Camping in Idaho will allow you to witness the natural beauty of the state, be it jagged mountains, scenic lakes, or woody forests. With 35 million acres of public land, you’ll find unlimited campsites on any sort of landscape you can think of. Check out the below article to learn camping laws in Idaho! Read to know more.

With that being said, grasping the beauty of Idaho comes with a price in the form of camping laws, rules, and regulations. Therefore, before you head out for your next camping trip in Idaho, make sure you familiarize yourself with the rules so that you can enjoy a peaceful time with your loved ones in the outdoors.

Camping Laws In Idaho

  • The stay limit in any Idaho park is up to a maximum of 15 days inside a 30-day period.
  • Check-in time for campsites and facilities is 2 pm and 3 pm respectively.
  • Check-out time for campsites and facilities is 1 pm and 12 pm respectively.
  • Additional fees will be charged for overstay. Disabled veterans, people with limited income, or aged about 62 are eligible for discounts.
  • Camping and placement of all gear and vehicles should be done in designated campsites.
  • Campsites cannot be booked/saved for someone else.
  • Swimming in lakes should only be confined to marked-off areas.
  • Fireworks are prohibited in every campground or State park.
  • Harm to wildlife and vegetation is prohibited.
  • “Quiet time” should be followed on a campsite from 10 pm to 7 am which means no use of noisy appliances or devices.

Camping Laws in Idaho: What Are The Pet Limitations For Camping In Idaho?

Generally, pets are allowed in all Idaho State Parks except Harriman State Park located in eastern Idaho as it’s home to all sorts of wildlife. The rule is established to protect both the wildlife and pets.

In the case of any other park, you’re supposed to keep your pets leashed at all times maintaining a maximum distance of 6 feet. Also, you must keep them off the beaches. At night, your pets must be kept in a confined area preferably inside your tent or your vehicle with you.

Best Places To Camp In Idaho

Ponderosa State Park

Camping Laws In Idaho

Ponderosa State Park is surrounded by natural beauty in the form of wetlands, tall trees, and shorelines. Located right along the scenic Payette Lake, this state park is a base for both luxury and primitive campsites.

You can either opt for deluxe cabins to unwind from your hustling life, or you can try out the primitive campsites to experience the wilderness in proximity.

The park is filled with multiple hot springs campgrounds where you can set up your tents and park your RVs. These campsites provide you portable water and vault toilets as well.

There are multiple activities for you to try out in this campground including, but not limited to, fishing, swimming, kayaking, and hiking. For a unique experience, you can even pick huckleberries with your family if you’re camping in late July.

Kirkham Campground

Camping Laws In Idaho

The Kirkham Hot Springs is a favored location for camping in the fall and spring. The 16 campsites adjacent to the hot springs are not accessible during the winter and as for summer, it may be too hot for camping.

You can check out the Bonneville Campground via a short trail from the Kirkham Hot Springs. Other popular sites include the Pine Flats Hot Springs and the Pine Flats Campground.

If you’re camping in this location, you’ll have a lot of activities to choose from such as river rafting, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and more. Plus, all these campgrounds in and around the Kirkham Hot Springs come with amenities to support water, sanitation, and waste disposal.

Lake Cascade State Park

Lake Cascade State Park should be your ultimate camping spot for summers. Just 2 hours away from Boise, this state park is a popular camping destination due to the scenic combination of a stretch of sandy shoreline and a backdrop of the North Fork Mountains.

Three of the most visited campgrounds in this park are Van Wyck Campground, Ridgeline Campground, and Poison Creek Campground. If you prefer swimming, sailing, and boating, Van Wyck will be perfect for you. Apart from that, you can take part in multiple activities in this park including windsurfing, mountain biking, hiking, etc.

Farragut State Park

For everyone living in Northern Idaho, the Farragut State Park is a camping sanctuary throughout the year. Reachable by a short drive from the Silverwood Theme Park, Farragut has up to 200 campsites dispersed all over the massive land that is surrounded by greenery.

Here, you’ll never run out of things to do as there are multiple activities for you to choose from such as swimming, fishing, hiking, playing golf, boating, etc. Hikers and bikers wholeheartedly enjoy the trails throughout the park that stretch up to 40 miles, therefore many campers revisit this part every year.

Priest Lake Campground

Priest Lake Campground is an amazing camping station in the Idaho panhandle section. Divided into three different units called the Lionhead Unit, the Indian Creek Unit, and the Dickensheet Unit, this campground has 150 campsites in total.

The Lionhead Unit has 50 campsites with a unique arrangement of one cabin that accommodates 12 people and is large enough to fit up to 50 people in tents and RVs. You can also opt for luxury camping in 1 of the 6 Lakefront Cabins in the Indian Creek Unit that accommodates 5 people.

Final Words

The camping laws established by Idaho along with the rules and restrictions fixed by the parks are quite easy to follow. Certain considerations have been taken keeping in the mind the interest of the public and of course the campers. Therefore, when you go for your next camping trip in Idaho, you must stick by the rules and makes sure that other campers in your group are aware of them as well.

References:

https://www.planetware.com/idaho/best-places-for-camping-in-idaho-us-id-32.htm

Also Read: Camping Laws In New Hampshire – State Camper %

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *