Southern Idaho is pretty barren, are you aware of that? Why are you limited to S. Idaho? Want any other suggestions? Idaho is full of lakes, rivers, and awesome places, from the Stanley/Sawtooth country, to the big river wilderness country of the Salmon, Selway, and Clearwater Rivers. What is fun stuff for kids? Fishing, hiking, wildlife, or theme parks and swimming pools? Do you have a boat? Rafting? ATVs? Give me some guidence and I will do the same.

More details needed, I understand that. OK, fun stuff for kids does not mean theme parks, etc. More like a lake/river, some day hikes, maybe some neat geological features, etc. Two 8 year old boys.

I understand that way south in ID is fairly barren. That's not where we want to go. I just mean the more southerly part of the "good" part (no offense to the extreme south there).

NP or NF campgrounds are what I have in mind. The commercial campgrounds I'm familiar with (here in Northern Cal) are not the kinda place I want to stay.

Happy to supply more information if something is needed to help you help me. Thanks in advance for that help.

I'd head for the Sawtooth Mountains (80 miles north of Sun Valley) and nearby Craters of the Moon for a wide variety of interests. At Craters of the Moon, the kids can explore lava tubes (caves), and there are tons of hiking trails, lakes, and camping at Stanley, Redfish, Pettit and Alturas Lakes.

Another area that is great camping is Goose Lake above McCall, Idaho. McCall is north of Boise 2 hours.

i second the stanley area, and red fish lake. google danners cabins in stanley. perfect for a family and accessable to the lakes and HOT SPRINGS>>. rafting. absoultly wonderful hikes into the sawtooths, which are breathtaking. enjoy

Redfish Lake is absolutely beautiful, and I would highly recommend it. It's in more what I would call central Idaho, though. If you're going to be in southeast Idaho for some specific reason, then I'd head to Bear Lake (on the Idaho/Utah border). Several federal tent campgrounds near Minnetonka caves on the Idaho side, with river running through them (we stay at Porcupine, Cloverleaf or St. Charles campsites). Go to reserveusa.com for details. Lake is a really pretty aqua blue, and very shallow several hundred yards out (the kids will love it). As former posts mentioned, however, it is on the dry/rocky/barren side (up near the caves is full forest, but the view from the lake is brown and dry).

We alternate between Redfish and Bear Lake for our summer camping trip.

Enjoy Idaho!

Have you gone on your trip yet? We JUST got back from "Tenting" in South Eastern Idaho. We live in Boise. I am a native Idahonian and have traveled all over the State. This trip....we had a reunion in Sandy Utah so the "Fun" started after that. We had our 8 year old grandson with us. We went to a place in Ogden Utah called Eccles Dionsaur Park and Museum. IT was fabulous an outdoor walk in the park with lifesize dinos. We then to the pioneer scenic biway through Logan on hwy 34. Stopped at all the historical info spots including Niter's Ice cave. Take a flashlight and it is free. Stayed at a place called Rivers Edge Campground on the river. It was walking distance to downtown, a walking bridge connected the campground to the water park. The campground was nice. We set up our tent in a regular space so we had electricity and water. There is a 20'natural rock wall right behind the hookups, grass, picnic table and fire ring made from old truck wheel rims. Across the street the hookups have the river as their back drop. It cost $25 per night and has 2 shower and bathroom houses. You can float the river ( Raft and tube rentals all over town) Lots of hot pools to go to if your not into the water park. We drove out of town past the golf coarse into the woods (so called) and saw lots of deer. But that area appears to be owned like a timeshare. We did take in Craters of the Moon on the way back to Boise. Pretty in its own way and I couldn't believe all the flowers that were blooming in the cinder and lava rock. We never did find anywhere to REALLY Camp. I prefer trees, streams and FEW snakes. My real suggestion would be to get onto hwy 55 from Boise. There is a beautiful River and LOT'S of things to do. We love to go to Garden Valley, there is a nice geo thermal swimming pool at Terrace Lakes and plenty of "camping" developed and not developed. First Stop would be the Ranger Station right on the Hwy just past G'Valley. Before you get there, on the left there is a Road called Anderson Creek Road, it goes in between a Church and the school. It is mostly BLM land. Nice Creek (Anderson Creek) with small fish, not to deep for kids, an undeveloped hot springs that my family has spent hours and hours in. There are places to camp but all undeveloped up that way. But gorgeous and beautiful Rocks. FS best bet on where to go. If you choose to keep going North on 55 several campgrounds, even some right off the HWY. There are several Lakes around, some well used some not, The town of Cascade has a multitude of things to do, There is a lake and the backside of the lake has Many many campgrounds. We have a 1/2 acre in Cascade with a little bunkhouse so obviously we like it there. McCall has lots to do but it's kind of a snobby place, The Further North you go I can tell you some high lights if you want to contact me. My dad was a logger off of the Clearwater River and I am very familiar with that whole area. I was an information receptionist for Nez Perce Forest in the Selway River area, and worked in Timber on the Clearwater Forest. I have seen places people only dream about and surely what God intended as his "Church" lol :) You have lots of options. Everything that I have told you about is child appropriate!

Have fun and happy camping

that post was over a year ago, hopefully they found good tenting and wish that they would post what they found.

Charley,

Thanks for pointing out how old the request was. I just saw the March and didn't look at year. I will from now on, as I spent quite abit of time giving all that info. Oh well, maybe it will help someone else. :)