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  4. Donnelly

Tamarack Falls Campground

Hosted by Harmon · Donnelly, Idaho
17 guests max
92%
·
24 reviews
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First Hipcamper Club
Earn this patch by being the first to spend a night outside at a new Hipcamp.
Right by the shores of Cascade Lake. Just down the road from Tamarack Resort. Walking distance to the Fishing Bridge and Mountain Meadows Adventure Rentals. You can fish from the bridge, rent a jet-ski and go on the lake, or take an off-road vehicle and ride in the mountains - right from your campsite. There is even a small pond on the property. Some history and geography: Where are the Falls? I wondered that myself when first bought the property. I have asked around and done some research - and come up with two answers, although I can't verify either one. First Answer: The old Tamarack Falls have been covered up by the reservoir. That is, there used to be a waterfall in this vicinity, but now it is covered up by Lake Cascade. Maybe, but I can't find any old photographs showing that, and the reservoir has never gotten low enough to see any falls. In fact, at low level, the upper reaches just look like a meadow with the original channel of the Payette River meandering through. But maybe at the narrows by the Fishing Bridge it is possible there are some submerged falls there. Second Answer: The Falls are still there, but they also are not the classic water falls you might imagine. Instead they are the numerous streams that gush down West Mountain every spring and really never completely dry up, even in a dry autumn. They are quite pretty, but not exactly a roaring mountain waterfall. These streams can be seen everywhere, especially in the spring, and they to tumble down a steep slope. They come right out of the rocky faces of the tamarack forest, so it makes sense to call them Tamarack Falls. They are all over the place. At least two of these streams ( and more in the spring) feed the pond on this property. Hence Tamarack Falls Pond. The pond is "artificial" in the sense that it was created when fill dirt used to build West Mountain Road blocked the stream and created a small pond. The pond stays at a constant level because its outflow is a culvert that runs under West Mountain Road and from there into Lake Cascade. Two main streams feed the pond - one on the northside and one on the southside. The shape of the two little submerged valleys give the pond a lopsided crescent shape with a small peninsula curving out into the middle of the pond's west side.Primitive campsite in the woods with a pond and a stream on the property. Public access to Lake Cascade right by the campsite. Tamarack Falls Fishing Bridge Park is just across the road - easy walk. Mountain Meadows Rental is also just a short walk away - they rent paddleboards, kayaks, motorboats, jet skis, ATV's, etc. Tamarack Resort is just four miles away and several more public access beaches are just a short drive away. You can ride off road vehicles straight from the campsite on to the mountain trails.
Rig suitability
Vehicles under 45 feet allowed
Allowed rigs: travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, pop-up campers, class B RVs, class C RVs, campervans, cars, truck campers, and rooftop tents
Back-in site
The campsite is too narrow for a pull through. You can pull in and then maneuver to back in.
Accommodates slideouts
Surface type: Grass or field
Surface levelness: Requires leveling
This is an unimproved campsite, but the ground is fairly level.
No class A RVs
Generators allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
Campsite has no water other than creek water or pond water. No "just tent" camping.
No sewage hookup
No TV hookup
What to expect
Vehicle site
You'll have this Hipcamp all to yourself.
17 guests max
Campfires allowed
Firewood provided, firepit. Use the firepits. Campers may collect and use firewood from adjoining forest. Do not cut down live trees.
Pets allowed
On leash. Clean up after pets and pack it out
No toilet; campers must bring camp toilets
Only use the RV toilet. Do not use the woods. There are many cabins nearby and water runoff areas cannot be contaminated.
No potable water
Bring your own water, purify from river or stream, purify from lake or pond. There is a hydrant available, but it is about 200 yards from the campsite.
No showers
You must use the RV shower/bath. No greywater runoff due to proximity to Lake Cascade.
Pack it out
Please pack out all your garbage.
Cooking equipment absent
Picnic table absent
No wifi
Laundry absent
Hot Tub absent
No playground

Things to know

Getting there
Check in: After 2:00 PM
Check out: Before 12:00 PM
On arrival: Head straight to site
Cancellation policy: Strict
Minimum nights: 2 nights
Accepts bookings: 6 months out
Park at listing
No wheelchair access
Max 4 vehicles
2WD accessible
During your trip
Follow the
Leave it better
Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.

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Big Grove Campsite

Vehicle site · Sleeps 17 · Vehicles under 45 ft
Primitive campsite in the woods with a pond and a stream on the property. Public access to Lake Cascade right by the campsite. Tamarack Falls Fishing Bridge Park is just across the road - easy walk. Mountain Meadows Rental is also just a short walk away - they rent paddleboards, kayaks, motorboats, jet skis, ATV's, etc. Tamarack Resort is just four miles away and several more public access beaches are just a short drive away. You can ride off road vehicles straight from the campsite on to the mountain trails.
Campfires allowed
No toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup

Reviews

92% Recommend25 ratings · 24 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
32 ft fifth wheel · With kids ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Beautiful camp spot and host was very accommodating. A+
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James R.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
30 ft travel trailer · Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
We had an awesome stay as usual. One of our favorite spots
A
Aleasha P.
3 reviews
Recommends
· October 2023
Beautiful!!! But some traffic noise
30 ft fifth wheel · With pets ·
Big Grove Campsite A
This is a beautiful spot in mature Tamarack and fir trees. Nice graveled camp sites. Very nice fire pits! (Bring your own DRY wood) You are 100 to 150 yards from the main road on that side of the lake. Traffic noise but not too bad. Very private. Sooo much better than any of the state or USFS campgrounds near there! 2 Warnings: we were BARELY able to turn around our 30ft 5th wheel in the site. And, if you rely on solar power there is little direct sun on the site. You have to chase it around between the trees. We really enjoyed our time there! There is lake access nearby across the road. VERY well maintained! Thanks for letting us share your campsite.
J
John A.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2023
Nice private camp spot!
29 ft fifth wheel ·
Big Grove Campsite A
It was a great spot, we'll stay again. There are cabins nearby but people are not nearly as close as they'd be in a campground. It's very private and our two dogs had a blast chasing squirrels. Traffic is a bit noisy from the road but no worse than anywhere else you can camp between the road and the lake. There are a couple nice fire pits with gravel around them and over the areas used regularly. Take an axe and a chainsaw to make it easier to access the fallen or standing dead trees to use for firewood. We parked our F350, a 29ft 5th wheel, a class A 32ft motorhome, a 14ft enclosed cargo trailer and a Dodge 1500 and had plenty of room. That said, there are lots of trees so you want to be pretty good at maneuvering your RV.
M
Marc R.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2023
20 ft campervan ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Great location and clean, nice shade trees and fire pit. This is just of the road so if you are worried about hearing traffic this is not the spot for you. We loved it anyway. Nice to be walking distance to the lake and fishing bridge.
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Caryn C.
4 reviews
Recommends
· August 2023
38 ft travel trailer · Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
The camp site was wonderful.. very spacious, enough room for cars and trailers, good location and lot of trees. We really enjoyed our stay.
A
Allissa E.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2023
For those just getting started.
20 ft travel trailer ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Great campsite that is easy to access. Great for a weekend by the lake! First experience dry camping 🏕️ with our RV and everything went perfect! Not for die hard remote campers. But if you’re wanting easy access, in the trees, but the convenience of going out for dinner this is a great spot! We will definitely be booking another weekend adventure here.
T
Tyson S.
3 years on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· August 2023
16 ft car · With kids ·
Twin Pines Campsite
The campsites were fine, they were clean and had firewood and there was drinking water. My only complaint is that they are route right next to the highway and it doesn’t say that on their website, that’s some thing that I would’ve liked to of known. I probably would’ve gone somewhere else. Had I known it was right next to the highway.
H
Heidi W.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2023
30 ft travel trailer · Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Harmon was so helpful from booking to getting us situated. The Big Groves was secluded enough and we were close to everything. Thank you for a great camping weekend.
A
Aleasha P.
3 reviews
Recommends
· July 2023
Large Beautiful Camp Spot
20 ft campervan ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Large wooded land with sun and shade in just the right amounts. Three spots that are spread well apart, all with their own firepits. Though it is right off W Mountain Road across the street from the lake, it is private because of the trees, so you hear the traffic, but they don't really see you. You would need to be careful with kids or pets that could wander over to the road. This spot is an easily walkable distance to Tamarack Falls Park where we put in our SUP, and there is a jumping pedestrian bridge at same area. Harmon came over and met us when we arrived and we had plenty of firewood already available. I would definitely recommend and hope stay here again.
P
Paige C.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2023
15 ft pop-up camper · Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Nice camp spot with large trees that produce lots of shade! It’s a little bit close to the main road, but the road doesn’t get much traffic. I would stay here again.
S
Spenser K.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2023
12 ft travel trailer · With pets ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Lovely, quiet spot in the woods, across the road from the lake. Close access to the town and the resort , both at a few minutes away !! Harmon is easy to work with, helpful and very friendly...
M
Mark M.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2023
25 ft travel trailer · With pets ·
Big Grove Campsite A
This was a great spot to camp with friends and family! The firewood was so appreciative also! We will definitely be back!
J
Jacquie G.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2021
Great
Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
It was exactly as described and clean.
C
Cody W.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2021
Great Private Camping Spot
Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Within 1/2 hour of McCall and less than 10 min from Tamarack Ski Resort and the small town of Donnelly. We had the whole place to ourselves, but It looks like the spot could handle up to 4 small to Medium size Trailer/RV/Tents all included in the 1 rental fee. It's a real tight turn around when you get to the spot so If towing or 25 ft. or longer motorhome I would recommend backing into the gravel road.
M
Matt W.
5 years on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· August 2021
Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
We had a great time and we’re very glad to have found somewhere to go!😊 Would have been nice to have a place to leave our trash! Also it was probably a little tighter place than we expected. The atv trails are farther down the highway there so for the littles it meant driving on the busy road a little ways. Quite a busy highway close to camp! The weather and lake were beautiful!!
G
Geanna W.
3 reviews
Recommends
· July 2021
What are you waiting for? Book now!
Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Incredible retreat! Our family just returned from 3 nights at Big Grove with our closest friends and their kids. The 9 of us spent the weekend relaxing, fishing, chatting, and playing screen-free in the woods. It was just the reprieve we needed from the bustle of the city and the heat of summer. On our last night, we even looked up the availability at Big Grove to see if we can make one more trip up before winter. Let's hope we can make it happen, cuz we weren't done! Thank you for sharing your special spot with us.
Avatar
Dt & Michael F.
3 reviews
Mixed feelings
· July 2021
Good location
Group trip ·
Fireside Campsite
The location was good, it was easy access to all area activities. It was very quiet at night, no noise from neighbors, there are cabins and other RV's in the area. The pad had a good slope to it, side to side, so make sure you have enough blocks. We were at the end of our Anderson levelers after relocating 3 times to find the most level spot on the pad. There is power hookup but our surge protector said it was reverse polarity so we didn't use it. When we first arrived there was a vehicle parked on the pad and it took a while to find owner of it to have it moved. Once it was moved we saw a few piles of dog poo, which we later found out there is a dog that just wanders around the area and visits the campsite to use the bathroom...a couple times a day. It was pretty easy to back into the spot but you need to be as close to the hookups as possible to be as level as possible. I don't want this review to sound too negative because overall it worked for our needs, which was a place to sleep close to the water and McCall (30 min). The owner cannot control a wondering dog, but just an fyi if you see poo on the pad you know why.
C
Christina J.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2021
Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Awesome spot for a group. Just a short walk to some water! Had some good privacy and just off the road. I would recommend to plug in mountain meadows rental in your GPS vs the address provided. The host has extra directions and are important to follow.
S
S J.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2021
Group trip ·
Fireside Campsite
The location was great and essy to psrk.
A
Amanda C.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2021
Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Nice spot with plenty of room
Avatar
Brad J.
3 reviews
Mixed feelings
· October 2020
Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
Very basic camp with no amenities and lots of trees. If you like to be in the shade this is a great spot. Very good location.
M
Margaretha V.
4 reviews
Recommends
· September 2020
Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
We found this campsite the morning of our stay. Harmon was quick to respond and gave great directions to the location. The campsite was easy to find but could definitely be easy to miss if you don’t pay attention. The site is very private and secluded but close to town and you get cell reception in case you need it for anything or have questions for Harmon. It’s in the Boise National Forest and across the road from Lake Cascade. Unfortunately, we were not able to get our 21’ Coleman trailer in the site due to a small dip and incline at the gate; we bottomed out. HOWEVER, after a brief conversation with Harmon, he directed us to another property he owned near by. Not as private but his brother was on site and made it work for us. He made sure we were settled, comfortable and secluded. He even used a tractor with a loader bucket to clean up the dirt and weeds and make it safe for my kids. Much appreciated. The campsite would have been bada** for family (me, my husband, 2 kids and 2 dogs). With a trailer with higher clearance it would have been great.
J
Jennifer B.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2020
Secluded slice of heaven
Group trip ·
Big Grove Campsite A
We really enjoyed staying at Harmons place. It’s right off the road but there’s so many trees it feels secluded. Nice easy walk over to the lake which all the kids loved. My kids were asking when we could go back!
Avatar
Terri D.
5 years on Hipcamp

Location

Donnelly, Valley, Idaho, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Harmon E.

Joined in September 2020

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