Alturas Lake Inlet
Alturas Lake Inlet Campground is located on the shores of scenic Alturas Lake at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountain Range.
More like this: reservable in Idaho · big rigs in Idaho
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 27 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
27 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 03 | 40 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 04 | Pull-through | 40 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 05 | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 06 | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 07 | 40 | Gravel | 16 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 08 | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 09 | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 10 | 40 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 11 | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
This campground contains several family campsites, some of which have lake or creek views. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Roads and parking spurs are gravel. A day-use site is adjacent to the campground with a designated swim beach. Smokey Bear Boat Ramp is less than 1/4-mile away.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | June to September |
| Forest | Sawtooth National Forest |
| Booking | This is a first-come, first-serve site. |
| Fees | Sawtooth NRA Camping Fees and Information |
| Rules | Pets must be on a leash. All occupancy (includes developed/dispersed camping, boats, boat trailers, travel trailers, tents, etc): Occupancy limit is 10 days in a 30 day period within a 30 mile radius for all of SNRA. Campers must occupy the site the first night and cannot go more than 24 hours thereafter without occupying the site. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Highway 75, turn onto Forest Road 205/Alturas Lake Road. Travel approximately 3 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Stanley, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 43.9000° N, 114.8831° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedParadise Rx
13 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRx Lowman Wui
32 mi from the campground
- PrescribedBartlett Creek Rx
34 mi from the campground · 2,000 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Video
A Review of Alturas Lake Inlet Campground In the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho.
Worth a stop
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area offers a myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities, and an estimated 750 miles of trails crisscross the valley and surrounding mountains. Perkins Lake is less than 2 miles away, with excellent fishing and canoeing. Pettit and Yellowbelly Lakes are nearby, with more fishing, canoeing and hiking. The Salmon River offers fishing for rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout and occasional hybrid cutbows and bull trout. Popular area events include an Arts and Crafts Fair in July, and Wagon Days, Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair and Fireman's Ball in September.
- 2.9 miCabin Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 5.7 miPettit Lake Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 5.9 miTin Cup Hiker Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 1 miAlturas Lake-Mattingly ↗11.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.1 miAlpine Creek2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miCabin Creek3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miEureka Gulch3.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 2.4 miAlturas Lake Ski3.1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 2.9 miJake'S Gulch ↗5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.9 miCabin Creek Trailhead ↗Sawtooth National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Sawtooth National Forest.
- inSawtooth National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,190,139 acres
- 1 miSawtooth Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 217,511 acres
- 3 miBoise National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,526,862 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Atlanta Historic DistrictHistoric district · Atlanta · 14 mi
Natural features
Alturas Creek runs through the campground, where summer wildflowers are plentiful and a mixed-growth conifer forest provides partial shade. Temperatures are cool, with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.
Recreation
This site is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where outdoor activities abound. Alturas Lake offers excellent boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing for bull trout and Kokanee salmon. The 10-mile round trip Alpine Meadows Trail begins nearby, with spectacular canyon, meadow and alpine lake views. The trail is also a popular area for bird watching.
Guidebooks for Idaho
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Alturas Lake Inlet?
Sites at Alturas Lake Inlet are reservable on Recreation.gov. This is a first-come, first-serve site. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Alturas Lake Inlet?
Sawtooth NRA Camping Fees and Information
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Alturas Lake Inlet?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Alturas Lake Inlet open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season June to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Alturas Lake Inlet have?
28 sites, including 27 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Alturas Lake Inlet?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Can I have a campfire at Alturas Lake Inlet?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Pets must be on a leash.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Alturas Lake Inlet?
This site is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where outdoor activities abound. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Alturas Lake Inlet?
Stanley, Idaho. The Sawtooth National Recreation Area offers a myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities, and an estimated 750 miles of trails crisscross the valley and surrounding mountains.
Source: Getting there
What if Alturas Lake Inlet is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Alturas Inlet Campground (0.4 mi), North Shore Campground (1.6 mi, first-come), and Smokey Bear Campground (1.8 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby