Casino Creek Campground ~ Sawtooth National Forest

Flickr album link: Casino Creek Campground

There is a wide range of camping modes to be found in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and the opportunities range from mild to very wild. The Sawtooth National Forest Service manages this vast wilderness area and their website is the best reference for adventures in this region. The back country hiking, biking and horseback trails meander through some of the most picturesque landscapes in the west, while the towering Sawtooth Mountains beckon climbers to pack up the gear. This wilderness is well known for big game hunting and the fly fishing is world class too. As far as planning a family camping vacation is concerned, there are few better places to escape from the modern world and the wide range of camping options will make planning the trip easy to do.

Most of the dispersed campsites in the back country appeal to hunters and self sufficient isolationists, while the fully developed campgrounds accommodate RV campers and trailer hailers. There are also horse camps to be found in this vast recreation area and casual car campers will find plenty of options too. In fact, the majority of car/tent campsites are located along the paved roads, so they are a nice convenience for travelers passing through. Since the roads tend to follow the river in mountainous regions, a good fishing spot is usually located nearby. The Casino Creek Campground is one such spot that matches this description and it is a great jumping off point for adventures in the Sawtooth wilderness.

The best part about setting up a basecamp at Casino Creek is trout can be placed on the campfire menu for every meal. Both the Salmon River and Casino Creek are literally only a short walk away and there are plenty of shade trees, so this is a great place to rest and relax between fly fishing excursions. Casino Creek is a first come, first serve car and tent campground that is equipped with basic facilities and drinking water. This campground is also located in big bear territory, so bear safe food storage rules must be adhered to and fresh caught fish should be cleaned well away from camp. The summer season morning dew and high elevation rain storms keep this area green and lush, so a well ventilated tent will be a must to pack. The Casino Creek Campground is located on Idaho Highway 75, which is the main paved touring route through the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, so be sure to keep this sweet spot in mind when planning a venture in these parts!