Campground Highlights: Warm Lake Campground

Overview:

For those wishing to get further away from the Treasure Valley, a popular spot for many through the years has been the Warm Lake area. Located approximately 25 miles outside of Cascade, Idaho, Warm Lake offers great fishing opportunities for cutthroat, rainbow, lake and bull trout. Boating, canoeing and swimming are popular activities. A developed swim beach is available less than a quarter-mile away, at Warm Lake Lodge.

The surrounding area offers great hiking, mountain biking, horseback and off-road vehicle riding, and hunting. The WeWuKiye (Wa Wu Kia) Trail No. 252 was recently built and can be accessed at Shoreline Campground. It is popular for hiking and mountain biking.

Warm Lake Campground

Things to Know Before You Go

This small campground provides campsites equipped with a picnic table, campfire ring and grill. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided at the campground, but electricity is not available.

Roads and parking spurs within the facility are gravel. The lake is not visible from the campground.

There are a total of 12 sites at a cost of $15.00 per Night. 

Directions:

From Boise, Idaho, travel approximately 80 miles north on State Highway 55 to Cascade, Idaho. 

From Cascade, Idaho travel 1 mile north on State Highway 55 to the Forest Highway 22 (Warm Lake Highway) turnoff.

Turn east and proceed 25 miles to the intersection of Forest Service Road 579 and 474. Proceed on Forest Service Road 579 about 1.5 miles to the campground.

Campground Review: Rattlesnake Campground

Just a little more than an hour from Boise, Rattlesnake Campground is a great blend of rugged, isolated yet close enough to enjoy the many outdoor activities Idaho has to offer. 

Overview

Rattlesnake Campground is located 13 miles north of Crouch, Idaho along the Middle Fork Payette River at an elevation of 3,600 feet. 
The Middle Fork drainage offers excellent trail opportunities. Fishing and hunting are popular activities as well.

Facilities:

The campground consists of nine single sites and one double site that make up one large, accessible group site, which can accommodate up to 100 people. A two night minimum stay is required on weekends. A three night minimum stay is required on holiday weekends.
Picnic and utility tables, campfire rings and a picnic shelter are provided. Two accessible vault toilets are also provided. Ten parking spurs are available, each 50-75' in length. 
Additional camping is available at nearby Hardscrabble and Trail Creek Campgrounds.

Know Before You Go

• Site is reservable as a group unit only; individual sites are available on a first come, first served basis when there is no group reservation

• No firearms allowed within 150 yards

• General parking area is 100' x 75'

• Please click here for further information about the facility and recreation opportunities in the area.

NOTE: Another 13 miles of hardscrabble road leads you to the Silver Creek Plunge recreation area and their relaxing hot springs pool =)

Campground Highlights: Mack's Creek Campground

Camping season is coming (I know it doesn't look it now, but we can hope soon right!).

Idaho is filled with a great variety of camping experiences. Today we have chosen to stick close to the Treasure Valley and a great place for early Spring and Summer. Mack's Creek Campground is a great place to enjoy an overnight or weekend stay at Lucky Peak Reservoir, with quick access to Arrowrock Reservoir as well.

Overview

Macks Creek Park is a small day-use area and campground located on the Boise River Arm of Lucky Peak Lake, just 25 miles from the Boise area and 4 miles off the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway. Visitors make the trip to enjoy quality recreational activities like boating, swimming and fishing.

Facilities:

This primitive, small park offers a handful of campsites on the shore of Lucky Peak Lake. Clean vault restrooms, hand pumped drinking water and an emergency telephone are provided. 
During the recreation season, volunteer camp hosts live on-site and can provide information and assistance to park users. Parking availability is limited and there is no cell service at the lake. Two businesses within 10 miles offer limited food and services. There are a total of 15 sites (10 on the lake side, 5 on the hillside across the road).

Things to know before you go:

• Campsites will be open and available for walk-in as early as Easter weekend prior to the reservation season and as late as Thanksgiving weekend after the reservation season. Please contact the park office for specific dates.
• Cell service is not available
• Although reservations are not required, all sites are reservable.
• Parking is extremely limited; please see individual site notes for maximum vehicle allowances.

To Make Reservations go to: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/macks-creek-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72330

Silver Creek Plunge

Delivery of our Keystone Hideout

Silver Creek Plunge is a unique setting in the upper Boise National Forest above Crouch, Idaho. Myself and my two kids decided to make a trailer delivery a fun camping outing for the 3 of us. We left on a Friday morning, arriving after a two hour drive that promises fantastic views but also dusty vehicles. Your final 15 miles or so is on hardscrabble road, so if you choose to partake in this unique setting, come prepared!

Silver Creek Plunge Pool!

            The chosen campsite by our customer was the Silver Creek Campground, which has just recently been remodeled with nice asphalt and clean well prepared sites with great privacy. We were happy to find each other after some confusion caused by lack of cell coverage, and it seemed he and his boys had a great few days for themselves. (And yes we are excited to offer delivery for an added fee if you'd like to have us do the "dirty" work =)...)

           There are plentiful places to camp in this secluded area less than 2 hours from the Boise valley. Activities include great fishing, great ATV riding, as well as the Silver Creek Plunge pool and resort to relax in. My kids and I chose to just relax around the campfire, dabble in some fishing both on the Payette river and Silver Creek.. They would definitely tell you the highlight was the heated pool with the fun, pebbled filled bottom.

        What a great short trip to take with you and the family, or I think a fun overnight couples getaway as well!

Silver Creek

(Please let me know if you are interested in trailer Delivery!)

Lagoon/SLC!!

Well....I did it. I stayed in an RV park. I admit as an avid outdoorsman the idea of an rv park packed like sardines did not sound appealing. 

    Circumstances changed my course a bit. We were dropping my wife off for her fun trip to London, and the kids and I had never been to Lagoon. So we organized a quick two day stay at Pony Express RV Park. 
     First I must add that I was leery of this length of a trip with my Dodge 1/2 ton, but was impressed with its ability to carry the load. The journey was enjoyable despite the high heat of the day.

      The RV Park experience was I must admit surprising. While the privacy and seclusion seemed hard to find, it actually was not so bad. Alson the perks and amenities make for an enjoyable experience. Air conditioning, cable, a nice pool as well as daily cookies kept myfamily engaged and relaxed.

Cannibal at Lagoon

      If you've never been to Lagoon, I must say using an RV is  a great way to go. They have a nice campground on site as well as other rv park options nearby. My young kids enjoyed the kids rides and the ability to bring in food and other items was a great perk. 

      Overall it is a great trip and was glad I chose to bring the RV along for the journey!!

Owyhee Reservour

Don't know if any of you out there relate, but life has been hectic lately! I really wanted to take a short trip somewhere to just get away from the craziness, and allow the kids a chance to let loose their energy. I decided on a quick, overnight jaunt  across the border to the Owyhee Reservoir (Lake they say...) in Oregon. 

It was just me and the kids, and we also took one of Cade's buddy's along for the ride. The trip itself is easy! Less than an hour and 1/2 from here in Middleton. Once you get into the Owyhee river canyon, the drive is spectacular. Colors and shapes of all shades and sizes. Each turn has its own unique take on dry, desert landscape.

Cade was most excited to see the "Glory Hole" at the edge of the Owyhee dam. Madi was most excited for the fire. I was just excited to get away and do NOTHING!! The kids enjoyed riding bikes and throwing a line in the lake (not sure I can call it fishing..) as well as a fun movie when the weather turned a little dark.

All in all the journey was worthwhile and the perfect medicine for a grumpy dad who needed some good time with his kiddos. We are so blessed to have such great variety of opportunity so close at hand!

I recommend the Owyhee river and "lake" for those that love to fish (one of the top fly-fishing destinations in our area!!), boat (when the weather is warm it is a great destination for flat water with fewer crowds), and just need a quick getaway from the stresses of life.

Added bonus, We were treated to an antique car show!!

Maiden Voyage! Bruneau Sand Dunes

Spring Break and what to do?? The Dean clan decided to take their new RV out for a test run. With snow in the higher mountains and not a lot of time, we decided to look local and thought a 3 day journey to the Bruneau Sand Dunes was a good match. Jess wasn't so sure...Bruneau?? is there anything there to see? 

Come to find out there is, and the whole family could get involved! Cade, our almost 9 year old son, led the way with his first sand sledding, tumbling head over toe and coming up smiling and sandy. Our pups, Ellie (13) and Roxy (4 months) had a blast on the cool, soft sand, showing impressive stamina for their age. Madi our 5 year old kept a watchful eye out for desert bugs and the possible scorpion (which we never saw).

Surprisingly, Jess was the most impressed. so much entertainment for the kids,dogs, and adults. Dad was most excited to finally journey to the Bruneau Canyon, a 20 mile drive from Bruneau Sand Dunes! Even when the weather turned ugly, we were able to relax in the rv and read, play games and wrestle with the Pups.

If you're looking for a fun family getaway in the Spring time, we think a quick jaunt to Bruneau, Idaho is worth a look!!