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Best Tent Camping near Sawtooth National Forest

499 Reviews

Tent camping options near Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho range from primitive backcountry sites to established campgrounds with basic amenities. Several areas like Alice Lake and Toxaway Lake offer hike-in tent camping with spectacular mountain views, while Redfish Lake Inlet provides tent sites accessible by boat shuttle across the lake. Uncle Johns Gulch on Corral Creek Road offers free dispersed tent camping next to streams in a secluded valley setting.

Most primitive tent sites in the Sawtooth area require campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Sites typically have no drinking water, requiring visitors to filter water from nearby lakes or streams. Campfires are permitted at some locations like Redfish Inlet Trailhead and Uncle Johns Gulch, but prohibited at others such as Alice Lake and Toxaway Lake primitive campsites. Toilet facilities vary significantly, with vault toilets at Redfish Inlet but none at most primitive sites. One camper shared that at Alice Lake, "The views, rain and shine are amazing! You are also able to hike around the whole lake which was a fun activity."

Tent campers at Sawtooth experience varying levels of seclusion depending on location and season. Sites like Five Points offer a peaceful setting with a flowing creek that enhances the sleeping experience. The alpine lakes provide stunning backdrops for tent camping, with opportunities to swim from small beaches in summer months. Many tent sites serve as baselines for extensive hiking networks, including the popular Alice-Toxaway Loop. Higher elevation sites may remain inaccessible until snowmelt, typically in late spring. A visitor commented that Uncle Johns Gulch features "large campsites next to stream nestled in a beautiful valley" with hiking and mountain biking trails adjacent to the tent sites.

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Best Tent Sites Near Sawtooth National Forest (81)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Sawtooth National Forest

15 Photos of 81 Sawtooth National Forest Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Sawtooth National Forest

499 Reviews of 81 Sawtooth National Forest Campgrounds

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2022

    Prairie Creek Camping

    Beautiful Free Spot

     There are about 6 designated spots here in this free little campground.  Camping is allowed in designated sites only and there is a 10 day stay limit.

    Site #1 is all by itself to the right at the fork, and it was the best site, in our opinion. 

    Each site has a fire pit (no fires allowed at this time!). There is no picnic bench. There is one vault toilet and no garbage collection and no water.  There are no bear boxes but proper bear-proof food storage is required.

    A small creek runs along this campground and the views are incredible. Nice shade cover and trees. This area is fine dirt and so-so in terms of flat spots. Campground is right on the road so you hear the cars but considering how beautiful and free the campground it, the cars aren’t bothersome. Plus it quiets down at night. 

    Zero cell service.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2022

    Prairie Creek Camping

    Beautiful Free Spot

     There are about 6 designated spots here in this free little campground.  Camping is allowed in designated sites only and there is a 10 day stay limit.

    Site #1 is all by itself to the right at the fork, and it was the best site, in our opinion. 

    Each site has a fire pit (no fires allowed at this time!). There is no picnic bench. There is one vault toilet and no garbage collection and no water.  There are no bear boxes but proper bear proof food storage is required.

    A small creek runs along this campground and the views are incredible. Nice shade cover and trees. This area is fine dirt and so-so in terms of flat spots. Campground is right on the road so you hear the cars but considering how beautiful and free the campground it, the cars aren’t bothersome. Plus it quiets down at night. 

    Zero cell service.

  • Anna W.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Point Campground

    Quiet, easy camping right on Redfish Lake.

    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. 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!

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2019

    Redfish Lake Overflow Dispersed

    Dispersed with vault toilet

    If 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.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2019

    Caribou Campground

    Small but pleasant

    This is a tent only campground(there is nowhere for RVs to turn around, and backing out would be a horrific proposition) with only seven sites. The best sites are the four that are on the creek side of the camp road. There is a vault toilet(not especially clean) and a bear proof dumpster, and lots of signs about bears, but no bear boxes for food storage. The campsites are nicely shaded, but not especially private(you can see most of the sites from each other). This campground is$2 cheaper than the next closest campground(I drove to the other site to check it out and returned here because except for the price, they were about the same). There is a pretty cool avalanche/rock slide up the road that is impressive in size and there are some pretty cool beaver dams and lodges in the creek/marshy area that feeds into the river. Be careful picking a site along the creek as it runs pretty close to the edge of two sites and I suspect the sites get flooded during big rains(due to the beaver dams). Showers are not terribly far away at Redfish Lake Park.

  • Anna W.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Boise National Forest Bad Bear Campground

    Nice little campground. Small sites.

    Bad Bear is a nice little campsite outside of Idaho City. The sites are good size with adequate privacy. There is lots of tree cover for shade during those warm summer days, and a babbling brook at the back of the campground. Each site had a picnic table, fire ring, and there is a well for water and a vault toilet. We enjoyed our stay here, mostly because there wasn't anyone else camping in the campground when we were there in mid-July! Score! We grabbed the big site, but the other sites seemed a bit small. Would recommend for a easy campsite close to Idaho City and just a quick little jaunt from Boise.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 31, 2024

    Corral Creek Designated Dispersed

    Large dispersed site near creek

    Free designated dispersed campsite along Sawtooth Nation Forest Road 137. Camped here at the end of September 2024. Very large designated dispersed site set downhill from the forest road; no issues with dust from this road. The area is level. May be able to park 3 rigs. Tent camping is possible back from the parking area toward the metal firering. This area can accommodate 3 or 4 tents, or one big hot tent. Corral Creek is just down a short path from the campsite. The sound of the creek can be heard at the site. Very quiet area. Mountains on either side of the site. The parking area is dirt and gravel. The "tent" area is grass and dirt. Don't see opportunities for hammock camping. No cell service. No shade; solar recharging and Starlink possible. 3 day limit. Hiking trailheads and vault toilet at the end of the forest road.

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2019

    Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area

    Wonderful Views @ a Semi-Primitive CG

    Wow!  Absolutely the best spot to set up camp if you're looking at doing an alpine attempt on the roof of Idaho, Mt. Borah!  The campground sits right around 7200'  which is a decent bit cooler than the Big Lost River Valley to the west.  There is also a good bit of shade despite there being few large trees.  Its kind of a transition between the sage brush and juniper climate zones.  There are picnic tables and metal fire rings @ each site but there is absolutely no running water so be sure to fill your water bottles and camelbaks in Mackey which is the closest town.  There are vault toilets but no other amenities.  The perk of being fairly primitive is that the sites are only $5 a night!

    If you're planning on summiting Borah it's a good idea to get an alpine start <6 AM so you don't get baked by the sun as there's no shade the last 2 miles and sparse shade the first 1.5.  It is a brutal hike if you're not prepared.  The trail ascends 5200' of elevation in just over 3.5 miles.  Your legs will probably burn, bring hiking poles for the descent!  If you don't feel like hiking there are plenty of rivers nearby in which to fish and great spots to check out the scarp of the 1980's Mt. Borah earthquake, which you drive across on the way to the campground/trailhead.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 7, 2021

    Easley Campground

    Nice, Like All Campgrounds in Sawtooth

    This campground is off Hwy 75 in Sawtooth National Forest somewhat in a grove of aspens. The road in has some navigable large pit holes but the campground itself is fairly smooth gravel and dirt loop. 

    Sites are dirt and gravel and each had fire pit and picnic table. Semi private to private depending on where you get a site. There were plenty of open spots available when we checked it out in September. 

    Amazing views so if you are into hiking, biking or photography then this place is great. There is no host on site and this is a self pay campground at $16/night. 

    This is bear country but no bear boxes are provided here. There are water spigots and dumpsters and pit toilets. Zero cell service. Also nearby there are hot springs across the bridge though we did not check these out. No fires at this time!

Guide to Sawtooth National Forest

Tent camping near Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in stunning natural landscapes, with a variety of campgrounds catering to outdoor enthusiasts.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy a beautiful boat ride to the scenic Redfish Inlet Trailhead, where you can set off into the vast Sawtooth wilderness.
  • Experience the serenity of Five Points, located high in the mountains, perfect for hiking and exploring nearby hot springs.
  • Discover the tranquility of Alice Lake Primitive Campsite, where you can hike around the lake and enjoy breathtaking views.

Tips for tent camping near Sawtooth National Forest

  • Arrive early to secure a spot at Pioneer, as it offers solitude and is less frequented by campers heading to the more popular Sun Valley area.
  • Be prepared for a hike to reach Toxaway Lake Primitive Campsite, which provides a private setting with stunning mountain views.
  • Bring your own firewood, as many sites like Boulder View Campground do not provide this amenity.

Unique features of campgrounds in the area

  • Experience the charm of wildlife at Redfish Inlet Trailhead, where friendly deer may visit your campsite during the evening.
  • Enjoy the clean facilities at Carrie Creek Campground, which offers a peaceful atmosphere with a nearby creek.
  • Take advantage of the well-kept amenities at Upper Narrows Campground, located near a beautiful stream, perfect for those seeking solitude.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sawtooth National Forest?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sawtooth National Forest is Alice Lake Primitive Campsite - Sawtooth National Forest with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Sawtooth National Forest?

TheDyrt.com has all 81 tent camping locations near Sawtooth National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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