ArboursAbroad contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase using one of the affiliated links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information.
Willow Creek Campground in Idaho is located in the Boise National Forest about 22 miles down N. Fork Boise River Rd. While I’d imagine this campground to be pretty busy in the summer months, when we visited in October, we shared the nine sites with only a couple of other people.. all of which were hunters.
There are two Willow Creek Campgrounds with free camping around the same area of Idaho. This is a review of the Willow Creek Campground near Arrowrock Reservoir. If you’re looking for the campground on the Crooked River, off State Highway 21 near Idaho City, check out this post from the USDA.
When we pulled into Willow Creek Campground, it was late and dark. And honestly, we didn’t know what to expect. After pulling into the first site we saw, we both looked at each other and thought, no way is this place free. In fact, Jay even got out and walked around to check for a pay station to make sure we were in a free campground. Sure enough, Willow Creek Campground is free, and is a dreamboat of a National Forest Service campground!
Quick Facts on Willow Creek Campground Idaho
- Two pit toilets, one male and one female
- Nine established sites
- Water (closed when we were there in October)
- Picnic tables, fire rings, and metal grill stands/tables
- 22 miles down a dirt road
- Tucked away on a river bend
- No trash .. pack it in, pack it out!
The Actual Campsites
There are nine sites at Willow Creek Campground. Each site is rather spacious, with trees for shade and hammocking, a picnic table, fire ring, and metal grill stand. Three of the sites are easily accessible with any type of vehicle. The other six sites, we didn’t want to test taking our van on the road leading to them, however, to each their own.
With how clean and nice each of the campsites were, we were super surprised this place was a free campground. There’s no trash service, but to our surprise there wasn’t much trash left around, and while a couple of the sites had toilet paper scattered around, for the most part they were clean!
Side note.. use the flipping toilet provided, or dig a hole away from the campsite and pack out your toilet paper!
Site one of Willow Creek Campground is actually located right on the road, however, the rest of them are kinda tucked down under the bend. Aside from Cottonwood Campground, Willow Creek is the most private campground of the five on this road, and offers the most distance between sites and the road.
Three of the campsites at Willow Creek Campground sit up high off the water, while the other six are only a few steps away from the river flowing below. And shoot, the river is gorgeous! All the sites have views of the river and with the river easily accessible, you could go for a swim any time, from any of the sites!
Willow Creek River Access
The campground sits right on the bend of the river, and has great river access from all nine sites. The water is pretty quick and shallow in some areas, but at the bottom of the campground, near the pit toilets, there’s a great looking swimming hole!
The river is ice cold, and is great for filtering water when the water is shut off in the off season. It’s equally as great for an ice bath, with many private spaces littered all around the river bend!
Visiting Willow Creek Campground in October, there weren’t very many people there. However, with the great river access and loads of beach spaces for a day on the water, we’d reckon this campground fills up fast in the hotter months.
Accessing Willow Creek 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 down 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…
Three of the nine campsites can be accessed with any type of vehicle. Large rocks in bumps in the road from water runoff make me hesitant to recommend accessing the other sites to any and all vehicles, but I’m sure it can be done.
The sites are relatively flat with small rocks and pine needles as the surface of the ground. Accessing the bathrooms is down the hill from the top three sites, though is really closely located to the others. Leading up to the bathrooms there are a few steps, however, there is also a ramp built-in for those not able to use the steps.
Check the exact Google Maps pinpoint for Willow Creek Campground here.
Willow Creek Campground Vs. Other Campgrounds in the Area
In our opinion, Willow Creek Campground is the nicest of the five campgrounds down this road (post coming soon). It’s larger than the other ones, more tucked off the road, and much more private. Again, we can’t believe with how clean this campground was, that it’s a proper free campground!
This area of Idaho is absolutely remarkable, and while there are five other established free campgrounds in the area, there are also many places to camp for free on the side of the road. If you do so, be sure to leave no trace. Pack out what you pack in, and dig a hole to go the bathroom. And seriously, don’t be that person that ruins the vegetation in the area to camp in a place you think is best. Use any of the already established pull-outs and campsites along the road!
We stayed at Troutdale Campground too, and have a review for it here. And also spent some time at Badger Creek Campground, and have a review of it as well (coming soon). If you’re uncertain what campground you’d like to stay at, check out this post.. where we talk about all the actual campgrounds in the area.
Things to Do Near Willow Creek Campground
When people ask if you’re in the area for hunting or fishing, you know both have to be good. There were lots of elk hunters while we were there. Along with 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 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 on 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.
Sharing how to go the bathroom in nature, where to find free campsites, and places you can always camp for free!
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!
Save This Post For Easy Access Later
When you save this post, you share this post! Thanks for supporting us by sharing this Willow Creek Campground Review with others!
