Challis Field Office

The name says it all… camp in a lush cottonwood grove and get some much needed peace and quiet at Cottonwood Recreation Site Campground. Nestled deep in Idaho’s wilderness along the peaceful Salmon River, you’ve got some sweet fishing right at your feet, not to mention access to nearby hiking trails. With some amenities, you’ve got nothing to do b Read more...

Oh man, Bayhorse Recreation Site Campground is one seriously scenic camping spot in central Idaho. Pitch your tent at one of these stellar spots, and wake up to gorgeous views of Buffalo Ridge. You’re right down the corner from Bayhorse Lake and the Salmon River, perfect if you’re looking to take it easy with some good old fashioned fishing. Sites Read more...

Deadman Hole Recreation Site sits alongside the Salmon River. The campground is named after the deep pool that sits below the rocky cliffs, providing a stunning backdrop for your getaway. Fishing and boating are popular here, so bring your fishing pole or canoe. A rough, dirt road leads to the campground, so drive slow and buckle up!

The East Fork Recreation Site Campground sits in a valley surrounded by hills and cliffs, on the banks of the Salmon River. This is a great place for hikers, with four trailheads within short walking distance, including Sheep Creek, Jimmy Smith Lake, Herd Creek, and Little Boulder Creek Trailheads. Anglers, boaters, and hunters will also stay busy Read more...

Jimmy Smith Lake Trailhead Campground is an ideal camping spot for anglers. The site sits next to a year-round fishing hole, and Jimmy Smith Lake is nearby, featuring rainbow trout as a common catch. The campground sits in the White Cloud Peaks, with great hiking trails offering awesome views of the valleys and mountain ranges.

Landscaped by Morgan Creek's rocky escarpment, Morgan Creek Recreational Area Campground echoes with the sounds of Idaho’s endemic songbirds. Because of the various ecological niches created by the creek, sparrows, thrashers, you name it, orchestrate from the area’s sagebrush. And did we mention that this naturally occurring avium is free of charg Read more...

Just you, your tent, and Mother Nature! There is a single campsite at the scenic Herd Lake Campsite and Overlook, so I hope you like privacy and silence. The campsite is just below the lake, and the nearby outlook offers awesome views of the East Fork of the Salmon River. The river is popular with anglers, and there are great hiking trails in the Read more...

Lace-up your hiking boots and grab your smoothed-out walking stick—because it’s going to be a long, long walk up to Upper Lake Creek Campground. Five-miles from the nearest parking area, Upper Lake Creek Campground is only accessible by foot. But, we can assure you, the trek is well-worth is. Teeming with antelope and other hoofed fauna, the remot Read more...

A skipping stone from East Fork Salmon River, Little Boulder Recreation Site is an idyllic oasis enveloped by shading vegetation and an atmosphere permeated by sun warmed pines. Open year-round, this area is teeming with situational charisma, regardless of what block in your calendar you dedicate to a long-weekend at Little Boulder Recreation Site Read more...

Garden Creek Campground sits in an aspen grove along the banks of the Big Lost River. Deep Creek Trailhead is nearby, which leads 3. 5 miles south to the Challis National Forest. You can also take a trip 15 miles north of the campground to the Whiskey Springs Wildlife Viewing Area to observe waterfowl in the Chilly Slough Wetlands Conservation Are Read more...

Summit Creek Campground should be high on the list for any campers. The area’s riparian ecology is home to a plethora of flora and fauna, from couriting moose, to serenading songbirds. Noted for it’s primitive, frill-less camping, Summit Creek Campground offers just a few primitive campsites—but without charge, mind you.

RVer's, rejoice! Joseph T. Falini Campground is the only area in Challis that offers full RV hookups with electricity, overlooking the beguiling views of Lost River Range. And, dotted with numerous boat launching pads, Joseph T. Fallin Campground is heavily occupied during the spring and summer months.