I may be working my last few years in Boise soon. I'm planning a trip in July to check out the town and also do some camping in the hills nearby. I'll have about six days there. Any recommendations on fun places to camp near Boise while I check out the town? I'll also want to camp a bit farther away from town, maybe 1+ hour away for a few days. I'm then off to Bend OR. for a few days and then South for home. I have 2 weeks off and have my wife and 3 kids, 17-16, with me.No KOA's or RV parks please.Thanks.

We live in Meridian, just West of Boise. For an hour's ride out of Boise, I would suggest the Idaho City Area - nice FS campgrounds up there and some boondocking sites around there too. Gray back Gulch is good just south of Idaho City. North one of the best CG's is at Whoop Em Up Campground. It's meant for horse campers but not restricted to them. It's a beautiful secluded area. Also Edna Creek is another good one. There are other's but they are closer to the road. If you had more time, there's much more to explore up Hwy 55, over the Banks Lowman Highway to Lowman and Stanley. A lot of boondocking and FS CG's up that way. Hwy 55 to Cascade, Donnelly, and McCall mainly has FS CGs but different terrain that towards Stanley on Hwy 21. Anyway, if I can answer any questions you may have of this area, let me know.

If the boat is coming with you, I would definitely recommend the Cascade/Donnely/McCall area or Redfish Lake at Stanley. The kids might also enjoy checking out the whitewater park near downtown Boise.

When does Stanley area become snow free?

ReneeG wrote:We live in Meridian, just West of Boise. For an hour's ride out of Boise, I would suggest the Idaho City Area - nice FS campgrounds up there and some boondocking sites around there too. Gray back Gulch is good just south of Idaho City. North one of the best CG's is at Whoop Em Up Campground. It's meant for horse campers but not restricted to them. It's a beautiful secluded area. Also Edna Creek is another good one. There are other's but they are closer to the road. If you had more time, there's much more to explore up Hwy 55, over the Banks Lowman Highway to Lowman and Stanley. A lot of boondocking and FS CG's up that way. Hwy 55 to Cascade, Donnelly, and McCall mainly has FS CGs but different terrain that towards Stanley on Hwy 21. Anyway, if I can answer any questions you may have of this area, let me know.And FS 21.Fabulous area.

dennis1 wrote:When does Stanley area become snow free?It's pretty much snow free by Memorial Day, but you can't get into some ares, like Bull Trout is still under snow then and not open till mid June. We've had a lot of snow this year, so it could be later but I've lived here a long time and I've yet to see a Fourth of July weekend when we couldn't get in to some areas.

Boise ID. Camping | Good Sam Community

ReneeG
Explorer
Apr 08, 2016
What this shows you is that there is a lot of outdoor recreation areas within a short driving distance from Boise.
whizbang
Explorer II
Apr 08, 2016
McCall is well worth a visit. If you are willing to drive 2 hours.
jroddick
Explorer
Apr 06, 2016
I would head up to Hell's Canyon. There are a lot of great free National Forest camp sites on the Salmon River. This is at the foot of White Bird Hill in February :
ORbiker
Explorer
Apr 06, 2016
ggadwa wrote:
dennis1 wrote:
When does Stanley area become snow free?

TC'er from Stanley and been here 37 years year round. If I was you I'd visit Stanley by Memorial Day or later. All Campgrounds are open by Memorial Day and right now I have 12 inches of the white stuff in my yard and was at Redfish yesterday and there is still well over 2 feet of snow there.

GARY and Laurii

What is the winter like there in Stanley Gary?

I've been there many times on the motorcycle in the summer and fall, but never in the winter.
ggadwa
Explorer
Apr 05, 2016
dennis1 wrote:
When does Stanley area become snow free?

TC'er from Stanley and been here 37 years year round. If I was you I'd visit Stanley by Memorial Day or later. All Campgrounds are open by Memorial Day and right now I have 12 inches of the white stuff in my yard and was at Redfish yesterday and there is still well over 2 feet of snow there.

GARY and Laurii
ReneeG
Explorer
Apr 05, 2016
c.traveler2 wrote:
chistoso wrote:
I may be working my last few years in Boise soon. I'm planning a trip in July to check out the town and also do some camping in the hills nearby. I'll have about six days there. Any recommendations on fun places to camp near Boise while I check out the town? I'll also want to camp a bit farther away from town, maybe 1+ hour away for a few days. I'm then off to Bend OR. for a few days and then South for home. I have 2 weeks off and have my wife and 3 kids, 17-16, with me.
No KOA's or RV parks please.
Thanks.

Boise, ID is DJ's area, contact him and I'm sure he will have a lot of information for you.

As far as truck campers go yes, but it's my area too. :B
c_traveler2
Nomad
Apr 05, 2016
chistoso wrote:
I may be working my last few years in Boise soon. I'm planning a trip in July to check out the town and also do some camping in the hills nearby. I'll have about six days there. Any recommendations on fun places to camp near Boise while I check out the town? I'll also want to camp a bit farther away from town, maybe 1+ hour away for a few days. I'm then off to Bend OR. for a few days and then South for home. I have 2 weeks off and have my wife and 3 kids, 17-16, with me.
No KOA's or RV parks please.
Thanks.

Boise, ID is DJ's area, contact him and I'm sure he will have a lot of information for you.
Murphsmom
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
ReneeG wrote:
Murphsmom wrote:
If the boat is coming with you, I would definitely recommend the Cascade/Donnely/McCall area or Redfish Lake at Stanley. The kids might also enjoy checking out the whitewater park near downtown Boise.

This is more than an hour from Boise. More like two to two and a half.

I know, but since the OP put a + after the one hour, I thought I'd throw out the suggestion.

Bruneau Dunes or Glenn's Ferry might be other options.
ReneeG
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
jaycocreek wrote:
I am quite surprised know one mentioned Crouch/Garden Valley..Better fishing by far than the Idaho City area and quite scenic.Crouch is about the same distance from Boise as Idaho City with more to do like fishing(2 rivers)lots of big game and Silver creek hot spring just up the road...

You're right! We do late fall, early winter camping up the Middle Fork and boondock at the snowmobile parking area just past the first campground, but yes, there are not only several campgrounds along that road and at the end at Boiling Springs, but up at the top at Silver Creek and the nice paved campground up there. In July, it'll be fairly hot along the Middle Fork, as will be the Little Camas Reservoir, but cooler up at Silver Creek. There are other areas to camp up there too other than Silver Creek.
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Apr 04, 2016
I am quite surprised know one mentioned Crouch/Garden Valley..Better fishing by far than the Idaho City area and quite scenic.Crouch is about the same distance from Boise as Idaho City with more to do like fishing(2 rivers)lots of big game and Silver creek hot spring just up the road...