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Troutdale Campground in Idaho is located in the Boise National Forest about 33 miles down N. Fork Boise River Rd. This campground only has four sites at it, however, all of them are pretty large, making it a great campground for groups!
The campground is located pretty close to the road, with no real protection from noise and car lights, so we weren’t going to stay at it originally. However, after passing the hot spring just to the north where we were going to stay, and it being completely packed, we found ourselves at Troutdale Campground. Honestly, it ended up being great! The road is really quiet at night, and the campground itself is perfect, especially for free camping!
Quick Facts on Troutdale Campground Idaho
- Free.. first come, first serve
- One pit toilet
- Four established sites
- No water
- Picnic tables, fire rings, and metal grill stands/tables
- 22 miles down a dirt road
- Right on corner of road
- Easy river access
- No trash .. pack it in, pack it out!
The Actual Campsites
The four campsites at Troutdale Campground are very open and rather large. There’s not real protection from your neighbors, as they are pretty open. In fact, one of the campsites is right in the middle of the circular campground road.
Two other sites were technically occupied when we stayed at Troutdale, though nobody came back to stay in the tents, so we can’t vouch for how loud/private the sites truly are.
With no reservation system, it’s first come first serve, and the campground is so small that you’ll be able to see each site and pick your favorite the second you drive into Troutdale Campground.
Each site has a picnic table, a BBQ stand, and a fire ring. With the exception of the center site, there are loads of trees for shade, and maybe even some hammocking or slacklining!
The center site at Troutdale Campground is a pull through site. With that said, it’s a pretty tight corner to make if you plan on pulling through. Two of the sites have large parking areas, that would be easy to get in and out of for any size vehicle or RV. And the last site, the smallest of them all, has a rather small parking area, really not meant for a large RV.
Troutdale Campground River Access
The river runs just below the sites, much closer than the majority of sites at Willow Creek Campground.
Accessing the river is an easy walk down about a 2-3 foot bank. There’s an open area for parking and walking down to the river that doesn’t go through the other campsites. However, if you do camp on the water, you’ll have direct access to the river from your site.
The river itself has a bit of a current in some areas, and even a little bit of rapids too. There’s also a swimming hole, and a large river rock “beach” that’s perfect for lounging in the sun!
Accessing Troutdale Campground Idaho
To get to Willow Creek Campground, you have to drive 22 miles down a dirt road. The road is pretty well maintained because there’s a resort just past the campground. The only thing that was poor with the road when we went was the major washboard for most of the drive. With our suspension shot, and our van being pretty heavily loaded, this made the drive long. Most vehicles can make the drive no problem.
With that said, there is one thing that will make the drive longer than anticipated… and that’s the views!! This area of the Boise National Forest is absolutely remarkable. The drive in along the reservoir and then up the river is easily one of the prettiest drives we’ve taken — and we’ve driven a lot! haha.
If you’re afraid of heights, this drive may not be for you, as the road follows the canyon and reservoir the majority of the time, with a long drop on the side. While the road is rather wide, in most places it’s not wide enough for two vehicles, so you do have to use the pullouts that are scattered up and down the road.
As for the campground itself…
All four campsites can be accessed with any type of vehicle. There was a major puddle/pit that we had to navigate around, but this shouldn’t be too much a problem for anyone.
The sites are relatively flat with dirt and pine needles as the surface of the ground. Accessing the bathrooms is easy from all four sites as the campground really is pretty small.
Check the exact Google Maps pinpoint for Troutdale Campground here.
Troutdale Campground Vs. Other Campgrounds in the Area
We enjoyed Willow Creek Campground more than Troutdale, though that would probably not be the case in the warmer months. Troutdale is nice because it’s right on the water. The other campground in the area that’s right on the water is Badger Creek Campground, although there’s not as much of a lounge/sunbathing area at Badger Creek.
It’s about the same size as Badger Creek Campground, both of which are much smaller than Willow Creek Campground.
One major plus with Troutdale Campground is the short drive to the hot springs up the road. It’s under two miles from our favorite hot spring on this road, and has a couple hot springs within walking distance from the campground itself! Come to think of it.. the proximity to the hot springs may just make it beat out the other campgrounds!
Something to note though… there are loads of places to “wild camp” in this area of the Boise National Forest. If you’re looking for a proper campground with a toilet and other campground amenities, then this is a great campground for you! If you’re not interested in setting up camp and have a toilet like this with you, you may want to camp at the hot springs!
What to Pack for Troutdale Campground
This water filter is great for a back up water filter. It’s super easy to use and perfect for smaller amounts of water on a hike.
This is the kind of water filter you’d want if you think you may run out of water while camping at Troutdale Campground. We used this filter to pump water from the river when we stayed at Willow Creek for three nights, and it was perfect! We love this water filter for pumping larger amounts of water.
A microfiber towel is the way to go when camping. Microfiber towels take up little space and dry really quickly. They’ve become super cute over the years too!
Hammocking is one of our favorite things to do while camping. There’s nothing quite like reading a good book while relaxing in basically an adult swing!
The perfect way to get some good exercise in and have a bit of fun. Honestly, slack lining is great for adults and kids alike! We love it as do our younger siblings!
Things to Do Near Troutdale Campground
When people ask if you’re in the area for hunting or fishing, you know both have to be good. Lots of elk hunters while we were there, and loads of signs of what kinds of fish you can keep and what you have to release. So both of those must be great.
With the main road and all the off-shoots being dirt roads, there’s easy road mountain biking in the area. The place is quite popular for ATVs and side by sides as well… though we saw more of that closer to the reservoir itself.
My personal favorite thing to do in the area is jumping from hot spring to hot spring. Check out all the hot springs up the road from Willow Creek Campground here (coming soon).
And while I’m not sure how the river is for rafting, with Arrrowrock Reservoir being rather close, you can easily spend a day or two on the water. There are a couple of boat ramps near the water, and we even saw people kayaking out on the water. If it was a bit warmer, we probably would have taken out our paddleboards! The possibilities are endless for water activities in the area.
More Travel Inspiration for Idaho
One Week Camping in the Boise National Forest
Willow Creek Campground Review | just like this campground review
Kirkham Hot Springs | a hot spring right off Highway 21
The Big Five | Stanley, Idaho’s hot spring hunt
Boat Box Hot Spring | soaking in a kettle in the Sawtooth Wilderness
Sunbeam Hot Spring | the best hot spring around Stanley, Idaho
More on Camping
Spending a Week in the Boise National Forest Camping
We stayed at Willow Creek Campground for three nights before continuing up river, where we stopped at five hot springs, and finished out a full week camping in this area.
How to Find Free Campsites + Wild Camping Responsibly
Sharing how to go the bathroom in nature, where to find free campsites, and places you can always camp for free!
The Easiest Meals for Three Days Camping
We’ve had our fair share of figuring out quick, easy, and no mess meals while on the road. This is a meal guide (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for three nights away!
The Ultimate Car Camping Gear List | Our Must Haves and Extras
The name says it all here! Traveling in a car across the US, living out of a backpack for six months, and then moving into a van for 2.5 years has made this list truly the ultimate camping checklist!
More Travel Tips and Advice
How to Change Your Routine and Save Money Fast
Simple Ways to Make Extra Money from Home
A Complete List by State of the United States National Parks
Sharing Helps Us More than You Know
