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Sawtooth National Forest › Sawtooth National Recreation Area › Idaho
› Custer County
› Stanley
› Elk Creek Campground (Stanley)
› Campsite #1
Campsite #1 at Elk Creek Campground (Stanley), ID
$75
Group Site #1
| Drive-In | 40 people |
| 40 ft | Pull-Through |
| 8 | poor |
5/22
Campsite #1 Features: Drive-In access, Pull-Through parking, 40ft driveway, Fire ring, Fire ring w/ Grill, Picnic Table, RV Site, Tent Site, Trailer Site
Campsite Reviews (11)
1.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 9% |
| 4 star | | 18% |
| 3 star | | 27% |
| 2 star | | 9% |
| 1 star | | 36% |
@charlesJ731376 · Camped on Jul 11, 2025 at Campsite #1
Ranger station has been unstaffed for months, did not put up reservation tags, so our group site was occupied by multiple families on arrival who also paid on site fees.
@JesseA7538146 · Camped on Aug 16, 2023 at Campsite #1
Only needed the site for one night for a group of 5. Site had more than enough space for 5 tents. Beautiful creek just a few steps from the campsite area. Campsite and bathroom was clean.
@JessicaW627491 · Camped on Jun 17, 2023 at Campsite #1
As a group site, this campsite is much better than previous reviews indicate. Yes, the forest surrounding it is burnt out from a lightning strike in 2016. But there are trees in the site and the meadow has lots of new growth and is coming back well. It's right next to Elk Creek and you can hear the creek burbling. Unfortunately, it's also close to the highway. During the week it was pretty quiet, but there's lots of traffic noise on the weekends. As the description states, it's three sites that can be rented as one group site, and as a group site it is great. But I would not camp here in an individual site as they are right on top of each other. The rangers kept the bathroom meticulously clean and there is a bear-proof dumpster on site. With the traffic though, that means people think the site is a rest stop and there is a constant stream of cars stopping to use the bathroom during the day. I wish the ranger would have closed the gate for us to deter that. My only other criticism is the description says there is water, but the well is unusable. The pump has rusted so much that the water is brown. If not for that, I might have given the site four stars. We did like being off on our own instead of surrounded by people in a campground.
@GinaW3436858 · Camped on Jul 19, 2022 at Campsite #1
This campsite sits an a burn area, and there are very few trees left. There is currently road construction ongoing directly adjacent to the campground. This was not an issue for us, since the work was done by early evening and did not resume until the next morning, after we left. The restroom was pristine. It was very quiet at night. Again, very few trees left in the area so privacy, shade and views were not great.
@JonathonS93833 · Camped on Jul 1, 2022 at Campsite #1
Horrible spot. No shade due to trees being burnt and cut down, long long weeds everywhere, construction right next to site caused it to be very dusty and loud. Not worth the $100 a night we paid, very disappointed.
@ChristopherB30 · Camped on Aug 23, 2021 at Campsite #1
The site is located in an area which has been recently burned so there are very few living trees left in the area. There is a functional water pump on site but there is a sign stating that the water is not fit for human consumption. The USFS should probably take this site off of the available list until the area has recovered from the fire and the water issue has been resolved. We actually decided not to stay there and ended up camping at a different location.
@christopherb98 · Camped on Aug 23, 2021 at Campsite #1
The site is located in an area which has been recently burned so there are very few living trees left in the area. There is a functional water pump on site but there is a sign stating that the water is not fit for human consumption. The USFS should probably take this site off of the available list until the area has recovered from the fire and the water issue has been resolved. We actually decided not to stay there and ended up camping at a different location.
@BrandonS263 · Camped on Aug 7, 2020 at Campsite #1
We recently rented this group site for it's easy access to Red Fish Lake (30 mins) and proximity to nearby mountains. The campsite was well kept and had fire rings, picnic tables, and easy access to the drop toilet. There is an onsite water pump but the exiting water was really rusty, not immediately potable. A large fire made it's way through the area a couple years ago and took out nearly all the trees in the campsite and surrounding area. If you're looking for lots of trees and distance from the road, this is not your site! We experienced 10-15 cars each day pulling into the campsite to use the bathroom and dumpster, most likely due to its very close proximity to the main highway. I'd recommend bringing some cones to prohibit traffic from entering if you've reserved the entire site. You paid to use the dumpster and bathroom, they didn't! Overall I'd go back, but it's current condition is different than described. I took pictures, but there is no place to upload them on this review.
PROS-Nice large campsite, a nearby creek was perfect for the young kids to play in, you can reserve the entire area to yourself to eliminate neighbors.
CONS-Lack of trees, onsite water not potable, close to the road and lots of noise, lot's of traffic turning into the campsite to use the bathroom and dumpster.
PROS-Nice large campsite, a nearby creek was perfect for the young kids to play in, you can reserve the entire area to yourself to eliminate neighbors.
CONS-Lack of trees, onsite water not potable, close to the road and lots of noise, lot's of traffic turning into the campsite to use the bathroom and dumpster.
@BrandonS417195 · Camped on Aug 7, 2020 at Campsite #1
We recently rented this group site for it's easy access to Red Fish Lake (30 mins) and proximity to nearby mountains. The campsite was well kept and had fire rings, picnic tables, and easy access to the drop toilet. There is an onsite water pump but the exiting water was really rusty, not immediately potable. A large fire made it's way through the area a couple years ago and took out nearly all the trees in the campsite and surrounding area. If you're looking for lots of trees and distance from the road, this is not your site! We experienced 10-15 cars each day pulling into the campsite to use the bathroom and dumpster, most likely due to its very close proximity to the main highway. I'd recommend bringing some cones to prohibit traffic from entering if you've reserved the entire site. You paid to use the dumpster and bathroom, they didn't! Overall I'd go back, but it's current condition is different than described. I took pictures, but there is no place to upload them on this review.
PROS-Nice large campsite, a nearby creek was perfect for the young kids to play in, you can reserve the entire area to yourself to eliminate neighbors.
CONS-Lack of trees, onsite water not potable, close to the road and lots of noise, lot's of traffic turning into the campsite to use the bathroom and dumpster.
PROS-Nice large campsite, a nearby creek was perfect for the young kids to play in, you can reserve the entire area to yourself to eliminate neighbors.
CONS-Lack of trees, onsite water not potable, close to the road and lots of noise, lot's of traffic turning into the campsite to use the bathroom and dumpster.
@LindaP7575010 · Camped on Jul 18, 2020 at Campsite #1
We were a bit disappointed when we arrived to find that the campground sits in the middle of a burnt out zone. Not sure when the fire went through but can’t have been more than a couple years. Almost humorously desolate. Maybe 3 lodgepole pines in the entire group campsite, so no shade to speak of. The photo of campsite definitely needs an update! Yes, there is a creek nearby, but not near enough to hear or see. It would be fun wading for kids, but we had none with us. The meadow was kind of pretty, but framed by burnt trees. The main road is very close so it was noisy at times. And lots of cars felt free to swing in and use the toilet or dump trash in the dumpster. One car sat there for 2 days before we notified police in case there was a body in the trunk. We had a fun group and we spent our days out and about, so we still had a good trip. But it would have been appreciated if the website had mentioned that a fire had decimated the trees.
@LindaP594 · Camped on Jul 18, 2020 at Campsite #1
We were a bit disappointed when we arrived to find that the campground sits in the middle of a burnt out zone. Not sure when the fire went through but can’t have been more than a couple years. Almost humorously desolate. Maybe 3 lodgepole pines in the entire group campsite, so no shade to speak of. The photo of campsite definitely needs an update! Yes, there is a creek nearby, but not near enough to hear or see. It would be fun wading for kids, but we had none with us. The meadow was kind of pretty, but framed by burnt trees. The main road is very close so it was noisy at times. And lots of cars felt free to swing in and use the toilet or dump trash in the dumpster. One car sat there for 2 days before we notified police in case there was a body in the trunk. We had a fun group and we spent our days out and about, so we still had a good trip. But it would have been appreciated if the website had mentioned that a fire had decimated the trees.
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