Stanley Lake Campground

Overview

Stanley Lake Campground is located on the shoreline above beautiful Stanley Lake at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains.

Recreation

Stanley Lake offers excellent boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, brook and bull trout. A boat ramp is located just outside the campground.

The Idaho Centennial Trail passes nearby and can be accessed from the Stanley Lake Trailhead across the lake.

Facilities

The campground offers 17 reservable sites, as well as additional first come, first served sites. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Roads and spurs within the site are gravel.

A scenic overlook is located next to sites 3 and 4, with outstanding views of McGowan Peak and Stanley Lake. Painters and photographers frequent the overlook to capture the views.

Natural Features

The campground is situated on a hillside above the lake in a thick grove of lodgepole pines, at an elevation of 6,500 feet. Most campsites have partial shade and views of the lake and/or the rugged 9860-foot McGowan Peak. Temperatures are cool, with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.

Nearby Attractions

Stanley Lake lies within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, which offers a myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities. An estimated 750 miles of trails crisscross the valley and surrounding mountains.

Numerous sparkling lakes and streams, including the Salmon River, dot the area, making for great rainbow and native Westslope cutthroat trout fishing. Redfish Lake is nearby, offering additional water recreation opportunities.

Popular area events include an Arts and Crafts Fair in July, and Wagon Days, Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair and Fireman's Ball in September.

Camp site features

Across 39 camp sites:

  • Fire pit: all 39 sites
  • Picnic table: 12 of 39 sites
  • Pets allowed: all 39 sites
  • Group sites: 5 of 39 sites
  • Longest RV: 52 ft
  • Largest party: 16 people

Directions

Travel 4.5 miles west of Stanley, Idaho on State Highway 21. Turn on paved Stanley Lake Road and drive 3 miles to the campground.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

140 reviews
5 stars
118
4 stars
15
3 stars
3
2 stars
2
1 stars
2
Katy H
Loop:Stanley Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
Gorgeous campground on the lake. Pit toilets were well kept up. Nice trails nearby, 15 minutes from town...
Todd W
Loop:Stanley Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
Beautiful view of the lake and very peaceful.
Denise P
Loop:Stanley Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
It is such a beautiful setting on the lake with great views of the Sawtooths. There are mtn biking trails nearby and a nice hike up to Lady Face Falls. The host Justin was super friendly and kept the toilets very clean and stocked. We camped in site #10, even though we originally booked #18 which had too much of a slope for us to get our van level (Justin was great about letting us switch to a different open site). I would love to stay at this campground again.
Mark L
Loop:Stanley Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
What a beautiful campground overlooking the spectacular lake! Site was clean and bathrooms were immaculate. Site was not level but doable. Campground host Claire was amazing!
Timothy B
Loop:Stanley Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
Clean, quiet, beautiful location.
Emma B
Loop:Stanley Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
This place is Beautiful! Campground was wonderful, spacious and quiet. We were in site 24 and it was near a bathroom, one of the cleanest campsite bathrooms I’ve experienced! Our camp Host was super kind and greeted us the first night. The walk down to the lake isn’t far and the lake was wonderful! Highly recommend this site! But, you have to book right away or all year will be reserved! We booked in March and only available was Mid-Week September. Worth the wait tho.
Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve

Season dates

Peak season

May 21, 2027 – Sep 17, 2027

Reservable online

Walk In season

Sep 18, 2027 – Sep 30, 2027

First come, first served

Peak season

May 22, 2028 – Sep 17, 2028

Reservable online

Walk In season

Sep 18, 2028 – Sep 30, 2028

First come, first served

Camp Sites

Availability not checked yet

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