Northern Utah and Idaho in 2020

[ekirkland]

My wife and I are planning a trip to northern Utah and Idaho in June/July 2020. We are towing a 30' travel trailer. I'd like to get recommendations for sites to see and things to do plus scenic drives and scenic campgrounds. I'm mainly interested in Forest Service or State Parks with at least electric hookups; any private parks that are not so crowded are OK too. I plan to do some fly fishing and short hikes (wife has bad knees). I'd like to see Hell's Canyon; any great viewpoints? How is the area around Copperfield? We are planning about 30-40 days for the whole trip. Thanks for any help!!

[suprz]

Airdaile wrote:
Craters of the Moon and Arco and Atomic City.

X2

[4runnerguy]

Getting pretty late to book in Yellowstone Park itself. You might be able to cobble together camping in several different campgrounds by moving every couple of days. First come first served CG's in the park are tough to get into and it often means waiting at the CG entrance by 7:00 in the morning.

There are private CG's in West Yellowstone and also a few NFS CG's north of West Yellowstone. The downside of those places is the line at the west entrance to get into the park every morning.

Wherever you decide for Yellowstone, I'd get reservations NOW (today!!!).

For Glacier, we stayed at Apgar on the west side a couple of years ago and didn't have a problem getting a spot. With the time you have alloted for this trip, I'd also try to stay on the east side as well as the two sides are different. You can check for resevations at Many Glacier but you have to get them at 8:00 a.m. MST six months out. So if you can get a spot tomorrow it will be for July 17th. I didn't have luck with the push the enter button lottery last time I tried. Resevations are also available at St. Mary at the east entrance main road. Many Glacier and Two Medicine both sit on lakes at the end of glacially carved canyons and have amazing settings. Lines for the First Come First Served can start before 7:00 a.m. for busy times in the summer.

THe NPS has a really handy webpage that shows the fill times for the CG's in the park. You can look at any specific date for a given year or get the average fill time for the last five years. CG fill time info Click on the individual CG then on the month you want to look at.

BTW you can't tow across Logan Pass so you'll have to take US 2 around the south end of the park. Plan a day to move.

[BarabooBob]

If you are planning on staying in the parks, you better make plans soon. It may already be too late.

[ekirkland]

So we are still planning on this trip with some modifications. We will skip northern Utah and add Grand Teton / Yellowstone to the beginning of the trip, then Idaho, then finish with Glacier NP. So GT and Yellowstone will be mid-late June and Glacier will be mid-late July. We'll probably camp at Gros Ventre CG in Grand Teton and looking for suggestions for Yellowstone and Glacier. Dry camping is ok; would like to stay in parks, but private CGs are ok. I'd like to get reservations in order to avoid hassle of waiting in line or arriving in the early morning. If I can be assured of getting a spot by noon or so, then first come will be fine. Thanks for your help.

[cross21114]

Going from Lowman to Banks, check out the Kirkham Hpt Springs. Depending on your age (like me) sort of tough to get down the hill but worth it. Wear tennis shoes you don't mind getting wet.

After enjoying the hot springs, you can jump off the rocks into the cold Payette River. My granddaughters and SIL.

BTW - we were in a 36' Class C pulling a fullsize SUV. No problems.

[TUCQUALA]

Banks-Lowman road is a good road, twisty as prev mentioned, but no problem for a 30ft trailer. We tow a 34ft over it and haven't had any difficulties. If you are heading west from Stanley area, many dispersed sites (not shown on any maps!!) have been set up on the river side of hwy before you get to Lowman. Bull Trout Lake is neat, and many dispersed around it. The road used to be gravel, and many maps still show it that way!!!

[agesilaus]

We didn't get to the Hell's Canyon SP but we stayed there years ago, very nice park. You can take a boat ride thru the canyon from there.

[j3ff9ack]

There's a great movie on fly fishing in Idaho - there are state parks and FS campgrounds all along the highway.

Fly Fishing Highway

At Hells Canyon, camp at the Idaho Power campgrounds and take the drive north to the visitor center (without your trailer).

Copperfield Park

[agesilaus]

ekirkland wrote:
"Then west across the Banks-Lowman road" How is this road for towing a 30' trailer? Any good campgrounds?

Perfectly good two lane road, twisty but no big grades. And we were towing our heavy Arctic Fox 30 footer. My paper map showed it are as dotted line but I asked before we went on it and was told it is paved.

No commercial cg but lots of boondocking sites. It isn't that long. The last commercial cg that I recall were back in Stanley tho there are some FS cg. We did not check out any of them.

[ekirkland]

"Then west across the Banks-Lowman road" How is this road for towing a 30' trailer? Any good campgrounds?

[Dick_B]

While waiting do a Google search for `_______ tourism' and put the city, state or area in the blank space and read what the specialists have to recommend.

[agesilaus]

We did the N. Utah and Idaho run last year. We stayed at a couple of forgetable cg in N Utah then up the Tetons where we had a fantastic boondocking site with a full view of the mountains from our campsite. Spend 3 days over the fourth and could have spent more time. Then west into Idaho.

Ditto on Craters Of the Moon. We ran up thru Arco to Challis where we stayed at Challis Hot Springs for a couple of days. OK park with hot springs on site but no sewer hookup. Then down 75 to Stanley which was socked in with rain and fog. Going down 75 stop at the Bayhorse Ghost Town SP. Boondocking all along the river.

Then west across the Banks-Lowman road, and very scenic drive along another river. Again lots of Boondocking in the area. Then north on 55 to the Cascade SP. Now be careful booking this park, there are separate units of this park. Some have FHU and others do not. So book what you need. Very nice park whichever unit you end up it.

We then took 55 up to the intersection with 95 then followed that all the way north almost to Canada. Took three days to Bonner's Ferry, I think and we stayed at various commercial cg.

Then East on US 2 to Kalispel MT. A good time was had. We were just sorry we missed the Sawtooths because of the weather. Maybe next year after the Escapade.

[TenOC]

Bakers Hole NFS at the West entrance of YS is on the river and a number of people fly fish there.

[TenOC]

Powell Creek NFS N46° 30.781' W114° 43.157' Also the Pink House NFS near by




The best dirt road adventure in the lower 45 states. The road to Pittsburgh Landing Camp on Hells Canyon. I did NOT TAKE THE TT but some people do. Dry Camping on the river. N45° 38.068' W116° 28.631'


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