Designated Dispersed Camping in Sawtooth National Forest

  The eleven forest campgrounds around Redfish Lake are very popular and they fill fast. To keep the rest of the forest near the town of Stanley, the lake, and the Salmon River from being overrun by people, the forest service has limited dispersed camping in some areas. In these areas dispersed camping is only permitted in designated sites which can be identified by a sign and a metal fire ring. 

When we arrived in Stanley on a Thursday afternoon all of the dispersed camping sites west of town were full. We tried again on a Tuesday and found a nice spot off of  Iron Creek Road and camped there for several days because we needed internet connection which is only available close to Stanley. This camping spot has four sites, each with it's own fire ring and numbered sign post. 

                                                      Site 3

Our spot, site 3 is large and fairly level but it has a few large rocks in the parking area. Site 1 is long and roomy. Site 2 is short and site 4 is at the end of a 300' road which has huge rocks. Site 4 is really nice but the road requires clearance. Forest   44.21133-114.98099                                                                                                                     Site 1

                                                   Site 2

                                                      Site 4

We also camped a short distance away from town in a fishing access spot on road 627 but we only stayed for a day because it was too far away to get a cell signal. We found about four campsites but we didn't go far down the road and camped at the first spot which is best accessed by backing in. Fishing Access  44.29565, -115.03805

We checked out another designated camping area on route 75 south of town. A tent sign on Hwy 75 points to the road into this spot. DO NOT turn in unless you have a small vehicle, preferably 4x4. The road is in terrible condition and very steep as it continues down to the campsites on the river bank. There's very little room to turn around at the top of the hill. Apparently there are more designated dispersed camping spots farther south on Hwy 75 that are in better condition. The video on this site has detailed information. Free Campsites