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.
"The campsite is great but getting to it is a challenge, my F-150 was able to do it but anything longer or with less clearance would struggle."
"Cute campsite with an old dragline excavator next to it. Access to the river, nice little fire ring"
"Near the lake. No water, has vault toilets. Roads can be slick."
"The roads in to this area, NF-563/Stanley Creek Rd and NF-633/Nip and Tuck Road are in pretty decent shape for all vehicles coming in from the West off of Hwy 21, but be warned, do not come in from the"
"This stretch of dispersed camping is amazing. Above the town of Stanley and overlooking the Sawtooths."
" 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"
"No dump or water. Lots of sites to the left and right after crossing the bridge."
"Just off the main highway, and only a narrow bridge as an obstacle. There is currently a 30’ish foot big fifth wheel here, so I guess it can handle the weight."
"In this video we provide a comprehensive review of 3 of the free boondocking(dispersed camping) sites near Stanley, Idaho in the Sawtooth National Forest. Salmon River Designated Spots 1, 2 and 3."
"Directly across the street there is a nice gravel mountain bike trail that leads past the ranger station"
"I love this place as dispersed camping is our favorite. We are not stacked in n together and have great views of tue Sawtooth. My speed test was done with Verizon and I was using a WeBoost."
"Lots of spots for bigger camper but there are all pretty close together close to redfish lake"
"I wont rattle on about how we were within 2 mins of a hiking trail that leads you to "Hell's Roaring lake", or about the amazing Trout fishing within 10 feet of my tent, or even the stunning sunrises every"
"There was road noise from the nearby highway but otherwise it was quiet. I saw people fishing so I assume it's good for that. The river is great for rinsing off as well."
"Decent dirt road but great drive. Just past private land into National Forest, can see Germainia trailhead from there. Old settlement remains on river."
GuideIn this video we provide a comprehensive review of 3 of the free boondocking(dispersed camping) sites near Stanley, Idaho in the Sawtooth National Forest. Salmon River Designated Spots 1, 2 and 3. All locations are in the Sawtooth National Forest and there is a 10 day stay limit between May 1- September 15th with an unlimited stay limited outside of that time period.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WWH8Vb49Ow&t=531s
LegendIf you show up to Redfish Lake on a busy weekend and all of the campgrounds are reserved/full, no worries. There is a bunch of free dispersed camping all along highway 75. A quick stop at the Forest Service Office down the road and I had a pretty good map of the forest roads in the area, but more importantly, a tip about free camping a stone’s throw away from Redfish Lake and Sunny Gulch campground. The road in is a bit rough with ruts and rocks, but there are several established sites with fire rings. There was a loop to the right with about 8 such sites and a loop to the right with about 5 sites as well as one that was hidden behind the site I chose that you had to walk in to(it was actually a nicer site than the one I chose, but I was tired and set up before I saw it on my explorations. There was one vault toilet that was not especially clean, but free is free, and if you really wanted to, you could walk less than a quarter mile across to the developed Sunny Gulch campground. There are no picnic tables or grills or tent pads, but definitely stone fire rings at each site so no worries as long as you brought your own camp chair. If you need a shower, head into Redfish Lake to use the public pay showers there.
GuideOn left, out East Fork Rd from Challis. Long ways. Decent dirt road but great drive. Just past private land into National Forest, can see Germainia trailhead from there. Old settlement remains on river. Small metal fire ring Great views and quiet!
GuideThe campsite is great but getting to it is a challenge, my F-150 was able to do it but anything longer or with less clearance would struggle. There is a ton of deadfall in the area, you need to come with a chainsaw to clear the access road.
TravelerGPS coordinates show for Eagle, ID but the drycamping spot isn’t remotely close to Eagle. It’s near Challis, ID.
Scoutthis camping site is great, super bumpy dirt road takes you to a few hidden plots tucked away by a river. private and easy to crash for the night
LegendWe are full-timers and have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and had scouted the area before arriving with the RV. The roads in to this area, NF-563/Stanley Creek Rd and NF-633/Nip and Tuck Road are in pretty decent shape for all vehicles coming in from the West off of Hwy 21, but be warned, do not come in from the East on NF-633/Nip and Tuck Road off of Hwy 75 as just a short distance in, there is deep and narrow wash across the road that will likely ruin the underside of your RV unless you have a very high clearance vehicle. There are many dispersed sites around along the road, but most were taken when we arrived, and only a few facing Stanley have cell service. We found a decent site (44.2382,-114.9692), a little off of the main road, with a great view of the Sawtooth Range and the valley. The site sloped a bit from side to side, but we were able to get mostly level. There were a few flies around during the daytime, but not the biting kind, just annoying. Mosquitos were an issue only in the evenings. There are a number of hiking trails in the surrounding area. AT&T service was fair with 2-3 bars of LTE and speeds up to about 1.5 MB/s. T-Mobile service was good with 3 bars of 4G/LTE and speeds up to about 1.3 MB/s We were able to get DISH coverage on all three western satellites at our site. Also, there were no OTA channels to be had with our fixed omni antenna.
GuideThis is a dispersed camp spot with no services at all, but it is free. Nice and quiet, but a few folks did pass by in the dirt road/trail. The road in is a bit bumpy, but not terrible, just go slow. I was able to get my 30ft dual axel travel trailer in without much trouble. The spot could fit 3/4 rigs or 5-6 tents. Great view of the night sky.
LegendThis area along lower Iron Creek Road had some rough free dispersed spots that had cell signal from Stanley. As of June 2023 there are info boards and signage that notes dispersed camping only in designated spots marked on the ground with new signs. I saw an A group and a B group and may be more farther up but the road was so rough washboard potholed I did not check. These sites are small and not suitable for RVs and large TTs in my opinion. No toilets, no dumpsters and no water. However, this is very close to Stanley town.
Experience the beauty of nature with dispersed camping near Salmon-Challis National Forest in Idaho. This area offers a variety of spots where you can immerse yourself in the great outdoors, away from the hustle and bustle of developed campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find dispersed camping in Salmon-Challis National Forest?
Salmon-Challis National Forest offers numerous dispersed camping opportunities. Along Highway 75, you'll find Redfish Lake Overflow Dispersed with plenty of free sites, especially useful when developed campgrounds are full. The Forest Service office can provide maps of forest roads with camping areas. For more remote options, explore Winged Fork Pl Dispersed located off East Fork Road from Challis. Many sites are located along rivers and creeks throughout the forest, with most areas having a 10-day stay limit between May 1 and September. Remember that dispersed camping in Salmon-Challis typically means no services, so come prepared with water and waste disposal plans.
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Salmon-Challis National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Salmon-Challis National Forest is Indian Springs with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Salmon-Challis National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 dispersed camping locations near Salmon-Challis National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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