Lake Cascade State Park

BOISE

Swinging Bridge sits in a canyon alongside Highway 55, about 10 miles north of Banks, Idaho, at 4,000 feet. The campground has 11 sites for tents and RVs, with fees at $18 per night. It's clean and well-maintained, with friendly hosts and direct access to the Payette River for whitewater rafting, kayaking, and fishing. Highway noise is constant and significant.

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Canyon Creek Campground sits 12 miles north of Banks along Highway 55 in Boise National Forest, at 4,000 feet elevation. The six-site campground runs $20-35 per night and puts you right on the North Fork Payette River, where Class III-IV rapids draw boaters and kayakers all summer. The river's constant rush is the soundtrack here.

EMMETT RANGER DISTRICT, 1857 HIGHWAY 16, SUITE A, EMMETT, ID, 83617, USA

Cold Springs Campground sits along the North Fork Payette River in Boise National Forest, 30 miles north of Emmett on Highway 55. The campground has five group sites available for $120 per night, each with a picnic table and fire ring. Open May 23 through September 6, it draws paddlers, anglers, and families looking for river access. Highway 55 runs close enough that traffic noise is noticeable, especially on busy summer weekends.

Boise National Forest

Tie Creek Campground sits along the Middle Fork Payette River in Boise National Forest, 15 minutes from Garden Valley. The 8-site campground runs $15-35 per night and books fast on summer weekends. New fire rings and sand tent pads replaced older infrastructure recently, but there's no trash service, so pack out everything you bring in.

Boise National Forest

Big Eddy Campground sits along the North Fork Payette River in Boise National Forest, 15 miles northwest of Banks along Highway 55. This small riverside spot has just four tent sites at 4,000 feet elevation, surrounded by Ponderosa and lodgepole pines. Sites cost $15 per night and fill quickly on summer weekends.

Hardscrabble Campground, Boise National Forest, Idaho

Hardscrabble Campground sits at 3,215 feet along the Middle Fork Payette River in Boise National Forest, offering six well-spaced sites sheltered by Douglas fir and lodgepole pine. Three sites accommodate RVs up to 30 feet. There's no potable water, and unofficial campsites nearby sometimes mean noise at night, but the river access and clean vault toilets keep campers returning.

EMMETT RANGER DISTRICT, 1805 HIGHWAY 16, #5, EMMETT, ID, 83617, USA

Rattlesnake Campground sits 13 miles north of Crouch along the Middle Fork Payette River at 3,621 feet elevation. The group-oriented facility has 10 sites (nine single, one double) with fees at $150 per night. Douglas fir and lodgepole pine provide partial shade, and the riverside location puts fishing, hiking, and water access within steps of camp.

7359 HWY 21, LOWMAN, ID, 83637, USA

Cozy Cove sits on a bluff overlooking Deadwood Reservoir at 5,300 feet in Boise National Forest. The 30-site campground offers vault toilets, potable water, and reservoir access for boating and fishing. Sites cost $12 per night and are separated fairly well, though some RV access can be tight. Expect no cell service and a rough road in.

7359 HWY 21, LOWMAN, ID, 83637, USA

Howers Campground sits on the northeast shore of Deadwood Reservoir at 5,322 feet in Boise National Forest. The five sites cost $5-$12 per night and offer direct waterfront access. Dirt roads and primitive facilities reflect the remote setting, but potable water and vault toilets are available.

Boise National Forest

Hollywood Campground sits at 4,800 feet on the shore of Sage Hen Reservoir in Boise National Forest. It's one of five campgrounds around the reservoir and the most popular according to visitor reviews. Five tent sites offer fire rings, picnic tables, vault toilets, and potable water. Summer weekends fill up quickly.

2435 Silver Creek Road

Silver Creek Campground sits at 4,490 feet in Peace Valley, about 32 sites spread across multiple loops where lodgepole pines provide partial shade. Silver Creek runs alongside the campground. Sites range from single tent pads to a group site that holds 100 people, with fees from $15 to $150 per night depending on size and season. The campground opens May 15.

EMMETT RANGER DISTRICT, 1857 HIGHWAY 16, SUITE A, EMMETT, ID, 83617, USA

Eastside sits at 4,956 feet on Sagehen Reservoir in Boise National Forest, 50 sites scattered under a mixed conifer canopy. The group site handles up to 50 people and 10 vehicles for $130/night. Most sites catch partial lake views through the trees. The non-motorized Sagehen Reservoir Trail runs nearby, though some campers mention trail users cutting through occupied sites.

7359 HIGHWAY 21, LOWMAN, ID 83637, USA

Barneys Campground sits on the northeast shore of Deadwood Reservoir at 5,300 feet in the Boise National Forest. Its 8 sites spread out along the shoreline, offering waterfront access and more privacy than you'd expect from such a small campground. Fees run $5-$12 per night, and the vault toilets stay clean. This is primitive camping: no hookups, no camp hosts to settle disputes, just you and the reservoir.

Cartwright Ridge Campground, Sage Hen Reservoir, Boise National Forest, Idaho

Cartwright Ridge Campground sits at 4,800 feet in Boise National Forest, offering just five sites near Sage Hen Reservoir. Nightly fees range from $20 to $50. The small size and well-spaced sites create a secluded feel, though the access road is fairly bumpy and there's no potable water on-site.

EMMETT RANGER DISTRICT, 1805 HIGHWAY 16, #5, EMMETT, ID 83617, USA

Sagehen Creek Campground sits at 4,997 feet in Boise National Forest, near Emmett, along Sagehen Reservoir. The campground has 20 sites for tents and RVs, with nightly fees of $20. Recent logging has altered the landscape, reducing shade at some sites while others remain forested near the water. Expect no cell service.

EMMETT RANGER DISTRICT, 1857 HIGHWAY 16, SUITE A, EMMETT, ID, 83617, USA

Antelope Campground sits at 5,031 feet on Sagehen Reservoir in Boise National Forest, offering 30 tent and RV sites plus group camping. Fees run $20-100 per night. The campground features vault toilets, potable water, fire rings, and picnic tables. It's popular for fishing, swimming, boating, and hiking, but there's no cell service even with boosters.

7359 HWY 21, LOWMAN, ID 83637, USA

River Side Campground sits along the Deadwood River at the northern edge of Deadwood Reservoir in Boise National Forest. Ten primitive sites offer riverside access at 5,300 feet elevation. Fees run $12 per night. The campground provides vault toilets and potable water but no onsite host. Sites are small, and reviewers note maintenance can be inconsistent.

EMMETT RANGER DISTRICT, 1857 HIGHWAY 16, SUITE A

Peace Valley Campground sits at 4,591 feet in Boise National Forest near Garden Valley, Idaho. The facility operates as a single group site that accommodates up to 50 people across five individual campsites, with fees running $120 per night. Reviews praise the quiet, private setting but note maintenance issues including rusty water from the well and occasional cleanliness problems with vault toilets.

Boise National Forest

Boiling Springs Cabin sits in an open meadow in Boise National Forest, where natural hot springs meet the Middle Fork Payette River at 4,025 feet. The single cabin sleeps up to five people and rents for $55.56-$80 per night. You'll share the area with day-use visitors drawn to the public hot springs.

BOISE

Third Fork Cabin sits at 4,700 feet in the Boise National Forest, a renovated historic guard station that sleeps four. The cabin runs $20-$80 per night and includes a flush toilet, shower, and propane stove, though recent visitors note the pilot light can be finicky. The surrounding forest provides solid privacy, and the dirt access road requires careful navigation at unmarked forks near Ola.

Deer Flat Campground, Boise National Forest, Idaho

Deer Flat Campground sits at 6,224 feet along the North Fork of Deer Creek in Boise National Forest, about 30 miles northeast of Lowman. This is a single-site primitive campground with no amenities. It sees little use except during fall hunting season. The surrounding area burned in recent fires, leaving a scarred landscape.

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Big Flat sits in Payette National Forest at 4,186 feet, offering 12 tent sites along the Little Weiser River. The campground operates first-come, first-served and costs $10-15 per night. Sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, with potable water available on-site.

PO Box 709, Cascade, Idaho, 83611-0709, United States

Lake Cascade State Park spreads across 86 miles of shoreline at 4,738 feet, offering 200 campsites in multiple loops along Idaho's expansive reservoir. Sites range from primitive to full-hookup, with fees starting at $7 per night. Crown Point and Huckleberry are the most popular campgrounds, praised for lake access and sunset views.

P.O. BOX 696, CASCADE, ID 83611, USA

French Creek Campground sits on the western shore of Lake Cascade in west-central Idaho, 20 sites split between upper and lower sections. The upper loop offers more privacy and shade under mixed conifers, while lower sites trade seclusion for lake proximity. Sites run $15 per night and accommodate tents and RVs up to 45 feet, though maneuvering larger rigs can be tight. French Creek runs behind some sites, adding water sounds to the forest setting.

PO BOX 696, CASCADE, ID 83611, USA

Stolle Meadows Cabin sits on a bluff overlooking its namesake meadow in Boise National Forest, 15 miles from Cascade at 5,300 feet elevation. The single-room historic cabin sleeps four and costs $40/night year-round, though winter access requires snowshoes or a snowmobile. Reviews average 4.5 stars, with guests praising the wood stove, stocked firewood, and proximity to Warm Lake and Vulcan Hot Springs. But warning about persistent rodent problems.

Penn Basin Campground, Landmark, Idaho

Penn Basin Campground sits in Boise National Forest near Landmark, Idaho, with six primitive sites scattered across an alpine meadow at 6,703 feet. The campground occupies a remote Johnson Creek valley where pine forest meets open grassland. Most vehicles can handle the access road, though rough patches require attention. Open early June through late September.

Boise National Forest

Summit Lake Campground sits at 7,365 feet in Boise National Forest with just three tent sites near Cascade. The small size means solitude even in summer, when visitors fish for trout on nearby Warm Lake, swim from the beach, and hike trails through wildflower meadows. Access runs early June to mid-September.

PO BOX 696 CASCADE, ID 83611, USA

Picnic Point Campground sits on a bluff overlooking Warm Lake in Boise National Forest, about 15 miles from Cascade. The campground has 8 walk-in tent sites at 5,300 feet elevation. Sites cost $15 per night. Reviewers praise the lake views and clean vault toilets but warn about noise from the nearby lodge and other campers.

P.O. BOX 696, CASCADE, ID, 83611, USA

Warm Lake Campground sits on the eastern shore of Warm Lake at 5,300 feet in Boise National Forest. The 12-site campground runs $15-30 per night and fills quickly on summer weekends after late-June reservations open. Sites are close together in places, and highway noise carries to some areas.

PO BOX 696, CASCADE, ID 83611, USA

Shoreline Campground sits at 5,300 feet in Boise National Forest, right on Warm Lake. With 50 sites for tents, RVs, and groups, it runs $15-30 per night and operates May 17 through September 15. You'll find vault toilets, potable water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Cell service is nonexistent here.

Payette National Forest

Cabin Creek sits in the West Mountains at 4,186 feet, offering 12 large campsites beneath dense tree cover where a nearby waterfall provides constant background noise. The campground has potable water and vault toilets. It's a quiet base for fishing the West Fork of the Weiser River and accessing ATV trails, though rough access roads and limited cell service mean you'll need to plan ahead.

South Fork Salmon River Campground, Cascade, Idaho

South Fork Salmon River Campground sits at 5,400 feet in Boise National Forest, offering 11 first-come, first-served sites along the river. The small size keeps crowds manageable on weekdays, though holiday weekends fill up fast. Sites run $15 per night and can handle RVs up to 30 feet. Traffic noise from Warm Lake Road carries through camp, but most visitors find the river access and wildlife viewing worth the tradeoff.

Near Landmark, Idaho

Buck Mountain Campground sits in a quiet meadow along Johnson Creek in the Boise National Forest, 20 miles from Yellow Pine. The campground has four sites at 6,594 feet elevation. Sites cost $25-$35 per night and accommodate tents, RVs, and primitive camping. Access roads are narrow and rough.

P.O. BOX 696, CASCADE, ID, 83611, USA

Amanita Campground sits on the western shore of Lake Cascade in Boise National Forest, 12 sites tucked among mixed conifers at 4,850 feet. Sites run $15/night and book fast in summer. Several campsites claim direct lakefront access, though recent beetle-control tree removal has thinned shade in parts of the campground.

PO BOX 696, CASCADE, ID 83611, USA

Rainbow Point sits on the western shore of Lake Cascade at 4,850 feet in Boise National Forest. The campground has 14 sites for tents and RVs, $15-30 per night, with reservations recommended due to limited availability. Camp hosts keep the place running smoothly, and the short walk to the lake's sandy beach makes this a popular summer base camp.

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Penny Springs Campground sits at 4,987 feet in the Warm Lake region of Boise National Forest, offering a quiet alternative to busier lakeside camps. The campground has fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets but no potable water. It's open mid-May through mid-September and sees peak crowds on July and August weekends, though weekdays stay relatively peaceful.

Forest Service Road 413, Landmark, Idaho

Trout Creek Campground sits in a mountain meadow within Boise National Forest at 6,355 feet elevation, offering five compact sites surrounded by dense pine forest. The campground is located near Cascade, Idaho, where Johnson Creek and companion waterways flow through the valley. This is a primitive setup with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables but no water on site.

102 W. Lake Street, McCall, ID 83638, USA

Paddy Flat Guard Station sits in a sun-dappled meadow at 5,250 feet in Payette National Forest, offering two restored cabins available for rent at $100 per night. Open July 1 through September 30, the station accommodates up to four people per cabin and provides flush toilets, showers, and fire rings, but you'll need to bring your own drinking water and kitchen utensils.

Payette National Forest

Kennally Creek Campground sits in Payette National Forest at 5,682 feet, offering 11 small, basic sites on a first-come, first-served basis for $10–15 per night. The campground runs June 1 through September 30 and attracts visitors looking for a quiet, no-frills experience near hiking trails and creek access. Expect potable water, fire rings, and picnic tables. But no trash service, so pack out everything you bring.

102 West Lake Street McCall, ID 83638

Rapid Creek Camping Area sits in the Paddy Flat area of Payette National Forest at 5,587 feet, about 15 miles from McCall. The campground has two primitive dispersed sites alongside Rapid Creek. No amenities, no fee information, minimal infrastructure.

Payette National Forest

Poverty Flat sits along the South Fork Salmon River in Payette National Forest, offering 10 paved campsites at 4,242 feet elevation. Four walk-in tent sites provide extra seclusion from the six standard sites. At $10 per night, the campground operates first-come, first-served with payment through the Recreation.gov app's Scan and Pay system. Limited cell service means downloading the app before arrival.

Payette National Forest

Four Mile Campground sits along the South Fork Salmon River in Payette National Forest at 4,206 feet, offering just four primitive sites on a first-come, first-served basis. The $10 nightly fee includes vault toilets and access to fishing, hiking, and nearby hot springs. One reviewer calls it "the single best place to camp on the S. Fork."