Free camping
Free camping in Idaho, on the public-land road network.
Zoom into the map below, click any purple forest service road, and open a pin in Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze. Save spots for later — all stored on your device.
Last updated June 28, 2026 · Editorial maintained by Kimbo Campers
Loading…
Tiles: OpenStreetMap contributors (streets) · Esri World Imagery (satellite). National forest boundaries + forest service road network: USFS Enterprise Data Warehouse. National park boundaries: NPS Land Resources Division.
About
How free dispersed camping works in Idaho.
Idaho has 7 national forests across 2 USFS regions — Idaho Panhandle NFs and Nez Perce-Clearwater NF in the north (Region 1, Pacific Northwest extension), plus Boise NF, Payette NF, Salmon-Challis NF, Sawtooth NF, and Caribou-Targhee NF in the south (Region 4, Intermountain) — totaling roughly 20 million acres of USFS land. ID also has ~12 million acres of BLM land (concentrated in the southwestern Owyhee canyonlands corner shared with NV/OR), Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve (the only ID NPS unit with meaningful camping presence), several smaller monuments and historical parks (Hagerman Fossil Beds NM, Nez Perce NHP, City of Rocks National Reserve), and slivers of Yellowstone NP + Grand Teton NP on the eastern edge (mostly WY/MT-anchored). Free dispersed camping is allowed on most BLM and USFS land under the standard 14-day rule.
The rules vary by who manages the land. USFS dispersed camping across Idaho's 7 national forests follows the federal default: pull off any forest service road into a previously-used site, camp up to 14 days in a 30-day window, pack out everything you packed in. BLM dispersed camping follows the same general framework. Craters of the Moon NM & Preserve is unusual among NPS units: it has 1 paid in-park developed campground (Lava Flow Campground, first-come-first-served) BUT also allows free backcountry dispersed camping inside the 43,243-acre Craters Wilderness with a free self-issued permit at the visitor center — a rare NPS-allows-dispersed pattern (similar to Mojave NP in CA). Idaho Falls and Pocatello are the gateway metros for Caribou-Targhee NF + the western Yellowstone / Tetons corridor; most of the developed-camping audience around them is RV-park-focused. Boise is the gateway for the Boise + Payette NFs + the Sawtooth NRA corridor (~3 hours northeast in Stanley).
The map below covers Idaho's public land. Click any purple forest service road for coordinates plus a one-tap link to Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze. The map's main coverage spans the Sawtooth NRA + Stanley basin (Salmon River corridor — iconic), the Boise / Payette corridor (state capital + Hells Canyon access via Wallowa-Whitman NF in OR), the northern Idaho Panhandle (lake-recreation country around Coeur d'Alene + Priest Lake), Caribou-Targhee NF in the east (Tetons-W gateway, Snake River Plain), and Craters of the Moon NM in south-central ID. The Owyhee canyonlands BLM corner (SW ID — 5M+ acres of remote desert plateau) has zero camping-search audience by name but real free dispersed for the genuinely remote-overlanding audience. Sun Valley + the Wood River Valley (Ketchum / Galena Pass area) are iconic in PR but quiet in actual search data — mentioned editorially because they anchor the regional vocabulary.
By the numbers
Free camping in Idaho, by the numbers.
Public-land acreage, governance, and access facts for Idaho, sourced from the federal and state agencies that manage the land.
National forests in ID
7 (across R1 + R4 — Panhandle, Nez Perce-Clearwater, Boise, Payette, Salmon-Challis, Sawtooth, Caribou-Targhee)
Source: USFS Northern + Intermountain Regions
Federal forest land
~20M acres
Source: USFS Region 1 + Region 4 annual summaries
BLM-managed public land
~12M acres (Owyhee canyonlands + Snake River Plain)
Source: BLM Idaho State Office
USFS / BLM dispersed stay limit
14 days in any 30
Source: 36 CFR 261.58 (USFS) and 43 CFR 8365 (BLM)
Craters of the Moon NM & Preserve
~750K acres (rare NPS unit that allows wilderness dispersed)
Source: NPS Craters of the Moon
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
~756,000 acres (within Sawtooth NF)
Source: USFS Sawtooth National Forest
Sawtooth Wilderness
~217,000 acres (within SNRA — no vehicle camping, backcountry permit)
Source: USFS Sawtooth Wilderness
Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
~2.4M acres (3rd-largest in lower 48 — straddles Salmon-Challis, Payette, Nez Perce-Clearwater, Bitterroot)
Source: USFS
Owyhee canyonlands BLM
~5.2M acres (SW ID corner shared w/ NV/OR — quietest search audience for any major BLM area in program)
Source: BLM Owyhee Field Office
Rules at a glance
Dispersed-camping rules in Idaho, by land manager.
Quick reference for the rules across every public-land type in Idaho. See the FAQ + Permits sections below for the full version of each rule.
| Land manager | Dispersed allowed | Stay limit | Fees / permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| USFS — 7 National Forests (R1 + R4) | Yes | 14 days in any 30 | Free dispersed (NW Forest Pass $30/yr for some Sawtooth NRA developed trailheads) |
| BLM — Public Land (~12M acres) | Yes | 14 days in any 30 | Free dispersed (Owyhee canyonlands + Snake River Plain + Salmon area) |
| NPS — Craters of the Moon NM (RARE exception) | Yes (in Craters Wilderness with free permit) | 14 days in any 30 inside wilderness | $20 / vehicle 7-day entry pass · Lava Flow Campground $15/night |
| Other NPS sites (Hagerman, Nez Perce, City of Rocks) | No | Day-use only or paid CGs | Varies by site ($5-$15 entry where applicable) |
| Idaho State Parks | No | Reservation-only at developed CGs | $7 day-use · $14-$32 / night camping (reserveamerica.com) |
Permits & passes
What you need to pay or carry in Idaho.
Most BLM and USFS dispersed camping in Idaho is free with no permit. These are the exceptions and add-ons by destination.
Craters of the Moon NM entrance + camping
Required to enter Craters of the Moon NM. Lava Flow Campground (52 sites) is first-come-first-served. Free self-issued backcountry permit at visitor center required for dispersed camping inside the Craters Wilderness.
$20 / vehicle 7-day entrance pass · $15 / night per CG site
nps.gov ↗Northwest Forest Pass (USFS Region 6 — some Sawtooth NRA trailheads)
Required for vehicle parking at some developed Sawtooth NRA trailheads (Redfish Lake area, Stanley basin trailheads). NOT required for dispersed camping itself — only for fee-trailhead parking.
$30 / yr · $5 / day
fs.usda.gov ↗Sawtooth Wilderness backcountry permit
Free self-issued permit required at trailhead registers for overnight backcountry trips into the Sawtooth Wilderness (~217,000 acres within Sawtooth NRA). Vehicle camping not allowed in wilderness.
Free (trailhead registration only)
fs.usda.gov ↗Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness permit
Free self-issued permit at trailhead registers for overnight backpacking. River trips on the Salmon River + Middle Fork Salmon require advance lottery permits.
Free for backcountry; lottery for river trips
recreation.gov ↗Idaho State Parks Pass
Annual or per-day pass required for entry to Idaho state parks (Bruneau Dunes, Three Island Crossing, Heyburn, Priest Lake, City of Rocks, others). Camping fees additional and per-site reservable.
$10 / vehicle day-use · $80 / annual
parksandrecreation.idaho.gov ↗BLM vs USFS
BLM vs USFS dispersed camping in Idaho.
Idaho is USFS-dominant by acreage and search visibility — ~20 million acres of USFS across 7 admin national forests vs ~12 million acres of BLM. The keyword research found ID's BLM audience uses destination names rather than the agency brand (the Owyhee canyonlands BLM area surfaced ZERO keywords across multiple seeds despite covering 5M+ acres in the SW corner) — same pattern as MT/NV/OR where BLM-brand-search is weak. USFS dominates the iconic Idaho camping vocabulary: Sawtooth NRA + Stanley basin (Sawtooth NF), Boise + Payette + Salmon-Challis corridors, and the Coeur d'Alene panhandle (Idaho Panhandle NFs). The single biggest cluster is the Craters of the Moon NM (NPS), which sits outside the BLM/USFS distinction but has unusual NPS-allows-dispersed rules.
| Category | BLM (Bureau of Land Management) | USFS (US Forest Service) |
|---|---|---|
| Acreage in ID | ~12M acres (Owyhee canyonlands + Snake River Plain + scattered) | ~20M acres across 7 admin national forests (R1 + R4) |
| Typical stay limit | 14 days in any 30 | 14 days in any 30 |
| Typical fees | Free dispersed | Free dispersed (NW Forest Pass for some Sawtooth NRA trailhead parking) |
| Where it dominates | Owyhee canyonlands (SW corner — 5M acres, remote, zero search audience), Snake River Plain (south-central), Salmon area (central) | Sawtooth NRA + Stanley basin, Boise + Payette + McCall corridor, Coeur d'Alene + Priest Lake (Panhandle), Caribou-Targhee Tetons-W gateway, Frank Church wilderness complex (4 NFs) |
| Best season | Spring + fall for Owyhee (extreme summer heat); year-round Snake River Plain | Summer at altitude (most Sawtooth + Boise + Payette + Salmon-Challis dispersed snow-closed Nov-May above 5,000 ft); Idaho Panhandle has shorter snow-closures but real winter on N-facing FRs |
Frequently asked
Free camping in Idaho, answered.
Is dispersed camping legal in Idaho?
Yes. Dispersed camping is legal on most BLM land and all 7 of Idaho's national forests (Idaho Panhandle, Nez Perce-Clearwater, Boise, Payette, Salmon-Challis, Sawtooth, Caribou-Targhee), subject to the standard 14-day stay limit and the rules of whichever agency runs the specific area. Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve is unusual among NPS units — it has 1 paid developed in-park CG (Lava Flow Campground) AND allows free backcountry dispersed camping inside the 43,243-acre Craters Wilderness with a free self-issued permit at the visitor center. The other ID NPS units (Hagerman Fossil Beds NM, Nez Perce NHP, City of Rocks National Reserve) are mostly day-use sites with minimal camping presence.
Where can I camp for free in Idaho?
Free dispersed camping in Idaho is concentrated in six regions. Sawtooth NRA + Stanley basin (Sawtooth NF — iconic, ~3 hours northeast of Boise — Forest Roads along the Salmon River + Stanley Lake area + Redfish Lake corridor). Boise NF + Payette NF around Boise / McCall (state capital metro day-trip dispersed). Idaho Panhandle NFs in the north around Coeur d'Alene + Priest Lake (lake-recreation mix of paid lake CGs + dispersed FRs). Caribou-Targhee NF in the east around Idaho Falls + Driggs + Ashton (Tetons-W gateway). Craters of the Moon NM Wilderness (free backcountry permit — see prior FAQ). And Owyhee canyonlands BLM in SW ID (5M+ acres of remote desert plateau — minimal facilities, genuinely remote, best for experienced overlanders).
Where is Craters of the Moon National Monument?
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve sits in south-central Idaho between Arco and Carey, about 3 hours west of Idaho Falls and 3.5 hours east of Boise (off Highway 20 / Highway 26). It's a 750,000-acre volcanic landscape of lava fields, cinder cones, and ancient volcanic features — the largest concentration of basaltic lava flows in the lower 48. The single in-park developed campground (Lava Flow Campground, 52 sites first-come-first-served, mid-May through mid-October) is paid. Free backcountry dispersed camping IS allowed inside the 43,243-acre Craters Wilderness with a free self-issued permit at the visitor center. Adjacent BLM Lava Beds area south of the monument has additional free dispersed corridors. The park requires a $20 per-vehicle 7-day entrance pass.
How do I camp in the Sawtooth Wilderness?
The Sawtooth Wilderness (~217,000 acres within Sawtooth NRA in central Idaho) is the iconic Sawtooth backcountry destination. Vehicle camping is NOT allowed inside wilderness boundaries — wilderness areas are foot/horse-only by federal definition. For vehicle dispersed camping in the broader Sawtooth NRA, the corridors are off the main highways (Highway 75 from Stanley through Galena Pass, Forest Road 17 west toward Atlanta, Forest Road 70 toward Smiley Creek + Redfish Lake area). For backcountry wilderness camping inside Sawtooth Wilderness itself, a free wilderness permit is required (self-issued at trailhead registers). The most-traveled access is via Redfish Lake (trailhead for many SAW Wilderness routes). Best season is late June through September — most high-altitude trails snow-closed otherwise.
Do I need a permit for free camping in Idaho?
Most BLM and USFS dispersed camping in Idaho does not require a permit. Exceptions: backcountry wilderness camping (Sawtooth Wilderness, Frank Church-River of No Return, Selway-Bitterroot, Hells Canyon, others) requires a free self-issued wilderness permit at trailhead registers. The 43,243-acre Craters of the Moon Wilderness requires a free self-issued backcountry permit at the visitor center. Craters of the Moon NM proper requires a $20 per-vehicle 7-day entrance pass. Idaho state parks always require entrance + camping fees and reservations. Some specific USFS day-use areas in the Sawtooth NRA require a Northwest Forest Pass ($30/yr or $5/day) for parking at developed trailheads — not for dispersed camping itself.
What is the difference between Yellowstone and Idaho?
Yellowstone National Park (YELL) is primarily in Wyoming (~96%), with small slices extending into Idaho (~1%) and Montana (~3%). The Idaho slice is the southwestern corner — Bechler Ranger Station + Cave Falls + Bechler Falls area, accessed via Ashton, ID through Caribou-Targhee NF. There is no Yellowstone in-park camping on the ID side (the developed CGs are all in WY). For Yellowstone visitors looking for free dispersed camping on the ID side, head into Caribou-Targhee NF (Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, Island Park area, Henrys Fork corridor) — standard 14-day USFS dispersed allowed on Forest Roads. The Tetons-W audience (Driggs / Victor, Teton Valley) similarly camps in Caribou-Targhee NF (Teton Pass + Targhee dispersed). For full Yellowstone-side camping coverage, see our Montana camping page.
Where is the best free camping near Coeur d'Alene?
Coeur d'Alene sits in northern Idaho's Panhandle region, surrounded by the Idaho Panhandle National Forests (a single administrative unit combining Coeur d'Alene NF + Kaniksu NF + St. Joe NF — totaling ~3.4 million acres). Most lake-recreation camping around CdA itself is paid (developed CGs on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Hayden Lake, Lake Pend Oreille). For free dispersed, head into the IPNF backroads — Forest Roads off Highway 95 north toward Sandpoint + Priest Lake, Forest Roads off Highway 97 along Lake CdA's eastern shore, and the St. Joe River corridor (Highway 50 east of CdA toward Avery) all allow standard 14-day USFS dispersed. The Priest Lake area in the far northwest corner has Idaho's only Hatchery district + scenic lake-island dispersed camping. Best season is May through October — high snowfall in winter closes upper-elevation roads.
Are there fire restrictions for dispersed camping in Idaho?
Yes. Restrictions are set per national forest, per BLM district, and per state forest, updated weekly during fire season (typically July through October). Stage 1 typically prohibits open campfires outside designated rings. Stage 2 typically prohibits all campfires plus most off-road vehicle use plus chainsaw and welding work. Stage 3 closes the land entirely. Boise NF + Payette NF + Sawtooth NF + Salmon-Challis NF historically issue the most-frequent fire restrictions given the SW + central ID fire history. The Idaho Department of Lands also publishes statewide fire restrictions for state-managed timber lands. Always check the specific forest, BLM district, or state-lands website before lighting a fire — ID does NOT require a separate state-issued campfire permit (unlike California's CalFire permit).
Featured regions
Where to look first in Idaho.
Five regions that account for most of the high-quality free dispersed camping in the state. Each one is a multi-day base.
NPS — Craters of the Moon NM (BLM Lava Beds for adjacent)
Craters of the Moon NM & Preserve
Craters of the Moon sits in south-central Idaho between Arco and Carey (off Highway 20/26, ~3 hours from both Boise and Idaho Falls). It's a 750,000-acre volcanic landscape of lava fields, cinder cones, lava tubes, and ancient volcanic features — the largest concentration of basaltic lava flows in the lower 48 outside Hawai'i. The single in-park developed CG (Lava Flow Campground, 52 sites first-come-first-served, mid-May through mid-October) is paid. Craters is UNUSUAL among NPS units — it also allows free backcountry dispersed camping inside the 43,243-acre Craters Wilderness with a free self-issued permit at the visitor center. Adjacent BLM Lava Beds area south of the monument has additional free dispersed corridors. Educational note: Craters is NOT Crater Lake (a separate NP in Oregon ~600 miles away — frequently confused). Park requires a $20 per-vehicle 7-day entrance pass.
43.42°N, 113.52°W
USFS — Sawtooth NF (Sawtooth NRA)
Sawtooth NRA & Stanley basin
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (within Sawtooth NF) is Idaho's iconic backcountry destination — 756,000 acres of glacier-carved peaks, alpine lakes, and the Salmon River headwaters in central Idaho. The gateway town is Stanley (population ~70 in winter, ~500 in summer), ~3 hours northeast of Boise via Highway 21 or Galena Pass from Ketchum/Sun Valley. Free dispersed camping is allowed on most Sawtooth NF Forest Roads outside the SNRA's developed campgrounds (paid) and outside the 217,000-acre Sawtooth Wilderness (vehicle camping not allowed inside wilderness — foot/horse only with free permit). The most-loved dispersed corridors include Forest Roads off Highway 75 between Stanley and Galena, Forest Roads west toward Atlanta, and the Redfish Lake area (mix of paid developed CGs + adjacent dispersed). Best season is late June through September — most roads snow-closed otherwise.
44.22°N, 114.93°W
USFS — Boise NF + Payette NF
Boise NF + Payette NF (state capital metro)
Boise sits between Boise NF (immediately north + east of the city) and Payette NF (further north, in the McCall area). Combined, the two NFs total ~5 million acres of free-dispersed-eligible land. Boise NF includes Bogus Basin (the ski-area-adjacent corridor), Idaho City NF area (mining-era town with USFS dispersed), and the Forest Roads up to Atlanta and Featherville. Payette NF spans the area around McCall (a popular summer-lake-resort town ~2 hours north of Boise) and the Hells Canyon NRA on the OR border (shared with Wallowa-Whitman NF on the OR side — for the Hells Canyon dispersed-camping picture, both forests' road networks are relevant). Most Boise / Payette dispersed is on stock-truck-friendly graded gravel; the deeper Hells Canyon spurs reward higher clearance.
44.05°N, 115.70°W
USFS — Idaho Panhandle NFs (Coeur d'Alene, Kaniksu, St. Joe districts)
Idaho Panhandle NFs + Coeur d'Alene + Priest Lake
The Idaho Panhandle National Forests is a single administrative unit combining the historical Coeur d'Alene NF, Kaniksu NF, and St. Joe NF — totaling ~3.4 million acres in northern Idaho's panhandle. The biggest camping audience is around Coeur d'Alene (the lake-recreation hub town, ~30 min from Spokane, WA). Most lake-edge camping is paid (developed CGs on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Hayden Lake, Lake Pend Oreille), but free dispersed exists on the IPNF Forest Roads — north toward Sandpoint and Priest Lake on Highway 95, east along the St. Joe River corridor (Highway 50 toward Avery), and the higher-elevation FRs throughout the panhandle. Priest Lake in the far northwest is Idaho's most-loved lake-camping destination. Best season is May through October — heavy snow closes higher-elevation roads in winter.
47.65°N, 116.78°W
USFS — Caribou-Targhee NF
Caribou-Targhee NF / Idaho Falls / Tetons-W gateway
Caribou-Targhee NF spans southeast Idaho (~2.6 million acres) and is the western gateway to both Grand Teton NP (via Driggs / Teton Pass) and Yellowstone NP (via Ashton / Henrys Fork / West Yellowstone). Idaho Falls (~1 hour southwest) is the metro gateway. Most camping searches in this region are for paid developed RV parks in Idaho Falls itself (~8,250 combined vol per the keyword research — biggest 'surprise' cluster from the 5-seed pass). Free dispersed exists throughout Caribou-Targhee on Forest Roads — Mesa Falls Scenic Byway (Highway 47), Island Park area off Highway 20, Henrys Fork corridor, and the Driggs / Victor / Tetons-W dispersed corridors. For Yellowstone-side camping, see our Montana page (Yellowstone is mostly WY/MT; the ID slice is small). Best season is May through October.
44.15°N, 111.50°W
Camping Idaho in a truck camper
Will a slide-in camper handle the road network here?
Most Idaho free-dispersed roads in Sawtooth NF, Boise NF, and Payette NF are graded gravel that any half-ton or midsize pickup handles stock — Forest Roads off Highway 75 around Stanley, Highway 21 toward Idaho City, and the McCall-area routes are all stock-friendly. The deeper spurs into the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness boundary (Salmon-Challis NF), the Selway-Bitterroot trailheads (Nez Perce-Clearwater NF), and the Hells Canyon Rim Drive (Payette NF / Wallowa-Whitman NF) reward higher clearance + a lighter camper. The Idaho Panhandle NFs in the north have mostly logging-road-legacy gravel (good condition) but with significant winter snow closures above 4,000 feet. Caribou-Targhee NF's Tetons-W gateway dispersed (around Driggs + Ashton) is mostly stock-friendly graded gravel.
A Kimbo 6 at 830 lb base dry weight is one of the lightest hard-side options for the small-pickup payload range; the Kimbo 8 (1,125 lb base dry) is the full-size option with a queen cabover and dedicated wet bath — both built for the kind of road network Idaho has.
If you already have the truck and you're trying to figure out whether a Kimbo fits it, the per-truck fit guide is the right next step.
Land managers
Who manages the land in Idaho.
The forests, parks, and recreation lands you can camp on across Idaho.
BLM — Idaho State Office
Manages ~12 million acres in Idaho. Largest concentrations: Owyhee canyonlands (SW corner), Snake River Plain, and the Salmon-Challis area.
blm.gov ↗
BLM — Owyhee Field Office
Manages the Owyhee canyonlands BLM area in SW Idaho (~5M acres of remote desert plateau shared with NV + OR). Real free dispersed for remote-overlanding audience.
blm.gov ↗
USFS — Sawtooth National Forest
Central ID NF (~2.1 million acres) containing the Sawtooth NRA + Sawtooth Wilderness. Stanley basin is the gateway town.
fs.usda.gov ↗
USFS — Boise National Forest
South-central ID NF (~2.6 million acres) immediately north + east of Boise metro. Includes Atlanta + Idaho City + Bogus Basin areas.
fs.usda.gov ↗
USFS — Payette National Forest
West-central ID NF (~2.3 million acres) around McCall + Cascade Reservoir + Hells Canyon NRA (shared w/ Wallowa-Whitman NF in OR).
fs.usda.gov ↗
USFS — Salmon-Challis National Forest
East-central ID NF (~4.3 million acres — largest in ID). Includes the eastern portion of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.
fs.usda.gov ↗
USFS — Caribou-Targhee National Forest
Southeast ID NF (~2.6 million acres). Tetons-W gateway (Driggs / Victor) + Yellowstone-W gateway (Ashton / Henrys Fork / Island Park).
fs.usda.gov ↗
USFS — Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Northern ID NF combining Coeur d'Alene NF + Kaniksu NF + St. Joe NF (~3.4 million acres). Lake recreation + Selkirk Crest dispersed.
fs.usda.gov ↗
USFS — Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest
North-central ID NF (~4 million acres). Wild + Scenic Clearwater + Selway rivers, Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness gateway.
fs.usda.gov ↗
NPS — Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve
750,000-acre volcanic landscape in south-central ID. Rare NPS unit that allows free backcountry dispersed in the Craters Wilderness with self-issued permit. $20 vehicle entry.
nps.gov ↗
NPS — Nez Perce National Historical Park
38 sites scattered across ID + MT + WA + OR — Nez Perce tribal history. Day-use only, no in-park camping.
nps.gov ↗
NPS — City of Rocks National Reserve
Granite climbing destination in southern ID (Cassia County). Co-managed NPS + ID State Parks. Paid CG inside reserve.
nps.gov ↗
Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
Manages 30+ state parks across Idaho including Bruneau Dunes, Three Island Crossing, Heyburn, and Priest Lake state parks. All paid camping.
parksandrecreation.idaho.gov ↗
Leave no trace
Pack out everything. Stay 200 ft from water. Use existing fire rings only.
Free dispersed camping survives because the people doing it leave campsites better than they found them. The 14-day rule, the fire restrictions, and the road closures all exist because previous visitors did not. Pack out trash. Bury human waste 6 inches deep, 200 feet from any water source. Use existing fire rings only and drown campfires until the ash is cold. Park on durable surfaces. Drive existing roads.
Last updated: June 28, 2026. First published June 28, 2026. Editorial maintained by the Kimbo Campers team in Bellingham, Washington — we've been camping Idaho public land for 9+ years and update this page when agency rules or seasonal access changes.