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Fly in Campsites
of Idaho
Most everyone loves camping. However not all want the rigid
format that many commercial campgrounds have to offer or the crowds encountered
at such sites, and would prefer somewhere more remote. In order to reach remote
locations many people choose to Hike, Kayak or canoe to wilderness regions out
of the reach of most. But lets not forget that perhaps the quickest and one of
the coolest way to become isolated is to fly in to some grass strip, way out in
the middle of nowhere. Well Idaho is full of "no where".
Following is a list of "fly in Campsites" and at the end of the list
you will find out how to locate and access these nearly pristine sites.
Northern Idaho:
Moose Creek is one of the most beautiful and popular sites in Idaho.
Magee is one of the less traveled sites in Idaho.
Cavanaugh Bay is another state-owned and caretaker maintained strip.
Fish Lake is one of the most beautiful and remote strips in Idaho.
Cayuse Creek Was recently restored by as one of the projects of the
Lewis & Clark Chapters.
Shearer is one of the not so traveled locations but loved by many.
Southern Idaho:
Atlanta is an old mining town that is best served by air.
Graham is in an area of great beauty.
Garden Valley On a beautiful fork of the Payette
River it is a popular destination for some.
Smith
Prairie It can be a place of incredible solitude.
Weatherby On a pretty stretch of river, and a road.
Warm Springs The lack of traffic makes for a good
solitary camp. There is also a hot springs to hike to.
Central
Idaho:
Bruce Meadows is one of the real undiscovered sites in
Idaho.
Big Creek It has a campground, two locations nearby to
get meals & lodging, not to mention great scenery.
Chamberlain Basin No provided camping facilities
but great scenery and solitude.
Johnson Creek is without question Idaho's most popular
destination. (See below)
Indian Creek is a great destination on the Middle Fork of
the Salmon river with good camping & fishing.
Dixie USFS It is a popular fly-in breakfast destination.
Cold Meadows. High altitude camping at 7030', but very
beautiful. Not a lot of company here.
Henry's Lake is a very scenic strip on a very good
fishing lake in eastern Idaho.
Cabin Creek This is a wilderness destination.
Watch for moose on the loose.
Soldier Bar - Difficult strip for only the most
experienced. Islolated.
Lower Loon It is frequently wet from irrigation. Landing
here requires special instruction.
Upper Loon Prior experience or instruction required.
Smiley Creek Is in an incredibly beautiful valley. High
elevation (7160') takeoff considerations.
Krassel Short runway in an area of great beauty.
Bernard Off the beaten track. Prior experience or
instruction required.
Flying B is a PRIVATE airstrip and Lodge. CALL FIRST!!
Snake
River Area:
This is a big river with several undefined strips in this largely non-forested
area.
Big Bar On a bend of the Snake. Air or hike in access only.
Dug Bar Another isolated area strip.
Pittsburgh Surprised they didn't call this one a "bar" because
it is similar to all the other Snake river strips.
Salmon Bar Here a bar, there a bar. Again Isolated on this great river.
The Salmon Wilderness Area run by the Idaho
Aeronautics Association, featuring Johnson Creek. This 5000x250
foot grass runway is watered and mowed deep in the middle of the Salmon
Wilderness. There caretakers at the site all summer, and the river is within
feet of the runway. Amenities include camping with tables, hot showers, fire
pits, grills, two vans (at $5.00) to tour near by town of Yellowpine, an old
gold mining location. Get this, the are hot springs near by as well.
It has been report by the submitter of this information, that he has never been to a
nicer spot ever. This wonderful location is only half hour or less flight out of
McCall, Idaho.
These Fly in campgrounds are covered extensively in Galen
L. Hanselman's book " Fly Idaho". Click on the Amazon link to order it for details
about these Fly In Campsites before you go.
Direct link to the book available at Amazon.
To see pictures from the book of some of the
sites click here
and then the "Suggested Destinations" link.
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