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Best Tent Camping near Sun Valley, ID

450 Reviews

Tent campsites near Sun Valley, Idaho range from established campgrounds to dispersed backcountry sites in the surrounding mountains. Uncle Johns Gulch on Corral Creek Road offers free primitive tent camping with access to a nearby stream and hiking trails, while Hyndman Campground provides a more established option for tent campers within the Sawtooth National Forest region, particularly popular for those seeking high-elevation tent sites.

Most primitive tent camping areas in the Sun Valley region have minimal facilities. Campers should bring their own water supplies, as even campgrounds listed with drinking water may have unreliable sources. A visitor commented, "The portable water on site has a yellow tint to it even after letting it run for a min or so." Fire rings are common at designated sites, though seasonal fire restrictions often apply during summer months. Vault toilets exist at some locations like Broad Canyon Campground, but many dispersed tent sites lack bathroom facilities entirely. Tent sites typically feature dirt or gravel pads with variable leveling, and access roads to remote locations may require high-clearance vehicles.

Areas farther from the main tourist corridors offer quieter tent camping experiences with less competition for sites. Tent campers appreciate the small stream access at locations like Uncle Johns Gulch, where one review noted "large campsites next to stream nestled in a beautiful valley." Many sites provide direct access to hiking and mountain biking trails, making them ideal basecamps for outdoor activities. Little Wood River campground features more extensive facilities while maintaining a natural setting, with a reviewer describing it as "well cared for, easy access, fishing, green grass for day use and tent camping." Fall and spring typically offer more solitude for tent campers, with summer weekends seeing higher occupancy at most established tent campgrounds.

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Best Tent Sites Near Sun Valley, Idaho (54)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Sun Valley, ID

13 Photos of 54 Sun Valley Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Sun Valley, ID

450 Reviews of 54 Sun Valley 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.

  • 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.

  • Jake G.
    May. 28, 2019

    Lava Flow Campground — Craters of the Moon National Monument

    The Earthside of the Moon

    This is what you would expect in the wilderness of Idaho! A unique location, and an experience worth having!

    Please obey posted fire safety warnings as Idaho is plagued by enough man made wildfires each year!

    Have fun and leave no trace!

  • K
    Sep. 2, 2024

    Dog Creek Campground - Idaho

    It's ok as a fall-back option

    My wife and I were forced to make last minute changes to our camping trip this year(thanks to the Wapiti 2024 fire in Stanley) and Dog Creek was the only campground available on the dates we had set aside. We had been up to Pine once before but had never explored past the town. 

    The campground itself is quiet and away from the main road but it is directly parallel to the South Fork of the Boise River. There are a TON of ponderosa pines and other various pine trees so the campground looks small because of the dense tree cover. From the main road, the main drive is a fairly narrow paved dirt/gravel road and not bumpy at all so most vehicles shouldn’t have an issue with it. 

    The camp sites themselves are a little close to each other but you’re not shoulder to shoulder or directly on top of each other. The camp host greeted us upon our arrival, filled us in on the fire restrictions and said to let him know if we needed anything. 

    We had reserved sites 10 and 11 but in reality, they might as well call it a group site because there is no separation between the two, you even share a"driveway”. There were fire rings, tent pads(at some sites) and picnic tables, along with shepherds hooks for hanging trash off of the ground. There were also metal tables at every site that we think are intended for camp stoves.(The picnic tables are wood)The fire rings were well cared for(none damaged that we saw and they all had adjustable grills)….but our fire ring was very close to the bushes which was a little sketchy. 

    This campground is nice and quiet and full of trees. But unfortunately, for us, that’s where the appeal ends. In order to get to the actual Dog Creek from the campground, you have to hope that sites 2 and 5 are not occupied and even then, the creek isn’t super exciting. It’s pretty but it’s a climb down into a ravine of sorts and it’s not deep enough to lay in and there aren’t any places to setup chairs to just enjoy it. The water flowing through the creek is clean and it is pretty to look at, but that’s about all it’s good for. 

    As for other things to do at the campground, there isn’t much. There are no hiking trails as far as we could tell, but if you go across the street to the river, you can actually enjoy your stay, assuming the banks of the river aren’t packed with dispersed campers and their ATV’s. 

    The campground does have water spigots and the water tasted fine. The restrooms(vault toilets) were impeccable in terms of cleanliness. Some of the nicest Forest Service campground restrooms we’ve used and the camp host does an awesome job of keeping them clean and bug free. 

    Speaking of bugs, we didn’t see many mosquitoes but we did see a good amount of bees, wasps and yellow jackets and there were traps setup throughout the campground so bring an epi pen if you’re allergic to any of them. 

    We lost cell service just after the reservoir (T-Mobile) but my satellite communicator worked fairly well at the campground. 

    There are dumpsters to take your trash just inside the entrance to the campground, which is a little annoying as you have to walk quite a ways to dump it, but there were also no critters hanging around the sites. 

    Dog Creek campground is the type of campground where you setup your camper or RV and leave for the day to do other things. Whether it’s boating at Anderson Ranch, taking the ATV’s up into the mountains or try to find hiking trails. The campground itself is very pretty BUT it doesn’t offer much in terms of things to do while there. However, if you are looking for some peace and quiet, with very little noise from the outside world, it’s great.

  • Kimberly Y.
    Jul. 15, 2019

    Mormon Bend Campground

    Right on the water

    Blacktop drive and parking pads with a few pull through sites. You can fish from your camp site. No hookups but water is available. Plenty of space between sites. Fire rings and picnic tables were provided. Firewood was for sale. Bring your bug spray for late afternoon and evening. We needed it in early July.

Guide to Sun Valley

Tent camping around Sun Valley, Idaho offers access to the Pioneer, Boulder, and Smoky Mountains within the Sawtooth National Forest. Most sites sit between 6,000-8,500 feet elevation, creating dramatic temperature drops after sunset even in summer months. Primitive camping areas typically remain open from late May through early October, with access limited by snowfall during winter and spring months.

What to do

Fishing access points: Little Wood River campground provides convenient fishing opportunities directly from the campsite. One camper notes, "Easy fishing access and remote camping. Not much for man made improvements, the camping is very primitive."

Day hiking: Broad Canyon Campground serves as both a campsite and trailhead for high alpine exploration. A visitor explains, "There is a great trailhead hence the campground name which is a great day hike or backpacking trail. The high mountain lakes are beautiful and the fishing is fun."

Mountain biking: Uncle Johns Gulch features direct trail access from camp. A reviewer commented, "Great spot with hiking right by camp site," while another mentioned "Hiking/mtb trail next to campsites."

What campers like

Private spaces: Little Wood River campground offers well-separated sites. One review states, "Very nice and clean for a free campground, camp spots are spaced out nicely so that people are not stacked right on top of each other."

Alpine scenery: Hyndman Campground provides exceptional mountain vistas for tent campers willing to make the trek. A camper shared, "Quite a view! Met several wonderful people along the trail, at the site, and during the summit."

Secluded creek access: The natural setting at Uncle Johns Gulch appeals to those seeking quieter camping experiences. A camper described it as "Large campsites next to stream nestled in a beautiful valley."

What you should know

Water considerations: Portable water sources may be unreliable even at established campgrounds. At Little Wood River, a visitor warned, "Next time we will be bringing our own water supply. The portable water on site has a yellow tint to it even after letting it run for a min or so."

Weather preparedness: Fall camping at higher elevations requires appropriate gear. At Hyndman, a camper advised, "If going in fall, prepare for some ice in the evening and light fog."

Firewood availability: Broad Canyon Campground typically has abundant natural materials for campfires. A reviewer noted, "There is always plenty of wood around as the area isn't very busy."

Tips for camping with families

Multi-use spaces: Little Wood River offers both overnight and day-use areas suitable for families. A review highlights, "green grass for day use and tent camping, private dock, wonderful folks!"

Toilet facilities: Broad Canyon provides basic sanitation. "The camp has a vault toilet, camp tables, and fire pits," explains a visitor, making it more suitable for families than completely undeveloped sites.

Hammock options: For families with older children who enjoy alternative sleeping arrangements, Broad Canyon works well. A camper observed, "There are also trees big enough to use for hammocks if you like that."

Tips from RVers

Water refill points: While most tent sites lack hookups, nearby facilities can provide water. A Broad Canyon visitor suggested, "The next campground over (Star hope) has an old fashioned water pump where we always fill up our water coolers."

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the area. At Little Wood River, a camper reported, "The site doesn't have cell service but that didn't bother me."

Road conditions: Most primitive camping areas require adequate vehicles. Multiple reviews mention the need for appropriate transportation when accessing remote tent sites around Sun Valley, particularly after rain or early/late in the season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sun Valley, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sun Valley, ID is Uncle Johns Gulch on Corral Creek Road with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Sun Valley, ID?

TheDyrt.com has all 54 tent camping locations near Sun Valley, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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