Shoshone Lake, near Yellowstone National Park, is a stunning spot for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This area offers a unique camping experience with beautiful views of the lake and surrounding wilderness, perfect for fishing and kayaking.

The campsites are well-spaced along the trail, providing a sense of privacy and tranquility. Visitors have noted the presence of outdoor toilets and bear hangs, which add to the convenience of your stay. Just be prepared for the mosquitoes; they can be relentless, especially in July, so pack your bug spray!

Getting to Shoshone Lake can be an adventure in itself. The road leading in is rugged, requiring an off-road vehicle for the last stretch, but the effort is worth it for the peaceful atmosphere and breathtaking scenery. As one camper put it, “It makes you feel like you live in a different time without technology and distractions.”

For those traveling with pets, the area is dog-friendly, and many campers have enjoyed watching their dogs swim in the lake. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer retreat, Shoshone Lake offers a beautiful backdrop for relaxation and outdoor fun.

Hikers and non-motorized boats are allowed access to Shoshone Lake. Permits for those traveling by boat are only available at the South Entrance, Grant Village, or the Bridge Bay backcountry offices. Advanced reservations for all Shoshone Lake campsites cannot be made before June 15. Sites 8Q6, 8Q7, 8T3, and 8T5 may not be reserved before July 15.

 Note that there are NO WOOD FIRES in this region. Campers must use either propane or white gas stoves. 

 Because this area is so popular, and to help maintain sanitation, primitive toilets have been installed at all of the backcountry campsites around Shoshone Lake.

Shoshone Lake — Yellowstone National Park

Macks Inn, ID is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Macks Inn

The Best Camping Near Macks Inn, Idaho

Shoshone Lake is a great campground.  It makes you feel like you live in a different time without technology and distractions.  The lake is fantastic for fishing and kayaking, and since the lake is located in a bowl, it is absolutely gorgeous!  However, it is not an easy place to get to, hence the peacefulness of it.  In order to get to this campground, you have to drive 15 miles from Lander, but the last 5 miles is a steep decline over large rocks and crevices.  I would not recommend a normal vehicle try to tackle this road, you need an off-road vehicle to make it to the bottom.  There are also various water crossings, through rivers, and part of the lake if you want access to half of the campgrounds.  There are also a lot of mosquitos, so take a bunch of bug spray.  I had so much fun here, although at 7 months pregnant, I walked a few miles down the mountain to the lake so I wasn't jostled so much!

Love this place!

GPS: 43.298221, -108.233703
Great, quiet, free little spot. Really beautiful along the water. Our dogs loved swimming and we were satisfied with this find! lots of bugs so DO NOT forget your bug spray

buggy but beautiful 

Nice!

I camped here in early July while I worked as a wildlife research technician in Yellowstone. The campsite wasn’t that bad - the hike was longer and had decent elevation change. There are several campsites along this trail. Our campsite had an outdoor toilet, bear hangs, a nice fire pit with natural benches and a stream not too far away to collect water to filter. However, the mosquitos were soooo bad (again this was July 1st through the 3rd) we had to hide out in our tents right after work for hours and we couldn’t fully enjoy the beauty of the area. It has annoying to cook dinner with all the mosquitos swarming is. Going out of the tent to use the bathroom was unthinkable unless it was an emergency! Overall, the campsite and surrounding area were very lovely. Shoshone lake is gorgeous and cold. 

Mosquito city

Shoshoni Lake is not free dispersed camping. These are paid sites which do not accommodate RVs. I spoke to someone from Yellowstone on the phone and they confirmed this.

Photos of Shoshone Lake — Yellowstone National Park

Real photos from real campers