you don't mind the labor. There is an RV dump nearby on the main road, so If your Black or Grey tanks get full you can make a dump trip. All 3 loops are within easy walking distance of Redfish lake, and there are trails to the main lodge for extended walks or bike riding. The camp site has picnic table, fire ring, and nice sand constructed tent pads. The only thing that keeps this awesome camp site from being a 5 star is the lack of hookups. We really like to stay for the longest time possible (10 days) but it is really tough on battery power without running the generator constantly, and the bathrooms are busy, so it would be great to have sewer dump at each site.
LegendThough this campground sits along the highway it is easier to tolerate noise when its free!
The campground loop is gravel and has “pull next to” (bump out?) type sites with covered picnic table and a fire pit. There are also pit toilets and a hand pump water spigot. There is also a boat ramp and a day use area.
The river is very shallow and the bank is quite muddy -- our little dog sank up to her belly.
No privacy here and lots of road noise but you get to see the river and the meandering cows across the river.
Did not see any wildlife unless you count the swarms of tiny bugs of the variety that squeeze their little bug bodies through your screens.
Zero cell reception ATT, verizon or TMobile. The WeBoost was able to give us bars of LTE but still was not very usable.
Good for an overnight but not much around to keep us occupied for anything longer.
LegendLocated on one of the most beloved and popular lakes in the Sawtooth. Redfish Lake. And with good reason. It has, orgeous views sny kind of water sports you crave. Backpacking destination trails. Short or long hiking. Biking. The lodge next door offers live music on the lawn. A restaurant with really good food, full bar, ice cream stand, camp store, sandy beach, boat/kayak/SUP rentals. Boat shuttle. All this and close to Stanley to boot. It reminds me of the lake retreat in Dirty Dancing. There are pay showers $3, laundry and dump station on the main road. Very limited, ok just say no, AT&T cell, but you can get wifi at the lodge.
Seeing is believing
LegendThis campsite is located east of Cascade Lake and Donnelly, Idaho. It's a scenic road to get there. The camsite we were in was dry camping with no hook-ups. The camping pad for our 27' Travel Trailer was nice and level. Each campsite had a picnic table and a firepit. There are some nice hiking trails in the vicinity. Mountain biking and horse riding is acceptable there as well. Since we had kayaks, we had a short drive to the boat ramp. There is excellent trout fishing. There is a small swim beach near the Warm Lake Lodge and Restaurant, near where the cabins are. All in all, a great stay, away from the city :-) It's a nice peaceful setting.
Cabin camping near Salmon-Challis National Forest offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and cozy accommodations, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying the comforts of home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Salmon-Challis National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Salmon-Challis National Forest is Yellowjacket Guard Station with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Salmon-Challis National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 cabin camping locations near Salmon-Challis National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
