National Forest lands surrounding Warren, Idaho offer several tent-only camping options in remote mountain settings. Wind River Bridge provides tent campsites at the edge of the Gospel Hump Wilderness, with both drive-in and hike-in access for tent campers. Shiefer Campground, located directly in Warren, offers primitive tent camping with minimal amenities. The Lick Creek Area in the McCall and Krassel Ranger Districts, approximately 25 miles southwest of Warren, provides backcountry tent camping opportunities with fire rings and access to wilderness trails.
Most tent campgrounds in this region feature natural, ungraded surfaces with minimal site development. Access roads to many primitive tent sites require high-clearance vehicles, with several campgrounds accessible only via narrow, bumpy dirt roads. Campers should bring all necessary supplies, as most areas lack drinking water and other amenities. Vault toilets are available at some locations, including Wind River Bridge, but many backcountry tent sites have no facilities. Summer temperatures can drop significantly at night due to the high elevation, with August temperatures sometimes falling to the upper 30s even after warm days. Bear activity is common throughout the area, requiring proper food storage for tent campers.
Visitors to these tent-only campgrounds frequently mention the solitude and natural surroundings. According to reviews, Wind River Bridge offers "great hiking opportunities up into the surrounding mountains" with restroom facilities and a sandy beach area. At Brundage Reservoir Camping Area, tent campers can find lakeside sites that are "peaceful" even during busy seasons. The walk-in tent sites at Northwest Passage Campground are described as "small and cozy for tent campers" with good separation between sites. Many primitive tent camping areas become less crowded on weekdays, with Sunday through Tuesday offering the best opportunities to secure a site. Wildlife sightings are common, with campers reporting eagles, moose, deer, and smaller mammals throughout the region.
"If you cross the Wind River Bridge, there are some great hiking opportunities up into the surrounding mountains. There used to be an actual campground here, but much of it has grown up."
"A CTX toilet and fire rings. Lick lake is a 3 mile hike into the wilderness and is gorgeous! No fee."
"awesome place for rent camping and hiking lots of trails to explore but not a great place if you need a RV to go camping"
"There is a water pump at the entrance of the camp site that you get your water from. There are no hook ups or running water at sites. There are established fire rings and a picnic table."
"This campground has a lot of sites that are well sectioned off from each other and have tons of greenery and shrubs to divide up the campsites, having access to the beach along the river and only being"
"Driving down a pot-holed, dirt road for quite awhile, we found ourselves concerned that we may not find something. We then spotted a beautiful lake through the trees. "
"We went here for mountain biking (if you go, check out Groupon for the lift) this campground was awesome because it was so close to Brundage resort, and the ski lift up, it was such an enjoyable stay,"
TravelerThis campground has a lot of sites that are well sectioned off from each other and have tons of greenery and shrubs to divide up the campsites, having access to the beach along the river and only being 15-20 minutes from McCall made this an amazing campsite.
GuideBeautiful drive into Hells Canyon. Sites were huge with covered tables. Stayed on a Monday so it was almost empty.
RangerOpen flat ground to park and camp on the river. Fire pits, picnic tables, one porta potty. No charge BLM CG. Easy to access.
ScoutShe was talking about they discriminated against anybody with pets. What camp or what person in Idaho doesn’t have a pet. This is the most pathetic campground I’ve ever seen.
ScoutLots of first-come-first-served campsites. We showed up on a Tuesday early and there were tons of spots available. Vault toilets were clean. Drinking water was some of the best we've had. No cell service for Verizon. Road up to the campground is gravel washboard for about 3.5 miles - slow going, but ultimately worth it.
Reservoir was decent. Very weedy, and unless you take the concrete boat ramp, it is all thick mud. Water seemed clean though, and was nice and cool.
Lots of cows around - can definitely hear them early in the morning.
Nice place to camp - would stay again.
GuideWe came up to escape the 105 temps in Boise. Shoreline was not at capacity. Quiet couple of days. Paved roads and sites. Plenty of space between sites. Friendly site hosts. Beautiful lake with a significant boat launch area
GuideImmaculate spots, we got the big one pull thru with concrete pad and covered pavilion. Vault toilets right there, very clean. Running drinking water! $8 a night. Huge Boat ramp and river access. Of course with all these nice things, there’s people and it filled up quick. Spots very close together. Right off the paved road. Easy to get to, worked for us as a halfway point to sleep for the night. We have a 50 foot total rig. Just the right amount of shade to cool off but still get solar.
GuideMap shows this spot close to the highway and from a satellite view it is but the highway is 100' + above so we don't see the highway and noise is very muffled. Came mid July, still some green on the hills and beautiful. Likely spots for 10 or so RVs, not that many fire rings. Sites are fairly flat and there is a santican
TravelerConvenient location and quiet even though right off 55. Sites are fairly close together. Well run park.
Tent camping near Warren, Idaho offers access to remote wilderness areas at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 feet. Summer days in the region typically reach the 70s-80s Fahrenheit with nighttime temperatures often dropping below 45°F. Most primitive campsites in this area require self-sufficiency as facilities are minimal or non-existent.
Riverside activities: At Spring Bar Campground, visitors spend time rafting on the nearby river. According to camper Tanny M., "Spent most of the time on the river. Awesome for rafting. Too hot in the summer to be anywhere else."
Mountain biking: The area near Brundage Reservoir Camping Area provides access to mountain biking trails. Franklin R. notes, "We went here for mountain biking (if you go, check out Groupon for the lift) this campground was awesome because it was so close to Brundage resort, and the ski lift up."
Wilderness hiking: Backcountry trails near tent camping areas lead to alpine lakes and mountain views. A visitor to Lick Creek Area mentions, "Lick lake is a 3 mile hike into the wilderness and is gorgeous!" The trail system connects to multiple wilderness areas with varying difficulty levels.
Secluded lake sites: Many tent campers appreciate the lakeside camping opportunities. At Granite Lake Camping Area, Christopher R. describes it as "secluded lake camping" and an "awesome place for tent camping and hiking lots of trails to explore."
Low crowds on weekdays: Northwest Passage Campground provides a quiet experience, especially during mid-week stays. One camper explains, "The best time to get a spot is Sunday afternoon or Monday and Tuesday. Towards the weekends most spots are full."
Wildlife viewing: The mountainous terrain around Warren supports diverse wildlife. Cindy N. reports, "The wild life there is abundant. We saw bald eagles, moose, deer and chipmunks" during their stay at Northwest Passage Campground.
Access challenges: Many tent camping areas require navigating rough roads. At Brundage Reservoir, camper Ted-Kelli T. describes their experience: "Driving down a pot-holed, dirt road for quite awhile, we found ourselves concerned that we may not find something."
Water sources: Deadman Campground provides water access via a pump near the boat ramp, but most tent sites in the region lack potable water. Annie C. notes, "There is also a water pump by the boat ramp" but reminds campers they are "about a dozen miles from the town of Challis with gas stations and grocery stores."
Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be problematic during summer months. One camper warns, "One downfall here is the amount of mosquitoes. They are large and thirsty. We came prepared this year with lots of mosquito spray and some thermoscell mosquito deterrent."
Beach access: Several camping areas feature small beaches suitable for children. At Lick Creek Area, camper Courtney R. mentions, "Lick creek campground has 3 spots. One large one with stock holding. A CTX toilet and fire rings."
Spacing between sites: For families needing privacy, certain campgrounds offer well-separated sites. At Northwest Passage, sites are described as "pretty private with woods separating them" and "There is a beach area for the campers that is perfect for kids to play."
Limited facilities: Most tent sites have minimal infrastructure. Cindy N. explains that at Northwest Passage, "There is a water pump at the entrance of the camp site that you get your water from. There are no hook ups or running water at sites."
Size restrictions: Most tent camping areas near Warren cannot accommodate larger RVs. About Granite Lake Camping Area, Christopher R. warns it's "not a great place if you need a RV to go camping."
Cost considerations: Some state park campgrounds charge higher fees for out-of-state visitors. Michael G. reported paying "$62. No hooks. No cell. Because I'm out of state" at Northwest Passage Campground.
Alternative parking: When official campgrounds are full, some areas permit dispersed camping. At Brundage Reservoir, camper sherilyn mentions, "Last year I wasn't able to get a spot near the lake but there is so many places to boondock up there."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Warren, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Warren, ID is Wind River Bridge with a 4.0-star rating from 1 review.
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