Best Tent Camping near Weiser, ID

Tent camping options near Weiser, Idaho include several established campgrounds that accommodate tents in the surrounding region. Justrite Campground and Paradise Campground both provide tent-specific sites within the Weiser area, while Steck Park offers seasonal camping at the end of Olds Ferry Road west of town. The area includes both established campgrounds with minimal facilities and dispersed options in the nearby Payette National Forest.

Most tent campsites in the Weiser area feature basic amenities with few modern conveniences. Paradise Campground allows fires and permits pets but lacks drinking water, toilets, and trash service. Campers should bring all necessary supplies including water, as most sites do not provide potable water sources. Steck Park offers more facilities with drinking water, toilets, and trash disposal, though it operates seasonally from spring through fall. According to one visitor, "Paradise Campground has designated sites right off fire roads which can be exposed, but more private areas are available on the east side of the road."

Walk-in tent locations are available at Paradise Campground, providing access for those seeking more secluded experiences. The tent sites often feature natural settings with varying levels of tree cover. Primitive tent camping areas typically lack facilities but offer more solitude. One camper noted that "the creek runs fast through the canyon, echoing throughout the area," making swimming difficult but creating a natural soundscape. Areas farther from established campgrounds provide more isolation but require proper dispersed camping gear and adherence to pack-out principles. Tent campers seeking more developed options might consider Herrick Reservoir Access for primitive camping, though it lacks designated sites and has minimal facilities with only a single pit toilet serving the entire area.

Best Tent Sites Near Weiser, Idaho (11)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Weiser, ID

3 Photos of 11 Weiser Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Weiser, ID

310 Reviews of 11 Weiser Campgrounds


  • T
    Jul. 27, 2020

    Sugarloaf Campground — Lake Cascade State Park

    Middle of the road

    We have high expectations since we’ve been at so many places, so please bear that in mind when reading this.

    1. Only vault toilets and water spigots placed randomly around.
    2. No electric/water hook ups, flushing toilets, or showers
    3. Outside of one vault toilet building some animal made a nest above out of dirt where they continually poop out of that looks like it hasn’t been touched in months so when you go to use the restroom you walk by a giant pile of poop.
    4. Pea gravel pads where they encourage you put your tent, not bad if you have a blow up mattress. It is nicely raked upon arrival.
    5. Campsite was clean.
    6. Most sites had trees, but not all so definitely check site pictures online if you need shade.
    7. Most sites have a view of the lake, since it’s almost like a peninsula campground.
    8. Nice boat ramps and lots of parking for boaters to leave trucks and trailers.
    9. Bugs would get a bit crazy at random times of day depending on weather.
    10. 20 minutes south of McCall if you wanted to get out and see a quaint little town.
    11. Cows on opposite side of water from campground; you can hear them, but not smell them.
  • B
    Jul. 8, 2018

    Rivers Edge RV Park

    Best little Campgound in the area!

    Best little Campgound in the area! Sits right on the Snake River, large grassy area with lots of shade, Cabins, tent sites, limited full hookups, electric, covered picnic tables, small boat dock, 2 horseshoe pits excellent catfishing, supplied fire rings (you can buy wood there), they just added a TeePee! The host, Turk, and his wife, Meghan, are absolutely, by far the best camp hosts we've ever dealt with. Dogs are allowed. BEST SUNSETS EVER!

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2024

    Herrick Reservoir Access

    Just ok

    Camping is free, limit of 10 days. Not really any designated sites and surrounded by private land with aggressive signage. Not all roads around the reservoir are public, so be prepared to turn around and back up at dead ends. We came to an orange gate that said "private property", and stopped. While trying to turn around, we noticed a white truck sitting behind us. When we turned around and passed him, he motioned to roll down the window, and then berated us and called us idiots, even though we had not even entered the private land, nor did we want to. We felt threatened. In the end we chose a site on the upper road of the reservoir. The view was nice but not close to the pit toilet. No fire ring. No table. A no frills place. Like many lakes in Idaho, the reservoir is mostly dry. Not a huge deal but not the prettiest to look at. There is only one single pit toilet for the whole reservoir and someone was set up right next to it like it was their own. People ride off-road vehicles here. In an area with slim pickings for free camping, I guess you have to take what you can get.

  • Erica H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 26, 2020

    Oasis Recreation Site

    Great Overnight Stay!

    I ended up here because the Farewell Bend State Park campground was full. It’s right along the Snake River and borders an established campground to the east. There are two picnic tables/fire rings, one on either side of the boat launch. The spots are right on the water and sunset/sunrise are gorgeous! No potable water, and no trash collection, so you must pack it out. Perfect for an overnight stay when passing through the area. The only downside is the frequent sound of trains. They are in the distance, but definitely noticeable.

  • Brandon K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2020

    Farewell Bend State Recreation Area Campground

    Riverside desert experience

    Farewell bend is a day use state park and campground located near Huntington Oregon and nestled on the Snake River.

    The park is a dry desert setting with yellowing grasses, tall spiny trees and sand dunes. The snake river is a deep emerald green flowing with foam from the upriver reservoir.

    The campground has three large loops that can accommodate the largest of personal busses down to the classic sleeping bag. There are electric and water connections, a sewer dump and a boat launch. There are a couple of rentable waterfront cabins available on C-loop.

    Many fisherman come here to enjoy the well stocked waters, keep an eye out for the other river wildlife commonly seen, rattle snakes. Other water sports are welcome here, boating and waterskiing happens all day long. The dunes across the river are a popular off-road and motorized fun location.

    The river is pretty much inaccessible from the campgrounds, the day use area allows for access to the rocky beach, but the waters edge is not clean sadly, polluted with litter and river foam.

    The park is a very warm and sunny Oregon escape with little to no cellular service.

  • S
    May. 4, 2017

    Sagehen Creek

    Sagehen

    I love this campground. It is fairly secluded and not many know about it, so it never gets too crowded. The lake is beautiful and only small motor boats are allowed, so the water stays smooth. Great for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming. On one side of the reservoir there are some large rocks and a deeper area great for rock jumping. Some cool hikes nearby as well. All that being said, there are no showers or flushing toilets, and everything is pack-out, so beware.

  • L
    Aug. 6, 2018

    Mann Creek Recreation Area

    Fishing and more

    Has designated campsites and primitive large campsites if you are willing to drive in a ways. Its a wonderful place to camp or just spend time fishing the day away.

    No fire rings are in the primitive area so if you want fire and there is a ban your out of luck. Very limited shade

  • Ed E.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 22, 2018

    Farewell Bend State Recreation Area Campground

    Just a Hop Skip and Jump away from Idaho

    Living in Idaho near the border of Idaho, I was looking for a great catfishing spot on the Snake River. I found this campground along the Snake just on the other side of the border - eastern Oregon. The campgrounds are AWESOME!!! The have all the amenities for RV camping. They do have tent camping sites as well. There is some great history of the area and we were appreciative of how the State Park system displayed it. Great fishing for the shore angler as well as boat anglers. I fished from my kayak and caught crappie and catfish as well as some smallmouth bass. I would definitely camp here again. They do have a dump station for RVs as well as restrooms. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table.

  • L
    May. 2, 2021

    Rivers Edge RV Park

    Would not recommend if you want any piece and quiet!

    We arrived for our weekend mid-afternoon on Friday. Parked our trailer in our designated spot in the middle of the grassy area near the horseshoe pits. After unloading, setting up and taking a walk around the park (down to the river, dock, beach area, etc) it became obvious that this was not the place we expected it to be based on other reviews!

    We decided to give it some time and benefit of the doubt. Made dinner and ate outside (weather was perfect). During dinner we were treated to the drunken, LOUD ramblings of other campers - complete with foul language at the highest volume possible! Permanent residents at the back of the park left a lot to be desired. Messy camp sites.

    There are no hiking trails or places to explore. If you don't have a camp spot right on the water, fishing access is horrible - only super shallow, reed-filled openings. Certainly not what we expected from a riverfront park with great reviews. The fishing dock is a joke, the water near and around the dock is a filthy, grime filled, trash collecting mess!

    Tried to get our child to bed before 10pm but was virtually impossible with the level of noise coming from the group area (which was across the park, mind you), not to mention music streaming loudly from several other campers all around. 10pm quiet hour does not seem to matter to the hosts who did nothing to help those of us who expect rules to be followed.

    By first thing in the morning, we had found another camp site to flee to and we couldn't get out of there fast enough!

    Never again will we be back. Never again.


Guide to Weiser

Tent camping near Weiser, Idaho features access to the Payette National Forest where elevations range from 2,200 to 5,000 feet in the immediate vicinity. The climate brings hot, dry summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through August. Winter camping opportunities remain limited due to snow accumulation at higher elevations, with most campgrounds operating seasonally between April and October.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: The Owyhee River below the dam offers exceptional brown trout fishing in a rugged desert setting. According to Ed E., "If you enjoy Fly Fishing for Brown Trout, this place is awesome. There is dispersed camping all along the river below the dam. It is very rugged, but there are amenities for camping."

Hiking access: Justrite Campground provides direct access to forest trails within minutes of setting up camp. "Feels like another world! Surrounded by tall amazing trees and the bridge across the river is so wonderful you easily feel hidden away," notes Hanah O., highlighting the immediate immersion into nature without long drives.

Lake activities: Caldwell Campground offers fishing pond access and walking paths suitable for day visitors. Rachele B. mentions, "The lakeside location and walking trails are beautiful. Feels like living outside of town but still close to everything town offers."

What campers like

River proximity: Many dispersed camping areas along the Owyhee River provide direct water access. "Lots of great spots as you river along the river, not necessarily the coordinates provided here. Epic fishing," shares Jennifer R. about the areas below Owyhee Dam.

Shade availability: During hot summer months, shaded sites become premium options. "It has shade and that's a huge plus," notes Benjamin about Caldwell Campground and RV Park, emphasizing the importance of tree cover when temperatures climb into the 90s.

Budget-friendly options: Free camping exists throughout the region with flexible stay options. Jim F. appreciates that "most of the areas that are dispersed sites are free! Many to choose from and right on the river!" at the Owyhee River area.

What you should know

Limited facilities: Many campgrounds near Weiser lack basic amenities. Andy S. advises about Owyhee River - Below Dam - Owyhee Dam Park, "don't follow your GPS to the coordinates given here, if you follow it to the point on Google maps you'll end up at one of the highest points in that valley," suggesting visitors need local knowledge or careful planning.

Water conditions: Creek access doesn't always mean swimming opportunities. Fast-moving water creates specific challenges at several sites, requiring campers to plan accordingly for water activities or fishing.

Seasonal considerations: Several campgrounds operate with limited seasons. Sage Hen Dam Picnic Area runs only from May 16 to Labor Day, while others remain open year-round but with reduced accessibility during winter months due to unpaved access roads.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection: For families with children, choosing the right camping location requires additional considerations. Benjamin notes about Caldwell Campground, "Good site for RV camping but if you're tent camping there are probably better options depending on what you're looking for. The tent sites are super close together and there is a lot of highway noise."

Safety awareness: Rugged terrain demands attention to natural hazards. Ed E. cautions at Herrick Reservoir Access, "It is a bit deserty, so beware of snakes," highlighting the need for proper footwear and situational awareness with children.

Facility planning: Family camping requires preparation for limited facilities. Leah G. describes Herrick Reservoir Access: "There is only one single pit toilet for the whole reservoir and someone was set up right next to it like it was their own," indicating the need to plan bathroom breaks or bring portable options.

Tips from RVers

Site layouts: RV campers should research specific site dimensions before arrival. At Catfish Junction RV Park and Campground, Hugh S. reports, "Clean RV camping on the Snake River. Poor cell service, no WiFi. One shower for 40+ sites. Not crowded for the 2nd week of May."

Hookup availability: Full hookup sites exist primarily at private campgrounds rather than public lands. Jenna M. shares about Caldwell RV Park, "We pulled in after the office closed. We didn't receive a packet, which we have become accustomed to, but we had a site map and found our camp space. We were right next to the lake #69. We had a pull through for our 40' fifth wheel and were happy."

Road conditions: Access roads to dispersed camping areas often present challenges for larger rigs. Tom K. notes about Banks, "Located on I55 between Boise and McCall it is a convenient stopping point but with so many National Forest sites on 55, this wasn't a preferred site and we moved on," indicating the need to research road conditions before committing to forest routes with larger vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Weiser, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Weiser, ID is Catfish Junction RV Park and Campground with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Weiser, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.