Camping and Fishing Sites
Idaho is abundant with blue lakes and raging rivers. Here is a list of most-loved places to fish and camp not too far from Boise. Near the end of our campground list you will find links to sites that hold over 100 more campgrounds (this is Idaho after all!) Many trails throughout the parks offer access for ATV's and equestrian riding. |
Red Fish Lake
Sawtooth National Forest
208-774-3536/info@redfishlake.com
Boating, biking, and hundreds
of miles of hiking and horseback riding!
Call to reserve camping spot. |
Ponderosa State Park
McCall, Idaho (2 hours north)
208-634-2164
1,000 acre park with beaches on Payette
Lake. Boating access, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Call or make reservations online.
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Lake Cascade
Cascade, ID
Hwy 55, 75 miles north
208-382-6544
Great place for fishing, boating,
camping, hiking, and snowmobiling.
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Bruneau Sand Dunes
27608 Sand Dunes Rd.
18 Miles SW of Mountain Home
208-366-7919
Beautiful sand dunes surround the water
at this peaceful spot perfect for camping,
including 9 miles of horseback riding trails.
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Garden Valley
One hour north off Hwy 55
Offering several campgrounds and
hotsprings, with plenty of river
recreation along the middle fork of
the Payette River.
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Hells Canyon
Major tourist destination
3.5 hours from Boise
Deepest canyon in North America.
Guided Rafting tours, boating,
fishing, hiking, camping.
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Anderson Ranch
Forest Rd. 61
Off Hwy 20 near Pine
208-587-7961
A local favorite not too far from Boise
great for boating, fishing and camping.
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Warm Lake
2 hours from Boise
Hwy 55, East of Cascade
208-382-7400
Hiking, fishing, boating, mountain
biking and camping.
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Boise National Forest Campgrounds
With over 70 campgrounds in the vast
Boise National Forest area, this list is a
must for finding just the perfect one.
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Lucky Peak
8 miles south of Boise
74 Arrowrock Road
208-334-2432
Picnic and Fish at Discovery Park,
swim at Sandy Point, and boat and
fish through Spring Shores Marina.
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Caldwell Ponds (1 & 2)
Caldwell, ID
Hwy 20/26 to Pond Lane
Popular for the little ones to
fish straight from the shores. Bring
lunch and have a picnic. |
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Bull Trout Lake
Hwy 21
Lowman, ID
Beautiful beaches. Great for
equestrian camping, fishing,
canoeing, biking and winter
recreation.
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Eagle Island State Park
4000 W. Hatchery Rd.
Eagle, ID
208-939-0696
Day-use park with 545 acres
for hiking and picnicking, with a
waterslide and beaches.
$5 vehicle entrance fee.
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Owyhee Reservoir
Owyhee State Park, Oregon
1.5 hours from Boise
1-800-551-6949 or 503-986-0707
35 mile-long lake next to Owyhee
mountains, great camping and fishing.
View big horn sheep, antelope, eagles
and more!
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Payette Lake
1300 E. Lake St.
McCall, Idaho (2 hours north)
208-634-8605
Boat and Jet ski rentals available on
this crystal clear lake nestled in
Ponderosa State Park.
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Swan Falls Reservoir
10 Miles South of Kuna
Near Birds of Prey National
Conservation Area, great for
camping, boating, fishing, hiking
and picnicking.
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C.J. Strike Reservoir
Bruneau, ID
24 Miles SW of Mountain Home
208-384-3300
Three reservoirs for fishing
enthusiasts through both the banks
and arm of Snake River by boat.
Wildlife galore!
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Lake Lowell
Nampa, ID
Off Karcher exit I-84
208-466-4641
(Nampa Chamber of Commerce)
For fishing enthusiasts, great fun
for all levels. Can get windy and choppy
on the open water so come prepared.
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Hot Springs
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Public Hot Springs
Here is a list of local public hot springs tucked away within the mountains of the Boise National Forest. Many include campgrounds, however, some of these locations are more suited to a young adult crowd over a family-friendly destination, so always plan ahead. |
Skinnydipper
Garden Valley, ID
Mile Marker 4
Must hike .5 miles on foot above
Banks/Lowman hwy marker. Free
to public. Three natural rock pools, can
get very crowded.
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Bonneville
Lowman, ID
Hwy 21
.25 mile hike on foot above campgrounds.
Must reserve camping spot. Rock pools and
private "soak shack."
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Kirkham
Hwy 21, 5 miles East of Lowman
Mile Marker 77
Beautiful waterfalls, very popular,
family-friendly in the Boise National
Forest, camping available. |
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Pine Flats
Lowman, ID
South fork of Payette River
Boise National Forest, camping available,
can get crowded. |
Hot Springs Campground
Garden Valley, ID
Banks/Lowman Hwy
South fork of Payette River, just 17
miles from Banks.
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Commercial Hot Springs
The great benefits of visiting commercial hot springs include a quiet, clean atmosphere, privacy, if you reserve a pool, and available times for parties and retreats.
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Gold Fork
1026 Gold Fork Rd.
Donnelly, ID
208-890-8730
Adults $8, Children 11 and under are
$6. Open Sunday - Friday, closed
Tuesdays for cleaning.
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Roy Stone
7880 N Hwy 52
Sweet, ID
208-584-3371
Pool and hot tub rentals available, great
for groups and private parties.
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Miracle
Hwy 30, 9 miles past
Hagerman, ID
208-543-6002
Two private pools and two outdoor
soaking pools. Call for reservations.
Camping and RV parking available.
Closed Sundays.
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Burgdorf
Warren, ID
Near McCall
208-636-3036
One large pool and two small pools. 15
rustic cabins available, very charming
and historic.
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Aura Soma
196 E. Main St.
Lava Hot Springs, ID
208-776-5800
One large pool and three private
pools available to overnight guests.
Corporate and couple retreats available.
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Zims
2995 Zims Rd.
New Meadows, ID
Features two pools, campgrounds and
picnic area. Closed Mondays. $6.50 for
adults, $5 for children.
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Boise Trails
Hiking, Biking, Equestrian
With trails right out your backdoor, what more could you ask for? Boise features numerous trails for hiking and mountain biking for beginners to advanced with starting points all through the northern and eastern foothills. |
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Table Rock
Off Old Penetentary Road, parking
lot available. Stunning views of city,
popular for sunset rides. Challenging, steeper trails.
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Military Reserve
Fort Boise - Reserve Street
Trailheads begin at Mountain Cove
Road just east of Reserve St. Many
trails, great for all levels.
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Camel's Back Park
End of 13th Street. Pedestrian only.
Great views, and shorter trails for
family hikes.
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Hull's Gulch
Can start at Camel's Back or at
end of 9th Street. Trailheads at
Grove Trailhead or Lower Hull's
Gulch Trailhead (1.1 miles from 8th
and Lemp St.)
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Polecat Reserve
Parking lot at Cartwright Road, just
east of Pierce Park Road. Great for
beginners. Lots of wildlife. Equestrian
trailer parking available. |
Shafer Butte
Begins and ends at Bogus Basin Nordic
Lodge. Great for summer when lower
trails are too hot. |
Eagle Bike Park
Old Horseshoe Bend Road. Park at the
bike park. Trails loop for miles. Some
easier hiking for little ones.
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Seaman's Gulch
Over ten miles of easy to intermediate
biking in this loop located in NW Boise
near Pierce Park. Great for equestrian
and hiking as well. |
Dry Creek
Trailhead at Hidden Springs, as well at
Dry Creek Cemetery at Horseshoe Bend
Road. Equestrian parking at Hidden Springs.
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Boise Greenbelt
Cruise alongside the Boise River
on a paved trail that runs 22 miles through
Boise. One of Boise's most popular tourist attractions.
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Avimor
Just north of Eagle an oasis of what feels
like virtually unexplored foothills awaits.
90 miles of trails perfect for hiking, biking
and horseback riding for all ages. |
Ridge to Rivers Trail System
Your complete guide and map system
for all Boise foothill trails. Use this site
for details on biking trails listed above.
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River Sports
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Boise River Park
3400 W. Pleasonton Ave
Between Main St. and
Veteran's Park
Boise River Park is now open
for SUP - Stand Up Paddleboarding,
canoeing and kayaking at the Idaho
SUP Center. Rent a board today! |
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Salmon River
Known as "The River of No Return," this
river has rugged, deep canyons, and
hundreds of miles of wilderness. Sandy
beaches popular with campers. Salmon, steelhead and trout galore.
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Snake River
Dividing Idaho and Oregon and
forming Hell's Canyon, this river is for
adventurous thrill-seekers and even history enthusiasts looking for rafting, kayaking,
canoeing, fishing, camping, hiking and more. |
Boise River
Runs through Boise East to West, can
tube down the river starting at Barber
Park. Great bank fishing along Greenbelt.
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Owyhee River
Fly fishing, boating, kayaking, you name it.
Also see Lake Owyhee information above
as a camping destination. |
Payette River
Guided rafting trips along any one of the
three forks prove to be a popular tourist destination year after year for all levels.
Camping and lodging available.
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Zip Lining |
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Zip Idaho
101 Locust
Horseshoe Bend, ID
208-793-2947
A popular tourist attraction just outside
Boise. Seven tree based canopy-style
zip lines only 30 minutes north of Eagle.
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Tamarack Canopy Zipline Tour
Tamarack Resort
Near Donnely, ID
Voted one of the Top 10 zip line tours of
North America by USA Today. Eight zip
lines up to 110 feet in Idaho's majestic
Ponderosa Pines. |
As this page is reserved for more extreme outdoor getaways and adventures, don't forget to check our Family Activities page for more family-friendly Treasure Valley area attractions! (Winter-specific destinations will be added to this guide by Fall of 2012.)
Looking for youth activities and sports? Check our Youth Sports page to register your child for their favorite sport today! |
Idaho is rich with scenic beauty, and the Boise area is abundant with numerous outdoor escapes surrounding the city. For more rugged terrain and longer getaways, you need only to hop in the car for an hour or two in order to be dropped in vast wilderness packed with excitement.