Idaho

[ghosthunter]

Looking for specific information on camping locations through out Idaho.

We live in WA. Planning a three week sashay around Idaho.

We have a camp spot on a friends place around St Marie’s.
No reservations, just going by seat of our pants. Heading down to Craters of the Moon back up Montana / Idaho line over to Priest River, Hwy 20 into WA.

Any suggestions on good campsites, pay or free, and places to see.
Going to stay off major freeways as much as possible and have no interest in the big cities.

[Mike G]

I've been wanting to visit City of Rocks Natl Reserve, near the UT border. You might check it out.

A couple miles west of Island Park, it's possible to drive to the top of Sawtell Peak for a nice view of Henry's Lake and more.

Personally I didn't care for Craters (lava just looked barren and boring to me), but some people like it.

[yeungfeng]

Hope you have AC as it gets hot there and everywhere but the mountains. City of Rocks is an amazing area. North of Craters is Sun Valley (yawn) but keep going North and Stanley (Red Fish Lake) area is very nice. Keep going North towards Missoula MT and head West from Lolo to Grangeville along the Lochsa, a gorgeous river. North from Grangeville through Moscow to (Lake) Coeur d'Alene. Going further North and Priest Lake.

Weekends may prove finding a spot challenging, weekdays not so much. Stanley area would be best during weekdays, weekends might be impossible.

Of course ( I just read your location) you might want to take that route in reverse :-)

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

Looking for specific information on camping locations through out Idaho.

We live in WA. Planning a three week sashay around Idaho.

We have a camp spot on a friends place around St Marie’s.
No reservations, just going by seat of our pants. Heading down to Craters of the Moon back up Montana / Idaho line over to Priest River, Hwy 20 into WA.

Any suggestions on good campsites, pay or free, and places to see.
Going to stay off major freeways as much as possible and have no interest in the big cities.

Hi: ghosthunter... The further east you come a nice compact "Air purifier" would be good to have. You'd need to have serviced sites though!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[sherminator]

On our recent trip to Yellowstone NP we took US20 across south central Idaho, past Craters of the Moon. We camped at Hayspur campground, just west of Picabo. It is a nice, free-will donation, no reservation campground at a fish hatchery. Craters of the Moon is about 45 minutes to the east, and there is a Nature Conservancy run wildlife refuge on the south side of US20 from the campground that has trails along a meandering creek. We saw moose there along with many species of birds. That stretch of creek had many float tuber fishers. The hatchery has a fishing pond. Several children were having fun fishing there. There are several other free campgrounds in the area.

[Perry Butler]

We like Bumblebee campground near Kellogg. No services, but we’re dry campers/boondockers.

Enjoy,

Perry

[ghosthunter]

Thanks all

I am taking notes . Keep the info coming.

Our general plan is to poke along ,couple nights here or there in a big loop. No time frame really and really no goals other than to see Idaho. Our 15 B can go indefinitely with solar suit case and holding tanks about 7 days.

[Mucram]

I’m in city of the rocks Smoky cg as we speak. Been here many times. Great spot.

[kootenaigirl]

In Sandpoint and area, Bonner County fairgrounds, Springy point, Sam Owen and Riley creek.

[kavm]

We love the Sawtooths wilderness and would recommend it highly. There are a lot of FS campgrounds - most are very good. The choice will depend upon what kind of activities (water, etc.) you like. We go for hiking and but haven’t tried a large enough cross section of campgrounds to give you the best advice on campgrounds. Area wise - it is highly recommended.

[hrewer]

This was an interesting stop for us:

https://yankeeforkdredge.com/

[Civilguy]

We've camped in Spokane at Riverside State Park a couple of times on our way east; Franks Diner there in Spokane is a gem; you eat in a 100 year-old diner car, and the food was great in our estimation.



We really enjoyed the Walking Tour through historic Coeur d’Alene.

The tours are led by Robert Singletary, the in-resident historian and Program Director for the museum. Singletary is known for going above and beyond on this awesome experience by embodying historic characters like Steamboat Captain Peter Sorensen or Fort Sherman General William Carlin.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/idah...lking-tour-id/

We've driven through on 84 heading to and from Utah and found that stretch pretty tedious. However, there's good things to be found if you get off the interstate. the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area and the falls at Twin Falls come to mind.

[soultrek]

IF your routing includes McCall and Stanley: Ponderosa State Park in McCall is wonderful, lakeside and close to town, though often full in the summer; a number of small FS campgrounds in route to Stanley; Redfish, Stanley, and Alturas Lake campgrounds are all beautiful, and popular.

[randynjill]

We absolutely loved Baumgartner Campground. I is a drive getting there so make sure you have what you need. Beautiful campground with a great river going through it. There is also a hot spring pool and they have nice sites. Ours was huge with a small creek running through it. I can’t remember the site number though.

[Hancock]

We own a lot in an RV subdivision in Cascade, Idaho, which is between Boise and McCall on Hwy 55. We stay here in the summer and migrate south before winter hits. Beautiful area. In Cascade, we have Lake Cascade State Park, with sites at several locations on the lake. Nearby is Horsethief Reservoir, with several campsites. Very nice. In the Boise and Payette National Forests, there are a multitude of boondocking sites. The area is quite busy on the weekends.

[UncleTim]

Anywhere along Hwy. 12 on the Lochsa river will be quite beautiful. Lots of campgrounds on the river. Lolo Pass Hot Springs at the top of the river. They have a campground and a restaurant. The place is funky but lovable. I love hot springs.

That puts you just North of the Bitterroot Valley which I highly recommend. Not too sure on campgrounds there, but you should find lots of camping.

Going South, North Fork offers direct access to the Salmon river and that is a very good place to check out. Corn Creek campground is at the end of the road and mostly for whitewater river runners. You can get in there but it is a dirt road. I love Salmon! Which is a nice little town.

And just a little way down the road is Challis Hot Springs, which is on the banks of the Salmon River. Highly recommended and they have a campground.

That will put you just down the canyon from Stanley and the art district. The Middle Fork of the Salmon headwaters is just outside of town and absolutely necessary for me. I am a whitewater river rat! Plenty of camping with a few campgrounds there. So beautiful.

That puts you right in the middle of the state and every direction is a good one. You can easily make your way to Cascade and McCall from there. Lake Payette is nice. Again camping everywhere.

[Iowa Dave]

If you go though McCall, see if that gas station/ restaurant is still right along the highway and let me know if that big rugged up mountain lion is still on the wall. He was a big one as I recall.
Iowa Dave