This article about Boise National Forest Camping is brought to you by Speedy Blaze. Their variety of easy-to-start fire supplies is essential for your next camping trip.
Located just northeast of Boise, the capital of Idaho, Boise National Forest covers a vast area of grassland, forest, rivers, and mountains. Boise National Forest spans 2.5 million acres of land and contains over 500 trails and more than 250 reservoirs and lakes.
Recreationists who visit the area can enjoy one of the over 70 campsites to partake in hiking, swimming, kayaking, fishing, and more. Check out these 7 Boise National Forest camping spots to explore on your next visit to the Boise National Forest.
1. Rainbow Point
Image from The Dyrt camper Heidi C.
The beautifully named Rainbow Point Campground is located near Donnelly, Idaho. Sitting at an altitude of 4,850 feet, the campground is next to Lake Cascade, which offers campers ample opportunity for water recreation activities like fishing, swimming, boating, canoeing, windsurfing, sailing, and water skiing.
Rainbow Point is a small campground with single-family sites. Each site has a picnic table, grill, campfire ring, and vault toilet. While at Rainbow Point, try to catch a glimpse of the bald eagles and pelicans known to live in the area.
“Nice grassy sites, water right there, vault toilets, fire rings and picnic tables, tent camping or RVs. Not a lot of shade but cools down nice at night. Lots to do nearby!” – Erin M.
Campground Details:
- Price: $15-30
- Number of sites: 12
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
2. Willow Creek Campground
Image from The Dyrt camper S.
Located 61 miles northeast of the capital city of Boise, Willow Creek Campground is situated along State Highway 21 among the majestic Ponderosa pines. Willow Creek is a small, quiet campground with only 4 sites available, making it a great choice if you are looking for a less crowded space.
Willow Creek boasts several hiking trails and opportunities for biking, ATV riding, and horseback riding. If you enjoy trout fishing, the intersection of Crooked River and Willow Creek provides a perfect spot for throwing your line.
While wildflowers and wildlife abound in the spring and summer months, the area is popular in the winter with those who enjoy riding snowmobiles and backcountry skiing.
“This is a very small campsite far enough off Hwy 21 to be remote and rustic but also close enough to be fairly easy to get to. There are only 3-4 campsites. The scenery is beautiful, and there is a lot of wilderness to enjoy.” – Amy S.
Campground Details:
- Price: Free
- Number of sites: 4
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
3. Kirkham
Image from The Dyrt camper Simran D.
Just east of Lowman, Idaho, is the Kirkham Campground. This campsite is situated near the South Fork Payette River and sits at over 4,000 feet. The 35 mile-long Kirkham Ridge Trail provides spectacular scenic views of the area and is suitable for mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding.
One of the biggest draws of the area is the Kirkham Hot Springs. Campers walk down the trail to the springs and soak in the warm pools of water near small waterfalls. The river also allows campers to go kayaking and whitewater rafting.
“This is a very popular campsite all year round. It is right on the river and hot springs. Close to other hiking and other forest activities. Can be crowded.” – Amy S.
Campground Details:
- Price: $5-30
- Number of sites: 16
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
4. Pine Flats
Image from The Dyrt camper Mike W.
Nestled under the Ponderosa Pines, near the South Fork Payette River banks, Pine Flats Campground is a lovely area where campers have access to multiple recreational activities. Nature enthusiasts can go hiking along the scenic trails to spot colorful wildflowers and deer or elk. Campers can also visit the nearby hot spring and partake in water sports such as skiing, rafting, and fishing.
The campground contains double and single-family sites that have a campfire ring, picnic table, and grill.
“This campground is really nice and well maintained. A fire recently burned a lot of the forest nearby but didn’t seem to hit the campground. The site has no hookups but is paved and easily navigated. There is drinking water via spigot at a few locations and a restroom.” – Mike W.
Campground Details:
- Price: $15-30
- Number of sites: 26
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
This article about Boise National Forest camping is brought to you by Speedy Blaze.
Their 3-hour fire kit provides everything you need for a cozy night around the fire
5. Silver Creek Campground
Image from The Dyrt camper Lauri P.
Silver Creek Campground rests in Peace Valley, just 25 miles north of Garden Valley, Idaho. This area is popular with hunters and anglers and provides ample trails and wilderness areas to enjoy. Silver Creek offers two campsites. Lodgepole Springs and Cabin Creek are group sites that hold 80 and 100 people, respectively. There are also single and double campsites equipped with a fire ring, tent pad, and picnic table.
Located at an elevation of 4,490 feet, Silver Creek is a lovely area for true nature lovers.
“Nice area to camp. Sparse trees. Swimming in the creek as well as pool. If you’re needing cell reception, it’s spotty at best. Camping spaces are clean.” – Mike L.
Campground Details:
- Price: $15-150
- Number of sites: 57
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
6. Yellow Pine
Images from The Dyrt campers Casey J. and Hannah W.
The Yellow Pine Campground is located in a remote mountain meadow near Johnson’s Creek. The narrow road leading up to the campsite makes this area quiet and peaceful for its campers. Nature enthusiasts can catch a glimpse of the fantastic wildlife in the area, including elk, deer, moose, bear, and bald eagles. Several trails lead from the campsite to the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.
The area gets its name from the legend that boats could navigate downriver but never come back up. Both Johnson’s Creek and South Fork Salmon River are great spots for fishing. Berry picking and hunting are popular activities in the area.
“There are easy and well-maintained roads to access the forest and camping, and in this campground, there were excellent stone fire rings. Several were already loaded with a free batch of locally felled firewood!” – Casey J.
Campground Details:
- Price: $0
- Number of sites: 14
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
7. Swinging Bridge Campground
Image from The Dyrt camper Amy S.
The Swinging Bridge Campground is situated just off Highway 55 near the North Fork Payette River. Campers come to the site to partake in water recreation activities like fishing and boating. In this particular area, extreme kayaking and whitewater rafting are popular. Angling for rainbow trout and whitefish is also popular in this area.
The mountains surrounding the campsite are covered in Ponderosa pines, providing ample shade for campers to relax under. Each site is single-family and contains a campfire ring and picnic table.
“This is a great spot to just pull over and set camp as we did without too much fuss. The spots all have a table, and fire ring and the pit toilet wasn’t bad.” – Tom K.
Campground Details:
- Price: $14
- Number of sites: 11
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
These 7 campgrounds are only the beginning when it comes to camping options in the National Forest area. Check out The Dyrt’s full list of the best of Boise National Forest camping in Idaho for information on additional campsites.
