Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id)
Sawtooth National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: STANLEY, ID, ID
Price: From $125 per night
Rating: 3 out of 5 (1 reviews)
Season: May through October
Alturas Area Picnic B is located along the sandy shoreline of scenic Alturas Lake, at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountain Range.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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/alturas-lake-picnic-area-id to be notified when sites open up.
Alturas Lake Picnic Area sits on the scenic shoreline of Alturas Lake at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountain Range, offering excellent boating, fishing for bull trout and Kokanee salmon, and access to the 10-mile round trip Alpine Meadows Trail with spectacular canyon and meadow views.
Wildlife alert: Gray wolves are present in the area (research-grade iNaturalist observations within 8km). Also expect mule deer and pronghorn. Grouse species are common.
Insider tips for Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id): Book early — this is a federal campground with only 1 tent site, making availability extremely limited Bring your own water filtration or plan for vault toilets; drinking water is available but no hookups means limited water infrastructure Fish for bull trout and Kokanee salmon directly from Alturas Lake, which borders the picnic area
Skip Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id) if: You need hookups — no hookups are available at this site. You require camping outside May through October — seasonal operations only.
Best time to visit Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id): May-October — This is the official operating season for the campground per federal seasonal operations schedule.
Nearby campgrounds: Smokey Bear Campground (Ketchum, ID), North Shore Campground (Ketchum, ID), Alturas Lake Inlet (STANLEY, ID), Pettit Lake Campground (Ketchum, ID).
Cell Phone Coverage at Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id)
Cell signal at Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id) (STANLEY, ID): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Alturas Area Picnic B is located along the sandy shoreline of scenic Alturas Lake, at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountain Range.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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with only 1 tent site, making availability extremely limited
Bring your own water filtration or plan for vault toilets; drinking water is available but no hookups means limited water infrastructure
Fish for bull trout and Kokanee salmon directly from Alturas Lake, which borders the picnic area
This is the official operating season for the campground per federal seasonal operations schedule
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Stanley, Idaho, take State Highway 75 south for about 22 miles. Turn right on Alturas Creek Road/Forest Road 205 and continue west for about 2.6 miles to the campground.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Sawtooth National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Sawtooth National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id) cost per night?+
What season is Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id) open?+
Does Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id) have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id)?+
How do I make reservations at Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id)?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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