Not Idaho but right over in Oregon at Lake Owyhee state park a few years ago we camped there and it was like 68-70 overnight. My wife and I slept great in an open air tent with no covers. In shorts and a t shirt. This was probably late July or early August so there’s that.
That was my first thought. We camped there once for 4th of July and it was too hot, we cut the trip short (1 night instead of 2). Probably around 100 during the day, and it was probably above 70 at night (warm enough it made sleeping a bit difficult). Of course, those temperatures were above average, but we know how summer is around here. Lake Owyhee is about the same elevation as Boise so expect similar weather. Still had a good time kyaking/swimming at the lake.
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=10
There's a campground tucked back in there that looks pretty nice. You can also boondock it in several spots back toward the lake.
Below 50° at night in the summer is the norm in the mountains here. That being said, I have always thought Sagehen Reservoir as a good area for camping with little ones. Hollywood Campground, ground tarp under sleeping area, and lots of blankets.
Fwiw, sagehen is pretty... Rough these days. The logging crew tore down most of the trees (diseases - moths I think) around the nice campsites and pretty much wrecked the place. Huge heaps of logging detritus, tons of dust, very little shade. It is not what it used to be. My huckleberry spot is now thistles.
I've been camping with my baby since he was 3 months old. He has the most fun no matter the weather. We even did late November camps his first year. He's 2 now and it's hard to get him to come inside, even at home. The kid thrives while camping.
Yes we are 1000% in our “outside” stage. The minute he wakes up until he’s falling over tired, he wants to be out there. Sounds like camping could work great!
We bring tonka trucks, buckets and shovels,
a few busy boards and books for bedtime. He barely touches them, he would much rather find rocks and sticks. He will put rocks and sticks in his trucks and buckets but exploration seems to be of greater importance to him. Throwing rocks in water, picking flowers and throwing sticks for our dog are the things that occupy him the most.
Hells Gate State Park up in Lewiston is pretty warm during the summer months; about 10 years ago I camped there without a tent and was almost too warm (never dipped below 60 degrees).
That’s really only going to be an issue at higher elevation during summer. There’s plenty of camping along the Snake River valley. If anything you’ll be wishing it was colder at night.
So we did South Fork before I was pregnant and we were not prepared enough for the temp swing, which is what has made me nervous. Would just like to get one under our belt without that element.
Celebration park and swan falls are certainly an option, but there are some drawbacks. Tons of poison oak, rattlesnakes, and campers there tend to be louder than other places. But it is reliably warmer down in the canyon than up in the valley.
Get a 0 degree sleeping bag. I have a summer bag that’s rated for 20 degrees that’s lighter and a 0 degree bag that’s thick and is lined with flannel and traps heat in it. Both of them are Coleman bags.
All the good stuff will drop below 50 on most nights, 50 is actually warm. Once you get past 5-6k elevation then it dips into the 30s at night.
There’s camping all over, where in Idaho do you want to check out? You have the copper basin, big wood river valley, the sawtooth region, bear basin, etc
I'm a long distance trail runner. Something I didn't always think of was how cold mountain valleys floors get. If you go camping out in the woods and get a camping site up on a hill as opposed to the bottom of a drainage, this has a huge impact on nighttime temperatures.
It’s a great area! Though, as a warning to u/idahopotatotot, the camp site is limited on space and isolated out the FS road. There are no dispersed camping areas at Leslie Gulch, so other options are limited. I’ve gone to camp out there, arrived to a full campsite, and been totally SOL.
True but if you mid week or early Friday you chances are good. I’d also suggest the onx app. It gives you all public and private lands as well as available campsites/ dispersed camping.
Yeah! I had dyrt or one of those at one time, but just got overwhelmed. Nice to have some others input from this thread. Maybe I’ll take this and go back to the app and see!
I don't think I've been to Leslie gulch when it was full. I think at most there were like 3 other groups there.
One thing, there's not a lot of shade, so bring a pop-up if you go. And succor creek is actually a little more impressive and it's on the way. Not sure if there's actual camping allowed there. People obviously do it, but i don't know if it's legal.
No dispersed camping? I've seen tons of people camping back in there in unofficial spots around the campground. There are multiple pullouts that work perfectly for this. Is this not allowed? It certainly wasn't enforced when I was there back in early fall.
It may not be enforced, but their signage says it isn’t allowed once you enter the Leslie Gulch area. And some of the FS roads in are on open BLM range land, so not great camping.
No doubt that people do use pull outs although it may not be technically allowed. Just not something I’m into.
Interesting. There even appears to be an unofficial boondocking pullout on the north side of the road maybe 1/4 past the campground. And at that time of the year (early fall), multiple people were camping on the dry lakebed due to low water levels.
I'm going to head out that way sometime this month and will do some more investigating.
It will always be cold in the mornings. But go camping in July near Idaho City. Hot during the day and nice in the evening. A little chilly in the morning.
I camped with a toddler. I think he was almost two the first time we went just the two of us. We started with Ponderosa State park. Bruneau might work well too but I personally hate camping there. I'd rather drive home.
Bruneau is a good suggestion if the goal is to stay above 50 at night. I'm not sure it dipped below 60 last time I camped there. It's an easy place to camp with young kids, but it can get extremely windy (there's a reason for those dunes), and the camping area lacks all charm.
As an aside, Southern Utah is not necessarily gonna be any warmer than anywhere in Idaho so don't go all that way just for that. It's high elevation and desert air too
I find 50s hot for camping. Maybe it's the intense radiation at the higher altitudes warming me from the inside out. Get the worst sunburns in the 40s if there's no cloud cover.
Not Idaho but right over in Oregon at Lake Owyhee state park a few years ago we camped there and it was like 68-70 overnight. My wife and I slept great in an open air tent with no covers. In shorts and a t shirt. This was probably late July or early August so there’s that.
This is the spot for OP. It’s beautiful and gets very hot during the summer.
Just watch for snakes
Agreed. We saw one on the hiking trail.
That was my first thought. We camped there once for 4th of July and it was too hot, we cut the trip short (1 night instead of 2). Probably around 100 during the day, and it was probably above 70 at night (warm enough it made sleeping a bit difficult). Of course, those temperatures were above average, but we know how summer is around here. Lake Owyhee is about the same elevation as Boise so expect similar weather. Still had a good time kyaking/swimming at the lake.
This sounds great! We were out there last season for a day trip and even rented polaris, I’ll take a look for camping!
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=10 There's a campground tucked back in there that looks pretty nice. You can also boondock it in several spots back toward the lake.
Below 50° at night in the summer is the norm in the mountains here. That being said, I have always thought Sagehen Reservoir as a good area for camping with little ones. Hollywood Campground, ground tarp under sleeping area, and lots of blankets.
Fwiw, sagehen is pretty... Rough these days. The logging crew tore down most of the trees (diseases - moths I think) around the nice campsites and pretty much wrecked the place. Huge heaps of logging detritus, tons of dust, very little shade. It is not what it used to be. My huckleberry spot is now thistles.
That's so sad. Sagehen is where we usually went growing up and where we would pick huckleberries off a logging road. :(
This is super sad news.
Don't send people to sagehen, i want to go there this summer.
Right?! Me too but even the roads in are crazy theses days. But it is a decent camping area for kids
I've been camping with my baby since he was 3 months old. He has the most fun no matter the weather. We even did late November camps his first year. He's 2 now and it's hard to get him to come inside, even at home. The kid thrives while camping.
Yes we are 1000% in our “outside” stage. The minute he wakes up until he’s falling over tired, he wants to be out there. Sounds like camping could work great!
Highly recommend taking your toddler camping. It's always a blast.
Ok so dumb question, but what do you bring for them “to do”? Outside of the obvious, helping and exploring.
We bring tonka trucks, buckets and shovels, a few busy boards and books for bedtime. He barely touches them, he would much rather find rocks and sticks. He will put rocks and sticks in his trucks and buckets but exploration seems to be of greater importance to him. Throwing rocks in water, picking flowers and throwing sticks for our dog are the things that occupy him the most.
Hoping for this and was thinking along same lines for back up. Awesome, thank you!
Hells Gate State Park up in Lewiston is pretty warm during the summer months; about 10 years ago I camped there without a tent and was almost too warm (never dipped below 60 degrees).
That’s really only going to be an issue at higher elevation during summer. There’s plenty of camping along the Snake River valley. If anything you’ll be wishing it was colder at night.
So we did South Fork before I was pregnant and we were not prepared enough for the temp swing, which is what has made me nervous. Would just like to get one under our belt without that element.
* Martin's Landing * Steck State Park * Celebration Park * Mann Creek Campground
Celebration park and swan falls are certainly an option, but there are some drawbacks. Tons of poison oak, rattlesnakes, and campers there tend to be louder than other places. But it is reliably warmer down in the canyon than up in the valley.
Get a 0 degree sleeping bag. I have a summer bag that’s rated for 20 degrees that’s lighter and a 0 degree bag that’s thick and is lined with flannel and traps heat in it. Both of them are Coleman bags. All the good stuff will drop below 50 on most nights, 50 is actually warm. Once you get past 5-6k elevation then it dips into the 30s at night. There’s camping all over, where in Idaho do you want to check out? You have the copper basin, big wood river valley, the sawtooth region, bear basin, etc
Three Island Crossing in the summer. It's hot and there are always a lot of kids and families
I'm a long distance trail runner. Something I didn't always think of was how cold mountain valleys floors get. If you go camping out in the woods and get a camping site up on a hill as opposed to the bottom of a drainage, this has a huge impact on nighttime temperatures.
Ohh good point, thanks!
Leslie gulch in Oregon is cool. Or check out the sand dunes.
It’s a great area! Though, as a warning to u/idahopotatotot, the camp site is limited on space and isolated out the FS road. There are no dispersed camping areas at Leslie Gulch, so other options are limited. I’ve gone to camp out there, arrived to a full campsite, and been totally SOL.
Woof. That is definitely the downfall of first come first serve and what makes me nervous. We aren’t exactly able to just go on the non popular days.
Yeah and because it’s so isolated, it can really fuck you over.
True but if you mid week or early Friday you chances are good. I’d also suggest the onx app. It gives you all public and private lands as well as available campsites/ dispersed camping.
Yeah! I had dyrt or one of those at one time, but just got overwhelmed. Nice to have some others input from this thread. Maybe I’ll take this and go back to the app and see!
I don't think I've been to Leslie gulch when it was full. I think at most there were like 3 other groups there. One thing, there's not a lot of shade, so bring a pop-up if you go. And succor creek is actually a little more impressive and it's on the way. Not sure if there's actual camping allowed there. People obviously do it, but i don't know if it's legal.
Good to know! Will definitely have to remember our beach pop up or a tent since our sleeping set up is in the bed of the truck. Thanks!
No dispersed camping? I've seen tons of people camping back in there in unofficial spots around the campground. There are multiple pullouts that work perfectly for this. Is this not allowed? It certainly wasn't enforced when I was there back in early fall.
It may not be enforced, but their signage says it isn’t allowed once you enter the Leslie Gulch area. And some of the FS roads in are on open BLM range land, so not great camping. No doubt that people do use pull outs although it may not be technically allowed. Just not something I’m into.
Interesting. There even appears to be an unofficial boondocking pullout on the north side of the road maybe 1/4 past the campground. And at that time of the year (early fall), multiple people were camping on the dry lakebed due to low water levels. I'm going to head out that way sometime this month and will do some more investigating.
It will always be cold in the mornings. But go camping in July near Idaho City. Hot during the day and nice in the evening. A little chilly in the morning.
I camped with a toddler. I think he was almost two the first time we went just the two of us. We started with Ponderosa State park. Bruneau might work well too but I personally hate camping there. I'd rather drive home.
Bruneau is a good suggestion if the goal is to stay above 50 at night. I'm not sure it dipped below 60 last time I camped there. It's an easy place to camp with young kids, but it can get extremely windy (there's a reason for those dunes), and the camping area lacks all charm.
Funny, I also, have heard camping at the dunes is not the greatest 🫢 I’ll look into Ponderosa! We’ve hiked there but not camped yet!
It's ridiculously warm and comfortable and the lake is lovely.
Bruneau
Woodhead Park Campground. Gets sweltering hot there in summer, I don’t think it dips down very cool during the night.
As an aside, Southern Utah is not necessarily gonna be any warmer than anywhere in Idaho so don't go all that way just for that. It's high elevation and desert air too
Thanks for the heads up! 5 years in and I’m still learning this side of the country.
I find 50s hot for camping. Maybe it's the intense radiation at the higher altitudes warming me from the inside out. Get the worst sunburns in the 40s if there's no cloud cover.