Redfish area camping (Salmon, Stanley: where to stay, cabin, areas)

[jufrbo]

So I've been to the Stanley-Redfish area many times, but have always either had a cabin or camped in a pay for the spot campground. I'm going up in about four days with no where to stay but a tent. We don't want a campground and don't want a cabin, so we're going to rough it in a random spot anywhere in the area. I'm sure we can find an area by just driving around. But I was wondering if anyone could point in towards an area we could set up in. Using a campground is out, even if we wanted to, they are probably all full and we are heading up on Wednesday till Sunday.

[jadbad2004]

I was there last weekend, and the area is packed but seems every few days camp sites come open, especially during the week. I am not familar enough to recommend an area, but the area near Petit Lake, about 12 miles south of Redfish on 75, seemed to not have as many people and I do not believe it is a fee area. Wish I could help more Justin.

[zoso1979]

We also spend a week to 10 days every summer in the Sawtooths so we're pretty familar with the area.

I'm reading from your post that you don't want/can't pay fees. Petit Lake is slighly out of the main popular area, and very likely to have open sites, but is a fee area, all developed campgrounds are.

Pettit Lake Campground-Alturas Lake-Sawtooth National Recreation Area

My suggestion is Sunbeam off the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River. It's off HWY 75. Go past the dredge ponds towards Bonanza Campground. The road becomes gravel. There's a nice grass meadow area on the left adjacent to a stream. Go to the end of the road and check out Custer City. They stock the dredge ponds with fish, so bring your pole. It can get hot though with all the rocks. It's been a while since we've been there, but it is something you should check out. Good luck!

Sunbeam & Yankee Fork Area

[jadbad2004]

Great info, and thanks for the correction on the sites. We saw a sign for Sunbeam, now I wish we had checked that out more, maybe next time.

[jufrbo]

Originally Posted by zoso1979

We also spend a week to 10 days every summer in the Sawtooths so we're pretty familar with the area.

I'm reading from your post that you don't want/can't pay fees. Petit Lake is slighly out of the main popular area, and very likely to have open sites, but is a fee area, all developed campgrounds are.

Pettit Lake Campground-Alturas Lake-Sawtooth National Recreation Area

My suggestion is Sunbeam off the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River. It's off HWY 75. Go past the dredge ponds towards Bonanza Campground. The road becomes gravel. There's a nice grass meadow area on the left adjacent to a stream. Go to the end of the road and check out Custer City. They stock the dredge ponds with fish, so bring your pole. It can get hot though with all the rocks. It's been a while since we've been there, but it is something you should check out. Good luck!

Sunbeam & Yankee Fork Area

OK I know exactly where that is. I've driven the way to Custer and fished the ponds all along the way.


Thanks

[jufrbo]

The main campground issue is we are not looking to spend a week with our tent twenty feet from someone elses tent and end up being crowded. That is why we are camping in the first place. Not to go from the real city to a tent city.

[zoomba]

There are countless dispersed camping sites in the SNRA. Ask at the ranger station. In 20 years of visiting, I've never camped near someone else. There are areas for dispersed camping *near* Redfish but due to the demand of the area, there is little available within the impact zone.

[BigFish2]

I drove from southern cal to Stanley lake area last summer with no reservations for a campsite, I found plenty of spots open at Stanley Inlet campground...there are a lot of open spots everywhere though