2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Yellowjacket Guard Station provides a rustic cabin accommodation in the Salmon-Challis National Forest with basic amenities including a fire ring surrounded by stump seating, pit toilet, and horse corrals. This remote cabin sits in a small meadow beside a creek in a canyon, creating a true wilderness experience with limited facilities but abundant natural surroundings. Electricity is available in some cabins like Cape Horn Winter Rental, while others maintain a more primitive setting with creek water access. Cabins at Stanley RV + Camp feature clean bathrooms and laundry facilities, and some offer mountain views. As one camper noted about Yellowjacket Guard Station, "This is one of the coolest places that I have ever stayed... The guard station is a lovely building. Depending on the time of year, there is available water, as well as water from the creek."
Rustic cabin rentals vary significantly across the region, from the remote Yellowjacket Guard Station to the more accessible accommodations at The Sawmill Station. Most cabins require advance reservations, particularly during the summer season when Sawtooth Mountain views are at their peak. The Sawmill Station offers cabins with modern conveniences including electric hookups, sewer connections, and access to showers and trash service. Pet policies differ by location - Yellowjacket Guard Station permits pets while cabins at Redfish Lake do not. A visitor commented that The Sawmill Station has "recently opened so a work in progress. It has a cafe and patio in the office where you check in that has delicious food, milkshakes, cocktails, etc."
Visitors to forest cabins should pack appropriately as amenities vary widely. The more primitive cabins like Yellowjacket require guests to bring all necessary camping supplies including bedding, cooking equipment, and food. Cabins with electricity may offer refrigeration but typically lack full kitchens. The Sawmill Station provides trash service and water hookups, making it more convenient for longer stays. Many cabins have picnic tables and fire rings for outdoor cooking. Supplies can be purchased at small markets near some locations, though selection is limited. One camper advised about staying near Stanley: "I would recommend getting groceries before you arrive bc local store is pitiful."
"A fire ring, shade cover and picnic table are provided for the five campsites as well as a pit toilet. The river is about a four -8 minute walk or so from most campsites. Very clean"
"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?)"
"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"
from $50 - $70 / 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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $75 / 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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $26 - $52 / 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."
from $30 / 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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $26 / night
"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."
"Great picnic tables and fire pit. We stayed 4 nights, leaving on Friday morning. The campground was full every single night."
"Only a mile or so to Redfish lake. Awesome lake. There is a paid shower, laundry and dump available there. Road narrow and is loose gravel."
"Not far from Redfish Lake off of Highway 75 this disperse camp area has easy access for all size rigs, some places alongside Salmon River others inside the forest."
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $40 / night
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $65 / night
GuideThe RV sites may be close and quite rough but adequate and full hookups. Very nice bath house and higher end signage.. incredible walk score the street along the creek. Upper open sites have a partial view of the Sawtooth peaks. About 5 miles from Stanley.
GuideWe came up to escape the 105 temps in Boise. Shoreline was not at capacity. Quiet couple of days. Paved roads and sites. Plenty of space between sites. Friendly site hosts. Beautiful lake with a significant boat launch area
GuideNot far from Redfish Lake off of Highway 75 this disperse camp area has easy access for all size rigs, some places alongside Salmon River others inside the forest. We stayed two nights amongst the pine trees. It was quiet and enjoyable. Free!!
GuideWe had such a great stay! We came the Monday after 4th of July. We attempted to stay at Sockeye Campground first, but they were already full by 1pm. We came to Mount Heyburn by 1:15pm on a Monday and there were maybe 5 spots open.
We chose site 12 which was a pull through. SO SPACIOUS! Tons of shade. Great picnic tables and fire pit.
We stayed 4 nights, leaving on Friday morning. The campground was full every single night. Only reason I’m giving it 4 stars is because it feels a little risky loading up and heading there unsure whether you’ll get a spot or not. Glad we got lucky!
There are no hookups, but there are 2 separate pit toilets and a few water spigots around the campsite. Dumpsters for trash too. We brought our generator and fired it up for a few hours in the mater afternoon for air conditioning, and to charge phones. We filled up with fresh water before arriving.
There’s a dump station right on the at in/out called Stanley Ranger Station Dump Station. You can fill fresh water before, and dump tanks on the way out. $12 fee for the dump station.
It’s walkable to Redfish lake, or you can drive there in less than 2 minutes. Plenty of free parking at the lake.
Sockeye campground has better views of the lake, but I feel like Mount Heyburn is way more spacious and remote feeling. The sites are well spread out.
Just $24 a night! You can stay up to 10 nights. The camp host was fine. There’s firewood available to purchase. I think it was $10 a bundle? We brought our own firewood.
Will definitely be back! We loved lake days, got dinner in town 1 night, reserved a hot spring at mountain village resort (highly recommend!), brought our SUP to redfish lake, let the kids swim and play in the sand, easy fishing for kids at the lake, got soft serve ice cream at Redfish Lake Lodge at sunset one night (another amazing spot to spend the day!). Enough room at the campsite we could hike above and set up bow and arrow target practice safely away from other campers. We loved walks around the campground after dinner. I wish we would have brought bikes for the kids to ride! Perfect little loop!
ScoutGreat little free campground. 1 clean outhouse and 5 sites all with picnic tables, shade covers, and fire pits. We were the only ones there!
GuideThis is a nice campground right off the road though so you do get some car noise. A fire ring, shade cover and picnic table are provided for the five campsites as well as a pit toilet. The river is about a four -8 minute walk or so from most campsites. Very clean
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.
GuideStayed 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.
GuideClean 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.
Cabins near Salmon-Challis National Forest range from primitive backcountry guard stations to more developed accommodations with modern amenities. The forest encompasses over 4.3 million acres across central Idaho, with elevations ranging from 2,000 to over 10,000 feet. Winter temperatures often drop below zero, while summer days typically reach 70-90°F, requiring visitors to pack appropriately for seasonal conditions.
Fishing opportunities: Access premier fishing spots from Deadman Hole, located directly on the Salmon River. "Steps from the Salmon River... Boat launch for rafting, kayaking, fishing," notes camper Nancy C., who appreciated the convenience despite some road noise.
Night sky viewing: The Sawtooth Mountains area falls within the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. At Glacier View Campground, one visitor observed, "The night sky was beautiful," making it an excellent spot for stargazing without light pollution.
Hiking trail access: Many rustic cabins serve as gateways to backcountry trails. Jeremy A. mentions that at Redfish Lake, "Enjoy the 17 1/2 mile lake loop hike, but if you'd like to split that distance or have other destinations in mind, the marina operates an on-demand boat shuttle for hikers to the trailhead at the far end of the lake during daylight hours."
Privacy between sites: At Boise National Forest Shoreline Campground, campers appreciate the layout. "Nice spots, big, flat, clean and paved. Good privacy between sites. Beautiful lake with swimming area and lots of fishing," reports Kim H., highlighting the balance of natural isolation with access to recreation.
Clean facilities: Stanley RV + Camp maintains high standards according to Samantha S.: "Such an awesome little campsite. The owners are very attentive and nice. Bathrooms, showers and laundry room are pristine for a campground! Hot water was no issue."
Wildlife viewing: Forest cabins offer chances to spot native animals. Jeremy A. notes, "Fauna is abundant in the surrounding area. Deer, elk, bear, marten, moose, and pronghorn antelope all made appearances during my last trip to the area."
Cell service limitations: Prepare for connectivity challenges. At Boise National Forest Warm Lake Campground, Shelly S. advises, "Warm Lake Is BEAUTIFUL! Peaceful, dark and REMOTE... I had no signal, bring a map."
Seasonal temperature fluctuations: Mountain weather changes rapidly. Miles G. warns about Redfish Lake: "Come prepared for cold nights even in the summer. Water will be just as cold unless it's August."
Reservation requirements: Popular locations fill quickly, especially in summer. At Point Campground, Alan B. notes, "Redfish 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."
Walk-in campgrounds: Some family-friendly options minimize vehicle traffic. At Point Campground, Anna W. explains: "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... This campground is great when camping with children, especially with the bathrooms & lack of car traffic on the tent-only side."
Water activities: Lakes provide recreational opportunities for children. Simran D. shares about Warm Lake: "It's a perfect summer spot. One of my favorite campgrounds... If you search, you may find rope swings in trees!"
Supply planning: Limited shopping options require advance preparation. Laura M. advises about Deadman Hole: "Good for an overnight but not much around to keep us occupied for anything longer," suggesting families bring entertainment options.
Hookup availability: At The Sawmill Station, RVers can find needed services. Julia M. reports, "It was very spacious, accessible roads, very friendly and accommodating staff. Our site had plenty of space for our trailer and truck and then some."
Leveling considerations: Mike W. notes about Glacier View Campground: "This 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."
Battery management: Plan for power limitations. Mike W. further explains, "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."
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 Deadman Hole with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Salmon-Challis National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 cabin camping locations near Salmon-Challis National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
