Cabin accommodations near Sawtooth National Forest range from basic to fully equipped options across various settings. The area sits at elevations between 5,000-10,000 feet with temperatures dropping significantly at night, even in summer months. Most cabin facilities remain open from late May through mid-October, with some locations closing earlier depending on snowfall and road conditions.
What to do
Hiking accessible trails: Several cabin properties provide direct access to popular trails. At Murdock Creek Dispersed, campers can find "hiking, fishing and mountain biking" opportunities nearby, with one visitor noting the campground is "close to hiking, fishing and mountain biking. Campsites have a picnic table, fire ring with grill."
Water recreation: Paddle sports and fishing opportunities abound near cabin accommodations. "We took a chance and scouted a right before the 4th of July weekend and we scored big time... Lots of hiking, mountain biking and fishing in the immediate area," reports a Murdock Creek visitor, highlighting the multiple water recreation options.
Stargazing: The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve covers much of the Sawtooth region, offering exceptional night sky viewing. At Glacier View Campground, one camper described their experience: "The real treat came when we saw the beauty of the night sky unencumbered by city lights; the Milky Way was on full display."
What campers like
Hot springs access: Multiple cabin locations offer proximity to natural hot springs. "We rode some awesome dirt bike trails. And enjoyed some delicious food," shared one visitor at Smiley Creek Lodge, which provides cabin accommodations with convenient access to nearby recreation.
Spacious cabin layouts: Many properties offer cabins with sufficient room for families. A visitor at Trinity View Resort mentioned the variety of options available: "There are different options for all kinds of campers from, Full hook ups (Big rig friendly) to tent camping. On site RV rentals and cabins are also available."
Wildlife viewing: The area's remote setting creates opportunities for wildlife sightings from cabin porches. "Woke up at sunrise to find 4 deer wondering through. My dogs loved the campground," reported a guest at Trinity View Resort.
What you should know
Road conditions: Access roads to some cabin properties remain unpaved. At Trinity View Resort, one visitor advised: "Road to park has a 3 mile gravel road, took it slow so it was not bad."
Service limitations: Cell coverage varies significantly between properties. "We have Verizon hot spot that worked perfectly and AT&T cell phones have good signal as well," noted a Trinity View Resort guest, but this isn't universal across all cabin properties.
Reservation requirements: Most cabin facilities require advance booking. At Mount Heyburn Campground, one visitor shared their experience: "Our expectations were that it would be full and would be a bit difficult to find a site as it is first come, but we were wrong. When we arrived on Thursday morning the campground was almost completely empty."
Temperature fluctuations: Prepare for significant day-night temperature changes. "Come prepared for cold nights even in the summer," advised a Mount Heyburn visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Bathroom facilities: Cabin facilities offer varying levels of bathroom access. At Point Campground, one visitor noted: "This campground is great when camping with children, especially with the bathrooms & lack of car traffic on the tent-only side."
Water safety: Lake temperatures remain cold even in summer. "Water will be just as cold unless its August but it's refreshing and extremely clear," reported a Mount Heyburn camper.
Recreational options: Multiple cabin locations offer family-friendly activities. "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," explained a Point Campground visitor, adding that the location 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."
Tips from RVers
Site specifics: Check cabin and RV site details before booking. A Smiley Creek Lodge visitor recommended: "One tip, avoid spot number #17 if possible. The sewer hookup was loose and shared with a long term resident on the other side, also the water spigot was broken so we had to use the spigot for spot #16."
Elevation considerations: Higher elevations affect vehicle performance. "The staff at Smiley Lodge were super helpful and nice when I asked to check in early, and then needed to check out a couple hours late unexpectedly," noted one visitor who appreciated the flexibility when dealing with mountain driving challenges.
Supply planning: Limited grocery options exist near most cabin accommodations. "We had amazing views of the glaciers in the Sawtooth Mountains across the lake," shared a Glacier View Campground visitor, noting that visitors should bring supplies as services are limited.
