USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Sunny Gulch Campground
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States · in Sawtooth National Recreation Area
- Sites
- 46
- Hookups
- 46 no hookups
- Season
- May 22 to September 20
- Max RV length
- 35 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,437 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- SUNNY GULCH C G SPUR C (NFSR 70654C) · bituminous surface treatment · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Sawtooth National Forest
- Nearest town
- STANLEY
- Address
- SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION, STANLEY, ID, 83278
- Phone
- 928-537-8888
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking
11 numbered sites are mapped one by one - the site map below shows each with its facts and pictures.
Site map
11 numbered sites are mapped one by one on the imagery, with the operator's own facts and pictures for each site where it publishes them. Tap a site to rate it, keep a note and add your own photos; press and hold the map for a pin of your own. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
Overview
Sunny Gulch Campground sits along the shores of Salmon River in the forests of central Idaho.
Recreation
Excellent fishing is right out your back door on the Salmon River, with rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout and occasional hybrid cutbows and bull trout available.
Sunny Gulch lies in the heart of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. A myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities are available, and an estimated 750 miles of trails crisscross the valley and surrounding mountains.
Facilities
Sunny Gulch offers several campsites, a handful of which are close to a large picnic shelter. These sites and the shelter are perfect for a family reunion, wedding or other special event. The shelter contains a grill, utility tables, a dutch oven cooking surface and eight picnic tables.
Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Roads and parking spurs are paved.
Natural Features
The campground offers spectacular views of the Sawtooth Mountains. Summer wildflowers are plentiful and lodgepole pines provide partial shade. Temperatures are cool with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.
Nearby Attractions
The Alpine Way Trail begins less than a mile from the campground, and the Idaho Centennial Trail passes nearby.
Redfish and Stanley Lakes are nearby with great boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Numerous additional sparkling lakes and streams dot the area.
Popular area events include an Arts and Crafts Fair in July, and Wagon Days, Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair and Fireman's Ball in September.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 16° | -4° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 31° | 17° | -10° | 46° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 20° | 9° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 41° | 25° | 9° | 60° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 51° | 33° | 22° | 66° | 10 of 11 |
| June | 67° | 42° | 24° | 81° | 4 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 55° | 38° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 79° | 54° | 38° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 43° | 29° | 81° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 52° | 31° | 13° | 70° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 43° | 20° | -9° | 58° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 30° | 14° | -2° | 43° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
- Alpine Way Trailhead · 0.7 mi as the crow flies
Alpine Way 17 mi Hike, Redfish - Stanley 4.6 mi Hike · Drive there - Alpine Way Trailhead · 0.7 mi as the crow flies
Alpine Way 17 mi Hike, Redfish - Stanley 4.6 mi Hike · Drive there - Redfish Trailhead · 2.0 mi as the crow flies
Fishhook Trail 2.8 mi Hike, Bear Trap 0.1 mi Hike · Drive there - Iron Creek Trailhead · 5.4 mi as the crow flies
Iron Creek - Stanley Lake 15 mi Hike · Drive there - Redfish Inlet Trailhead · 5.7 mi as the crow flies
Grand Mogul 7.4 mi Hike, Redfish Inlet 0.5 mi Hike · Drive there
All 503 trails in Sawtooth National Forest · All 157 trails in Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Redfish Overflow Camping · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Chinook Bay Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 4 sites
- Mountain View Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Mountain View Campground (ID) · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 4 sites
- Glacier View Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 78 sites
All public campgrounds in Idaho · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.