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Sawtooth/Sunny Gulch
Overview
Sunny Gulch Campground offers a quintessential Idaho mountain experience within the heart of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Located just south of the town of Stanley, this Forest Service facility is known for its spectacular mountain vistas and proximity to the Salmon River. It serves as a peaceful basecamp for those looking to immerse themselves in nature without the distractions of modern development. The atmosphere here is quiet and rustic, where the sound of the wind through the lodgepole pines and the smell of fresh sage define the authentic Idaho wilderness experience.
Location & Surroundings
The park sits at an elevation of roughly 6,300 feet, providing a crisp alpine climate even during the peak summer months. It is positioned along the Salmon River Scenic Byway, offering easy access to the river's edge for those interested in landscape photography or a morning walk. To the west, the jagged, snow-dusted peaks of the Sawtooth Range dominate the skyline, creating a dramatic backdrop for every campsite. The surrounding landscape consists of open meadows and light timber, allowing for more expansive views than many neighboring campgrounds.
Amenities & Park Features
As a traditional Forest Service destination, Sunny Gulch provides a dry camping experience without electric or water hookups. The sites are surprisingly spacious and can accommodate large RVs and trailers, with some parking pads extending up to 60 feet in length. Visitors will find essential facilities, including vault toilets and hand-pumped drinking water. Each individual site is equipped with a sturdy picnic table and a heavy-duty fire ring. There is also a day-use area and a group site available for larger gatherings.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Adventure is just minutes away, with Redfish Lake located only a few miles to the south. This popular destination offers boat rentals, sandy beaches, and various hiking trailheads that lead deep into the Sawtooth Wilderness. Anglers often frequent the nearby Salmon River for world-class fly fishing, while whitewater enthusiasts use the area as a launching point for river trips. The charming, historic town of Stanley is a short drive north, providing local dining and essential supplies for travelers.
Who This Park Is Best For
This campground is ideal for self-contained RVers who value scenery and solitude over resort-style luxury. If you enjoy the independence of boondocking but prefer the structure of a designated site, the wide-open layout of Sunny Gulch is a perfect fit. It is particularly well-suited for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers who want to be positioned near the most iconic landscapes in central Idaho. Those traveling with larger rigs who still want a rustic mountain experience will find this to be an accessible and rewarding choice.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
kate stewart
A lovely RV park. Great spaces, sparkling clean bathrooms, showers and laundry room. Lovely hosts. Easy access to Glacier National Park. I'd definitely stay there again
Jonathan “Remo” Mathiesen
The managers were highly helpful. The restrooms were very well maintained. There are bear resistant trash cans and dumpsters. I forgot to take my tackle however the river is very close and looks promising for fishing.
Cody Parker
Lucky enough to get a camp site on labor day weekend just driving through. Campground was full! Clean Campground and peaceful! No loud campers or late night noises to keep you up. Sitting by the fire, you would think you were the only ones there.
Isaiah Mitchell
Beautiful, clean, and well maintained. Cara/Campground Hostess is very pleasant and came around every few hours to clean and ensure everything was running smoothly. This is a great alternative to the campgrounds around Redfish, if you don't have a reservation.
Dana Tolick
Beautiful, clean and serene. Grandpa Frog is camp host. Good guy! We stayed at spot 39. You could hear the river below us about 100 yards.traiks take you down to it. First time staying at this campground and we highly recommend.
Chelsea Vliet
Excellent campground. Camp sites are big and there was a lot of space between camp sites. Bathrooms conveniently spaced all over and they were very clean. Will be back!
Carl Strohmeyer
Beautiful campground with beautiful views. Well laid out, with lots of space and clean restrooms. Good cell/data reception with Verizon. Unfortunately there is a reason for a 3 star review instead of a 5 star review this place should have: We arrived at our campsite after the previous occupant should have left only find a small car still parked there. We looked around and checked with the host site to not find anyone. However, about 10-15 minutes later the host drove up in a hurry (she also seemed a bit exasperated, which admittedly I should have noted better at the time). She told me that the previous occupant was broken down and it would be at least 3.5 hours before a tow could get there, but she would move us to another site. This is where it started to go astray, in that I simply questioned about this new site and pointed out that I booked the site we had online based on research that we would have no issue fitting, so I wanted to make sure we would fit (and not have damage as per my previous incident, so I had VERY good reason to ask based on a similar experience where we were told we would fit by the CG host, but did not causing damage to our trailer). She got clearly upset at my questioning of her, and when I also tried to note that the car could easily be pushed to a parking area just 50’ feet away (and downhill at that) she got even more upset and stated in a condescending attitude that we are in the middle of nowhere and it takes time for a tow truck to arrive (clearly assuming I never have gone through any of this before and in fact have been broken down in far more remote areas). I will admit, as per my wife who is the senior customer service person where she works, that as soon as she got worked up, I should have shut up, but still all I was doing was giving my opinion/experience and attempting to make sure we could have a safe place to stay for the night (the site she did have in mind was only open for the night, not our two paid nights). After my attempts to voice my concerns/opinions, she went ballistic and stated she “did not have to take this” and was now going to call the sheriff and have us removed, to which she had the authority to cancel our reservation. My wife was able to change her mind a bit. I later looked up and found nowhere that disagreeing or voicing concerns was reason for removal, so I found this outrageous for her to make such threats just because I questioned her and gave my opinion (right or wrong). Late in the evening, after I prayed and gave more thought, plus my wife’s expert opinion on the subject, I felt convinced that while here behavior was wrong under the circumstances, maybe she was having a bad day and when I walked by her campsite to get water, I offered a genuine apology that I did not intend to get her upset and that I should have just shut up and looked at the new site in question. Her reaction to this was downright bizarre and troubling, rather than accept or reject my apology, she threw her arms up and stated for me to get away as “she did not feel safe around me” (even then I was more than 12’ away). I talked to my wife and we found her behavior psychotic and far from normal when all things are considered. This made my wife uncomfortable, and we did not sleep well at night worrying that she might do something. The Forest Service/concessionaire should be much more careful as to the quality of persons they have as CG hosts. In this case we are not talking just normal disagreement, but a total lunatic who thinks she has total power over everyone, especially if they simply question her.
Randy Reed
Absolutely amazing place, the views the river, the camp host this year barb and rich were the best we have ever seen, dont know if they will be back hope they will be ,
Wil H-R
Quiet, clean toilets. Good river access. Lots of yellow jackets or wasps hanging around in the afternoon but that's just nature.
Michael Smith
Beautiful campground. Day Use Fee area at the picnic pavillion has sign $9 Day Use Fee. Everyone is given 15 min (potty break or snap a photo) before they are tagged and expected to pay. Signs are clearly posted. Some people actually park right in front of the sign and complain when they are asked to pay. If that ruins your lunch and day maybe you pay attention to your surrounding and read the posted signs.