Established Camping
Wood River Campground
About
National Forest
Sawtooth National Forest
Overview
Wood River Group Overnight Area is located inside the Wood River Campground, which has 30 single campsites for RV's and tent camping, which are available for use on a first-come first-served basis. This campground is located on the banks of the beautiful Big Wood River at an elevation of 6400 feet. Ketchum, Idaho is conveniently close, only 10 miles south. Visitors enjoy fishing, tubing and exploring local trails.
Recreation
This site is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where outdoor activities abound. Fly-fishing for rainbow, brown and brook trout is popular on the Big Wood River, as is float tubing. A self-guided nature trail begins near the amphitheater, leading to a small cave and a beaver pond.
Facilities
Wood River offers one reservable group site that can be used as a day-use picnic area for up to 150 people, or as an overnight tent camping site for up to 40 people. Also Wood River Campground has 30 single campsites for RV's and tenting which are available for use on a first-come first served basis. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. An amphitheater with electricity and wooden benches is just a short walk from the site. Roads and parking spurs are paved, but the site surface is dirt.
Natural Features
A forest of Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, Lodgepole pine and aspens offers plentiful shade within the facility. Colorful summer wildflowers are abundant and willows dot the banks of the river. Temperatures are cool with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.
Nearby Attractions
The 20-mile Harriman Trail passes nearby, offering excellent hiking and biking. Numerous additional trails spur off the Harriman Trail leading to deep canyons, sparkling lakes, swimming holes and more great high country fishing. The Sawtooth National Recreation Area Visitor Center is 2.5 miles from the campground, with a small museum, bookstore and area information. An RV dump station and drinking water are located here as well. Easley Hot Springs is 4 miles north, offering a swimming pool, hot tubs, showers and a small store. Sun Valley Resort is 7 miles south, with hiking, biking, guided horseback riding and beautiful mountain scenery. Popular area events include Wagon Days in Ketchum in September. In Stanley an hour away, an Arts & Crafts Fair is held in July and a Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair and Fireman's Ball in September.
Reservation Info
You can reserve the group overnight area by clicking on the following link www.recreation.gov/camping/wood-river-group-overnight-area-tent-only/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70358 or by calling (877)444-6777. All other campground sites and picnic areas are first-come, first-serve.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiGood
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Fires
GuideNice place to call home for a few days
We were looking for a nice quiet campground to act as a base for fishing the Big Wood and visits into Ketchum/Hailey/Bellevue. Wood River did not disappoint. It is located @ 10 miles north of Ketchum making it very convenient to run into town for supplies, meals, shopping, and entertainment.
The campground consists of a couple of connected loops with large shaded campsites. Some are along the Big Wood River. The roads and sites are well suited to smaller rigs. Big rigs might have a difficult time negotiating the loop road and finding sites deep enough to accommodate them.
The campsites and vaults were very clean and well maintained. The camp hostess during our visit was Peggy. She did a great job checking us in and making us feel welcome.
Dispute being near Highway 75 the road noise in the evenings was not a distraction. We camped in site 21 which is one of the farthest sites from the the highway. All in all we loved the forest feel and will return.
LegendPavement Limits the Dust
Right off Hwy 75 sits this clean campground with paved road throughout the campground and paved sites which helps to cut down on the dust as many of these campgrounds along Hwy 75 are dusty.
There is a good amount of shade here and mostly flat parking at the sites. Each site had a picnic table and fire pit. The trees are trimmed from the ground up and allows zero privacy.
There are pit toilets and water spigots throughout as well. There were dumpsters for trash.
Some of the sites are fairly close to the highway so you’ll get some road noise which dies down at night and you’ll also hear the river. Other sites on the far side were much quieter. There were a couple of pull through sites too. Good for almost all rigs, vans or tents. Hiking and biking in the area and amazing views of the mountains. Lots of great photography if you’re into that!
This is bear country but bear boxes are not provided to store food appropriately. There was a host on site that was friendly and helpful. Not too many people here. There were a lot of open sites.
$18/night for camping, day use available for a fee. See picture of signage.
Zero cell reception.
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LegendCheck out the Wood River Group review
I initially reviewed this campground under Wood River Group (reservable) before the Dyrt added just the campground (first come only). Both the group and individual sites are at the same location. You can check out my extensive review and photos there. I had already deleted moat of my photos before I got the notice this one was added. Here's that post.
https://thedyrt.com/camping/idaho/idaho-wood-river/review/122472
Location
Wood River Campground is located in Idaho
Directions
From Ketchum, take Highway 75 north for 10 miles. Turn at the Wood River Campground sign. Stay on the main campground road for a short distance until you reach the group area parking lot on the right side of the road.
Address
SAWTOOTH, KETCHUM
ID
Coordinates
43.7930556 N
114.4588889 W