What is there to say about Staircase that hasn’t already been said? This one of a kind campground offers the most breathtaking river hike I’ve seen in a long while. The water is impossibly blue, the forests serene, and the site itself comfortable. Make sure to visit in the “on” season for full amenities, otherwise it’s pit toilets and hand sanitizer.

South Beach campground is one of those hidden gems I wish I had gotten to spend more time at. It seems at first glance like overflow camping from Mora, but if I’m ever in the area again I’ll choose this site over that in a heartbeat. There isn’t much privacy, and there are only about twenty sites, but don’t let that dissuade you. The sunsets are spectacular, the stars at night even more so, and the beach is only a few steps away the entire time.