Best Tent Camping near Shoup, ID

Shoup Bridge  Campground is a small Campground surrounding cottonwood trees along the banks of the Salmon River. It is also right along the Highway.  We found this a pleasant campground to stay in, plenty of flat ground for our tents and only $5 a night.  A few sites are quite small, but still room for a tent. This was our Scouts jumping off point for a backpacking trip the next day.  While next to the highway we expected a lot of noise during the night, but that was not our experience, the only real road noise we had was in the early morning with worked out as it helped wake us up.  Each site has a picnic table and metal fire ring.  Water is available and the area has a vault toilet and trash cans.  Campground has a boat launch.

It is a very off the beaten path, tucked away in the woods, true getaway from the busy city life. Travel south on 278 from Wisdom, MT and take the chance on an 18 mile gravel road to find a place only you see in pictures and read about in magazines. Drive through open cattle ranges and find a beautiful campground nestled up to 2 small lakes connected by a shallow channel. Clear water to see the bottom where it's shallow enough. No motorized boats allowed, so bring your own kayak or canoe and a fishing pole or two to enjoy the refreshing waters at the bottom of the mountains. Even in July, you can see snow atop the mountains on the Montana-Idaho border.

• Large, open water front spaces to set up "shop"
• Site 10 had room for 3 tents, 3 SUVs, 1 picnic table + extra side table, fire ring/grill, canoe, chairs around fire and shoreline, laundry lines
• Not crowded (maybe 5 sites taken when we were there)
• Bathrooms are clean (but no locks or hand sanitzer...at least the one I used)
• Water available
• One bear storage container at front entrance
• Must pack up and take out your own trash (no bear proof trash cans)
• Fire rings with grills available

Only 3 miles off the main drag, I’m not sure why more people weren’t camping here. While there are only about 8 sites only 2(including mine) were taken. Maybe it was the smoke from distant first fires. Anyway, great little campground! Right next to the creek, with another small branch cutting through the middle of the campground, the only thing I could hear was the water and later a fire spotter plane overhead. The vault toilet was super clean and serviced recently. Sites were of different sizes(the parking pad curbs had lengths listed on them), and of differing amounts of levelness. I had site 2 and had to go to a fairly low spot to find a level place to pitch my tent, not a problem during a drought, but it would have been wet if it had rained. Saw a doe and fawn on the way out in the morning.

7 day max stay despite what the website says. Additional $5 a day fee for water and electric despite what the website says. At $25 though thats not terrible. 1/2 price with applicable passes.

10 sites. How much shade, sitting area, rocks, level ground, level parking varies.

What’s Good? -4 toilets and 2 Dumpsters -The road and each site is paved -Parking can hold 2 trucks with 2 towable RVs at most sites -Running creek nearby with little trails, great for little ones -Sites are spread out for the most part and feel private

The not so good -While the toilets are in far better condition than most campgrounds they were not cleaned or restocked at all during my 7 days. Just a quick visual look was all that was done. -Hosts are generally oblivious. They don’t check sites and ignore complaints of “occupied” sites than nobody has been at for over three days. -There was one site, clearly friendly with the hosts, that has been there well beyond the time limit with no intentions of departing -It takes me about 10 minutes to casually walk through the campground. Same for the host that did the same twice in a week with a blower pretending to blow pine needles of the road. Meaning, no actual change was made as attempts at grounds keeping is below the minimum -Plenty of weeds, unkept sites covered in debris that should be moved, due to lack of host care. You will likely need to rake through or clear your site

12 sites with good tables and fire rings. This is a well maintained NFS campground. 3 vault toilets that are kept clean. Sites #1 & #2 get the most sun, are the largest, and can accommodate any size RV. The remaining sites vary in size. #2 can easily hold 5 full size trucks side by side, or three medium size trailers/5th wheels with their tow vehicles. It also has 3 large tables, plenty of open ground for tents, and is ideal for large groups and families. Toilets are located across from site 3, between 5/6, across from 12. #7 is low ground camping you walk down to with minimal shade and perfect for hot weather days.

The exit is at site 12, one way travel thru the campground. Across the street from the exit is the entry to sites 1-4 horse camping. Small sites with table, fire ring, and enough room for a small tent. There are 3 large metal structures with 3 chains each for horses and 2 horizontal tie out bars. No room to park horse trailers on that pull thru. One trailer spot across from site 4 by the “stock water trail” sign, the rest can park 50 yards down the road at the trail head/turn around. There are 2 additional tie out areas here for horses and plenty of room for horse trailers and several other vehicles.

Be sure to read the notice above the envelope box before you pay. From weather dependent dates chosen by the Rangers there is no cost from late Oct to late May. Otherwise it is $10 per night, $5 with golden or access passes.

No cell service, only 1 mile to the paved road, Ranger station is only about 1/2 mile down that paved road. The Rangers are proactive in sharing any important information such as severe weather, bear activity, or any other notable activity.

Details: Ranger station on the main road less than a mike from the entrance. They show up once a week Ravialli county sheriff is who to call on weekends and holidays, they will respond Be bear aware in season Equestrian specific campsites Trailhead next to the CG So much firewood laying around There are some karens that have been “coming here my whole life” and think they own the place; avoid Only three site requires walking access, the rest are drive right in to. Only a few sites so if its great weather or holiday show up mid week or even a week ahead if you can Free stays out of season, otherwise it’s a daily fee, pay at the entrance sign

21 sites, 4 of which are tent camping only. Water point is by the paved hiking trail at the campground entrance. Two hosts on site that clean and stock the 4 toilets daily. The beach is a short walk away. Every site is partially shaded throughout the day. The campsites are in various sizes which is why there are designated “extra vehicle” parking locations.

The walk in tent sites are nestled in the trees amongst the forest sounds of birds and chipmunks. Deer bed down in the area and are often seen in the early morning hours. Each tent site has a fire pit, tent pad, table, and is completed with a bear proof storage bin for food.

The campground has an upper and lower level. I did see a 30+ foot trailer but i wouldn’t do it. The drive out is a bit to tight for my comfort. Although a dirt road drive in, the campground has an older paved road within.

The only negative mark is for the fire pits. They have years of build up ash from use that is well above the vent holes. The depth is 10-14 inches depending on the site. The ash is loaded with debris such as melted cans and its volume is a fire hazard. I dug mine out but just be aware. Also weeds are a problem. Two of the toilets have weeds groinvbin the entryway now, and a few campsites have tall overgrown areas. The main parking lot has weeds blocking the handicap parking area. All of this could be addressed in a couple of short days work, but nobody is doing it. Other than that its great.

Check out the paved trail for foot and bicycle traffic that goes along the lake.

Stayed here twice while traveling to and from a river trip; great access to back a raft trailer in as well as bigger rigs. Some space for tents, although site #15 (I think) appears the best for this. Also noticed a dedicated bike packing site (#2) with food storage. Water is available which was nice for making morning coffee and refilling water bottles. Nice that a few of the spots remain first come first served; also you cannot reserve the sites same day; I think you have to be at least three days out although that is not totally clear from rec. gov. I did not see a camp host to ask; unsure if one will be posted this season or not,

Great spot, nice and shady. Had a rabbit hang out while playing a game at the very large picnic table.