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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.

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    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
    N/A

    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.
    Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
    ●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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