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Dispersed Camping

Wolf Flats Recreation Area

Wolf Flats Recreation Area, near Ririe, Idaho, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature without the fuss of reservations or permits. This area offers a mix of sites, many of which are conveniently located near the river, making it a great choice for fishing or simply enjoying the soothing sounds of flowing water.

Campers appreciate the spaciousness of the sites, with plenty of room for tents and gear. Visitors have noted that while there are no amenities like drinking water or trash pickup, the natural beauty and peaceful surroundings more than make up for it. One camper shared, “I loved this place so much that I stayed 6 nights! I had the perfect spot right by the river.”

For those who enjoy hiking, the area is surrounded by trails that lead to stunning views and wildlife sightings. Keep an eye out for marmots and foxes, as some campers have spotted them while exploring. Just remember to pack out what you pack in; a few folks mentioned the need for better trash management.

Whether you're looking for a quiet retreat or a base for outdoor adventures, Wolf Flats offers a unique experience in the heart of Idaho's wilderness. Just be prepared for a bit of a dusty drive to get there, and you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere that’s perfect for a weekend escape.

Description

Bureau of Land Management

Bureau of Land Management

Wolf Flats is a dispersed, undeveloped camping area with 25 locations to camp. Some large areas are can accommodate groups of 50 people. There is an adjacent undeveloped boat access to the South Fork of the Snake River. Fees/Rules/Facilities: No fees Pack out toilet and trashNo garbage collection at this facility Do not burn metals, glass, or plastic in the fire pits. Wood products only. Do not cut down trees Only use dead and downed wood (only small diameter) Do not create new camping areas by driving into the vegetation on non-designated routes Portable toilets are located in the large main site

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Location

Wolf Flats Recreation Area is located in Idaho

Detail location of campground

Directions

40 minutes east of Idaho Falls; 6 miles past Heise Hot Springs off the Snake River Road.

Address

Upper Snake Field Office 1405 Hollipark Drive
Idaho falls, ID 83401

Coordinates

43.59955 N
111.60732 W

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Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More

Access

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

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Dispersed

Features

For Campers

  • Phone Service
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

DISPERSED CAMPING

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Wolf Flats Recreation Area needs a permit.

Drive Time


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

12 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 20, 2024

Easy access

There are extra pull offs by the river before the main area, perfect for car camping!

Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Jul. 25, 2024

Nice Spot

Had some bugs. Lots of trees, some spots have river access. Wasn’t to busy

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jul. 14, 2024

Great spot with lots of sites

Great spot just 45 minutes out of Idaho Falls. Lots of sites, many are right by the river.

There are a few bathrooms along the road but may be a bit of a hike from some sites.

River is refreshing and nice to watch. Only complaint is the garbage left behind. We easily filled a garbage bag full of others trash when we first arrived. Remember to pack your garbage out to keep places like these pristine.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Azaali J., July 14, 2024
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Azaali J., July 14, 2024
  • (8) View All
Reviewed May. 28, 2024

Nice, specially water sites

Nice place for a free disperse. There is a 10$ disperse just up the street. 

A few sites are by the water some not.

We were there after memorial weekend and the was a bit of trash.

Reviewed May. 27, 2024

Horrible place to camp

So many rude locals! Everyone drives fast past camp sites. Not an ideal place for a family outting. Horrible locals too! Beautiful area ruined by Derelicts

SiteW7
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed May. 25, 2024

Busy but still spots available.

Drove in midday on the the Saturday of Memrial day weekend. It was very busy with lots of campers but there were still camp sites available near the vaulted toilet. Lovely camp site and surroundings. We will be back!

Sitedisbursed camping.
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Kevin C., May 25, 2024
Reviewed Jun. 19, 2023

Perfect Peaceful Getaway

I loved this place so much that I stayed 6 nights! I was only planning 2. I had the perfect spot right by the river. There were 2 campsites on either side of me but I never heard them. It was very quiet.

There is a hotsprings about 5 miles away which was nice to get to on about day 3 of my stay.

I'm a women traveling and camping by myself and felt very safe here.

Cell reception was pretty good. I have T-Mobile.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Robin B., June 19, 2023
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Robin B., June 19, 2023
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Robin B., June 19, 2023
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jun. 26, 2022

Peaceful & Scenic

We followed the directions from a fellow dyrter and it was really easy. Pass the Heise Pools and Campgrounds and drive about a 1/2 mile and make a right at the Kelly Campground Sign. Just follow all the way to the end to find free spots along the Snake. A few vault toilets. We stayed near the cliff where we watched marmots and foxes along the rocks.

Month of VisitJune
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  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Jamie C., June 26, 2022
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Jamie C., June 26, 2022
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Sep. 29, 2020

Large sites, free, near the river, tons of hiking, cool spot!

Stayed here a few times over this summer, and have enjoyed it every time.

Long dusty road to get here, then a bunch of free sites open up on both sides. The river-side sites tend to be a bit smaller from what I could see, but there are a lot of sites and both times I was there it wasn't crazy busy so options seem to be plenty.

Bathrooms available. Decent cell reception on Verizon. Lots of firewood seems to be lying around to gather as well, a nice bonus. The surrounding area has a lot of trails and other outdoor things to get into. Not all that close to town for supply runs, but not so far away as to require a substantial amount of time to get what you need and get back to the campsite.

For the low low price of nothing, this place is a damn good deal.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Quinn Z., September 29, 2020
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Quinn Z., September 29, 2020
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Quinn Z., September 29, 2020
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Oct. 15, 2019

Off-season, nice

I spent the night here on a cross country road trip with just me and the dog. It was free which was awesome. It was deserted which was both great and unnerving for a single newbie camper. We woke up to snow and had a great dawn hike on the hike/bike trails. The campsites are well-loved/worn and some were under water/mud. Because it was both off-season/midweek, it didn't matter at all, as I could pick almost any site.

  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Emma K., October 15, 2019
Reviewed Sep. 5, 2017

Beautiful!

It's a very dusty and gravely road. But the sites are beautiful. We got one right on the river not far from vault toilets. We are in a spot that is 3 different sites, but could easily be a large group spot. Firepita. Easy access to river. It's moving a little fast early September. But it's refreshing in the heat. There is no garbage pickup, so there is a small amount of litter. Very quiet.

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Robyn M., September 5, 2017
  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Robyn M., September 5, 2017
  • (5) View All
Reviewed May. 11, 2017

Awesome Spot, Noisy Neighbors

Driving down to Wolf Flats is beautiful. It is forested with a butte on one side, and the snake river on the other. The campsites are somewhat primitive, but we like that. The location was beautiful and we loved the spot. However, it is a free campsite. This is nice, but I think this tends to bring in rowdy neighbors. Everyone was nice enough, but a group showed up at 9pm blaring music for at least a coiple of hours. I can't say this happens every night, but it did with us. Other than the late night noise, this was an awesome spot.

  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Tim R., May 11, 2017
  • A short compilation of of the drive and campground.
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  • Review photo of Wolf Flats Recreation Area by Tim R., May 11, 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Wolf Flats Recreation Area have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Wolf Flats Recreation Area does not have wifi.