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Established Camping

Sunny Gulch Campground

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Sunny Gulch Campground, near Stanley, Idaho, is a fantastic spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors without the hassle of reservations. With the Salmon River running right alongside, it’s perfect for cooling off or casting a line, and you’ll find plenty of trails leading down to the water.

The campground features spacious sites equipped with picnic tables and fire pits, making it an ideal place for evening gatherings. Visitors have noted the cleanliness of the facilities, including well-maintained pit toilets and drinking water spigots scattered throughout the area. One camper mentioned, “The campground was really well maintained and actually looked very new,” which speaks to the care taken in keeping this place inviting.

If you’re up for some adventure, the nearby Sawtooth National Recreation Area offers excellent hiking opportunities. Plus, you can easily access Redfish Lake for a day of fun, including a dog-friendly beach that’s a hit with pet owners. Just a heads up: the campground can fill up quickly, especially on weekends, so it’s wise to arrive early if you want to snag a good spot.

Reservation Info

Lower loop closes September 16. Upper loop closes September 21. Camp hosts unavailable after September 16.

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Location

Sunny Gulch Campground is located in Idaho

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Stanley, Idaho, take Highway 75 south approximately 3 miles. Campground is on the north side of the road, between the highway and the Salmon River.

Address

SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION
Stanley, ID 83278

Coordinates

44.1761111 N
114.9091667 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Connectivity

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Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

15 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 19, 2025

No hook ups, but that’s great

Nice campground with lots of trees. Good spacing between sites, and have tent pads. Picnic tables and fire rings are nicely done. Easy access to river. Most sites could handle 30 foot travel trailer. Easy access to area attractions.

Site32
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Aug. 11, 2025

Sunny Gulch

Great space between sites. Large driveway to park the larger rigs. River in the back of the campground with a short hike to access. Nice vault toilet but no showers

Site27
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jun. 7, 2025

Beautiful!

Sunny Gulch is a NFS campground right between Stanley, Idaho and Redfish Lake. The views are incredible and the location can’t be beat. The campground has two loops with the lower loop being closer to Highway 75 (not noisy at all at night) and more appropriate for smaller rigs while the upper loop has some larger sites with some above the Salmon River. All sites have picnic table, prep table, fire ring and tent pad and are quite large and lots of space between sites. Sites are FCFS except for 10 reservable sites; camp host is fantastic and super friendly. Firewood is available at the host site and vault toilets are located throughout the campground and water pumps are also positioned within a short walk of most sites. The Ranger Station is 1/2 mile away and has four dump stations ($12 as of this review) and free fresh water if the pumps at the campground don’t suit your needs.

Redfish Lake and all that encompasses is 1/2 mile to the south; the town of Stanley is beyond the Ranger Station about 2 miles to the north. We’ll definitely stay here again if we’re in the area!

Site45
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Bob R., June 7, 2025
  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Bob R., June 7, 2025
  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Bob R., June 7, 2025
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Aug. 23, 2021

Great Alternative to Redfish Lake Campgrounds

Redfish lake was all reserved, so we ended up camping across the highway here.  Great campground with the Salmon River running along right next to the site.  Little trails leading down to river.  Sites were spacious and had picnic tables and fire pits (no fires allowed when we visited).

Got day-use access to Redfish lake, which had a great "dog beach" for us to stop at.

Site2
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Austin C., August 23, 2021
  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Austin C., August 23, 2021
  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Austin C., August 23, 2021
  • (13) View All
Reviewed Aug. 9, 2021

Great campground

No hookups but water spigots are scattered about the cg. Very private sites widely spaced out. Level, gravel back in spots with metal picnic tables on concrete pad. Some highway noise but not a problem and quiet at night. Very nice.

Site10
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Aug. 7, 2021

Great Sites

Sunny Gulch is close to the Sawtooths for great hiking, next to the river if you want to cool off or fish and there were plenty of options. The tent sites are groomed pretty well, and they had the cleanest pit toilet I think I’ve ever seen.

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jul. 21, 2021

Beautiful spot

Nice sites with level pads, picnic tables, prep table and fire pits. There are 2 loops with about 47 sites. We came on a Monday afternoon in mid-July and got the last site available, so plan ahead.

Site30
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Aug. 22, 2020

A great place to camp that is next to the Salmon River

I stayed here for a night without a reservation. My spot was a short walk to the river. The campsite is clean. There is a cleaning table next to the picnic table to clean fish if you catch any. My campsite was next to the freshwater well pump. The drinking water is very cold and clean. Bathrooms were clean, outhouse style. I gave it 4 stars as the ground where the tent goes was almost all bedrock and little sand/dirt to tap tent stakes into.

  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Ryan L., August 22, 2020
  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Ryan L., August 22, 2020
  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Ryan L., August 22, 2020
Reviewed Aug. 18, 2020

Great campsite to go fishing

Come to Sunny Gulch if you want to fish along the river. I picked a site that is a short walk to the river. The fee is $18/night for a car with a tent. You can reserve but I didn’t make a reservation and they had plenty of open spots close to the river. The bathroom are latrine style. Running water is available via hand pump.

Reviewed Jul. 30, 2020

National Forest Campground 1/2 Mile North of Sunny Gulch

We found this National Forest dispersed campsite 1/2 mile North of Sunny Gulch campground on Highway 75 outside of Stanley, Idaho. We fit 3 campers down here no problem but the biggest camper was 21’ long and we don’t recommend much bigger. We also had to use 4–wheel drive to get over the bull rock down to the site. Can’t ask for a better spot next to the river though!

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2019

Great camping next to the Salmon River

Just down the road from the entrance to Redfish Lake is where you will find this campground on the backs of the Salmon River. I never did really figure out if this is part of the Redfish Lake campground group or not, but I do know I enjoyed camping here and that this campground is owned by the Forest Service. There are two main loops, an upper and lower, and there is no distinction between tent and RV sites as there are no hookups available. The upper loop is closer to the river but doesn’t really have what I could see as great access. I was on the lower loop, which gets more sun as it is further away from the bluffs on the river (and had less trees). I was able to walk from my site to the river fairly easily even though there were no trails and as a result was able to watch rafting groups float on by. The campground was really well maintained and actually looked very new, though the host said it had been around for several years. The vault toilets were very clean and odor free, and it looked like most sites had nice gravel tent pads. Good steel picnic tables and prep tables(I am loving the prep tables the forest service is installing in campgrounds!!) as well firepits and large car/rv pads were really nice too. Showers and laundry are across the road at Redfish Lake along with great trails, horse rentals, and lake activities. Other nearby activities include hot spring sitting and white water rafting.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Annie C., July 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Annie C., July 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Sunny Gulch Campground by Annie C., July 31, 2019
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Jul. 25, 2019

Howdy

Salmon river within walking distance. Clean Would use again

Reviewed Jul. 1, 2019

Clean, quiet, convenient

When I couldn’t get into the campgrounds at Stanley lake or Redfish Lake this was the next best option and it worked out well. It was easy to access both of those recreational areas as well as access the services in town. The campground is along the Salmon River so you hear it in the background, which was beautiful. This was a clean and well run campground. The views of the sawtooth peaks were amazing.

Reviewed Aug. 5, 2017

Overlooked

A nice, well kept ground. Try to get the back loop near the river.

Month of VisitJuly

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities and facilities are available at Sunny Gulch Campground?

Sunny Gulch Campground features level gravel pads, picnic tables on concrete pads, food prep tables, and fire pits at each site. The campground has freshwater well pumps scattered throughout for drinking water, which is cold and clean. Bathroom facilities are vault toilets (no showers) that are well-maintained and clean. There are no hookups for RVs, but the campground has two loops with approximately 47 sites total. Sites are nicely spaced for privacy, with groomed tent areas. Some sites include fish cleaning tables. The campground charges $18 per night for car camping with a tent.

Are there hiking trails or outdoor activities near Sunny Gulch Campground?

Sunny Gulch Campground offers excellent access to outdoor activities. The Salmon River runs directly adjacent to the campground with small trails leading down to the water, perfect for fishing or cooling off on hot days. The campground is conveniently located near the Sawtooth Mountains, providing great hiking opportunities. Both Stanley Lake and Redfish Lake recreational areas are easily accessible from the campground, offering additional outdoor adventures including hiking, fishing, and water activities. The campground's strategic location makes it an ideal base for exploring the natural beauty of the Stanley area.

What do campers say in their reviews of Sunny Gulch Campground?

Campers consistently praise Sunny Gulch for its well-maintained grounds and spacious, private sites. The proximity to the Salmon River is highly valued, with many recommending sites in the back loop closer to the water. Visitors appreciate the campground's strategic location between Stanley and Redfish Lake, making it convenient for accessing services in town while still enjoying nature. The clean facilities, including remarkably well-maintained vault toilets, receive positive mentions. Many note the campground's peaceful atmosphere despite being near Highway 75. Campers particularly enjoy the level sites, nice picnic tables, and the beautiful mountain views. The campground fills up quickly during peak season, so planning ahead is recommended.

Where is Sunny Gulch Campground located in Stanley, Idaho?

Sunny Gulch Campground is located just outside Stanley, Idaho along Highway 75. It sits between the town of Stanley and Redfish Lake, making it conveniently positioned for accessing both town services and popular recreation areas. The campground is situated on the banks of the Salmon River, with the lower loop closer to Highway 75 and the upper loop extending toward the river. This National Forest Service campground is approximately half a mile from dispersed camping areas to the north and just down the road from the entrance to Redfish Lake, providing an excellent central location for exploring the Stanley area and Sawtooth Mountains.