Chinook Bay Campground

Federal campground in Sawtooth National Forest

Location: Stanley, ID, ID

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/chinook-bay-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Highly-rated first-come, first-served campground with excellent lake access to Little Redfish Lake and nearby Redfish Lake. Reviewers praise the great views, hiking, biking, kayaking, and SUP opportunities in the Stanley area.

Wildlife alert: Red Fox, Mule Deer, Wapiti, Pacific Marten, Pronghorn, Franklin's Grouse, Spruce Grouse, Clark's Nutcracker, and Wandering Garter Snake documented in the area

Insider tips for Chinook Bay Campground: Arrive early to claim first-come, first-served sites Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival for Scan and Pay feature in this remote area Biking to Stanley is 14+ miles round-trip from the campground

Skip Chinook Bay Campground if: You need hookups — no hookups available. You require advance reservations — first-come, first-served only. You visit outside May through October — seasonal operations.

Best time to visit Chinook Bay Campground: Sunday-Wednesday — Get there early on these days to secure sites, as per camper reports; campground operates May through October.

Nearby campgrounds: Mountain View Campground (Id) (Stanley, ID), Sunny Gulch Campground (STANLEY, ID), Glacier View Campground (STANLEY, ID), North Shore Picnic Area (STANLEY, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Chinook Bay Campground

Cell signal at Chinook Bay Campground (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.

CamperWatch
CamperWatch›ID›Chinook Bay Campground
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Federal campground in Sawtooth National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Chinook Bay Campground

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Stanley, ID, ID★ 4 (0 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need hookups — no hookups available✕ You require advance reservations — first-come, first-served only✕ You visit outside May through October — seasonal operations

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Arrive early to claim first-come, first-served sites

Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival for Scan and Pay feature in this remote area

Biking to Stanley is 14+ miles round-trip from the campground

Best: Sunday-Wednesday

Get there early on these days to secure sites, as per camper reports; campground operates May through October

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Red Fox, Mule Deer, Wapiti, Pacific Marten, Pronghorn, Franklin's Grouse, Spruce Grouse, Clark's Nutcracker, and Wandering Garter Snake documented in the area

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
N/A· Sawtooth National Forest

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#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.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Chinook Bay Campground cost per night?+
Chinook Bay Campground costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Chinook Bay Campground open?+
Chinook Bay Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Chinook Bay Campground have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Chinook Bay Campground?+
Chinook Bay Campground is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Chinook Bay Campground?+
Chinook Bay Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Chinook Bay Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Chinook Bay Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Chinook Bay Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Chinook Bay Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$20 /night★ 4 (0)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Chinook Bay Campground cost per night?+
What season is Chinook Bay Campground open?+
Does Chinook Bay Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Mountain View Campground (Id)

Stanley, ID

From $20/night

Sunny Gulch Campground

STANLEY, ID

From $24/night

Glacier View Campground

STANLEY, ID

From $26/night

North Shore Picnic Area

STANLEY, ID

From $20/night

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