Best Camping Destinations within 2 hours of Boise

Camping season is many people's favorite time of the year. Who would not love it, the fresh air, the constant sound of slapping mosquitoes, the rushing waters, and much more? If you are one of the ones who enjoys the search for new camping spots each summer, you might find one in the below list. You will find many gems in the list, anywhere from flatlands to the big mountain peaks. There are some for those who enjoy solitude, those looking for a little lesson in history, stargazing and must more.

French Creek

The campground of French Creek is located in a shady part of Lake Cascade. You will find the campground by driving past the campgrounds with no shade as it is treeless, into Donnelly. You will then continue on the road swinging around the top of the lake finding West Mountain Road. On the West side of the lake, you will find the area shaded by the Boise National Forest and the campground, French Creek.

Enjoy choosing from twenty-one campsites. For those wanting to pitch a tent, you can find those spots in sites one through eight. These sites are located on the same side as the lake and some runs along the creek. With an early reservation you can get one of those along the French Creek, which are sites one, three, five, seven, and eight.

At the campground, you will be able to drift off with the sounds of the creek. For those who enjoy wading, swimming, or just splashing in the waters the Lake Cascade is a short distance from the site. One warning, the shores along this part of the Lake is sometimes muddy. Each site is equipped with a pad for the tent, a parking spot for your vehicle, a fire ring, and a barbecuing grill. Dogs, RVs, as well as generators are all allowed at the campground.

Anthony Lakes

In the National Forest of Wallowa-Whitman you will find a recreation area with camping spots, as well as canoeing, fishing, hiking, photographing, picnicking, running, and swimming. You will also find one of the most amazing mountain biking mountains. The most popular for hiking is the Hoffer lakes hike and the Black Lake. The hike around the Lake of Anthony takes approximately forty-five minutes, but if you would like a more daring way around the lake you can take the one thousand three-hundred-foot elevation gain, to go on the eight-mile loop through the Gunsight Mountain.

The Hoffer Lake hike is approximately one-mile round trip and gets you over to the twin lakes. It also offers trails over a meadow to a small waterfall. At the waterfall, it offers granite rocks that can be climbed and overs an outlook to the lakes. Since the campground is so far away from any big city or populated area, you are able to get quite the star-gazing opportunities. However, if you would like to check out the Milky Way you will need to leave your tent and get a view with pine trees for your backdrop.

For those who enjoy the thrill of mountain biking, the fifth annual Mountain Bike Festival is happening in Anthony Lakes on July 30th. For this festival and during mountain biking season there are several single tracks for all experiences (Beginner to advanced trails).

The camping at Anthony Lake offers thirty-seven sites, both drive in, as well as, hike in sites. Opened for business from late June to mid-September. In addition, for rent is the Guard Station located at Anthony Lakes. The station offers a two-story rustic cabin, which has a kitchen, bathroom with a shower, along with three bedrooms.

If you are looking for a little bit of history, close to the lake is a prior mining town called Sumpter. In this town, you may also consider doing what the miners did in the age-old days. Pan for gold, ride the train that is robbed by actors who are on horseback. You can even take the Scenic Byway through Baker City, Oregon. The Byway is called the Elkhorn Crest and has the mountains as a backdrop, it is a 106-mile loop.

Warm Lake

Warm Lake offers many things and is located two and a half hours from Boise, Idaho. One of the most popular campgrounds in the area is the Shoreline campground which offers paved roads and parking spots. Tents, trailers, boats and more are all allowed at the campground. Each site is parted from each other by the forest. The roads around the campground are ideal for all to bring their bikes and go on short bike rides while those campfire dinners are cooking.

At the lake, you can find fish, both rainbow trout, and brook trout. Elk comes through the site for everyone to see. There is a swimming beach to lounge upon during the day and evenings while you are waiting for the boat to return. If you forgot something or just tired of those camping dinners there is a Lodge and resort that was built in 1937 close by that offers a bar, restaurant, and store. You can find WIFI for those who are not able to give up those electronics.

During the hours of six pm to eleven am, you are not able to make wakes on the lake. To get to the campground and lake, you would take the famous Highway 55 north through Cascade and turn right at the edge of town. It takes about twenty-six miles to get to the lake from Highway 55.

Succor Creek

Wildflowers are blooming in this desert camping area. During the night you can check out the starry sky that allows for many starry opportunities. Unlike the forest camping areas, you will not find the clammy shoes or moist clothes and your morning will not be chilly as you fix that campfire breakfast. You will find all this at Succor Creek, which is a short two-hour drive from Boise. Although the first part of the drive is nothing to brag about, the minute you get to the Owyhee wilderness, it is breathtaking. There are so many trails that you can wander for hours, almost taking you to another planet. If you wish to stay more than a day or two you can even explore the Owyhee Canyonlands.

Make sure you bring your emergency supplies as there is no cell service and only a few campers close by; it is a fourteen-mile trek to the road. Be prepared as you go.