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North Shore Picnic Area in Idaho
Hard to BookNational Forest

North Shore Picnic Area

Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho

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As of October 2026, North Shore Picnic Area is a campground in Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho with 2 campsites. North Shore Picnic Area is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks North Shore Picnic Area for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • North Shore Picnic Area is located at 44.1437ยฐ N, 114.9158ยฐ W.
people allowed on each site
150

North Shore Picnic Area reservations and next available dates

October 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Stay and booking rules

  • Taxes apply

Published by Recreation.gov for North Shore Picnic Area, read on September 28, 2026.

Campsites at North Shore Picnic Area

  • Group 2

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

Things to do: fishing, boating, swimming, hiking.

All sites at North Shore Picnic Area, as listed by Recreation.gov

SiteLoopTypeSleeps
A01NORTGroup150
B01PICBGroup150

About North Shore Picnic Area

Overview

North Shore Picnic Area is located next to beautiful Redfish Lake at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountain Range. Stanley, Idaho, is conveniently close, only about 4 miles away.

Recreation

North Shore is in the heart of the beautiful Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where outdoor activities abound.

Redfish Lake offers excellent boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing for rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon. Little Redfish Lake is just down the road, providing additional fishing and canoeing opportunities.

In the immediate area are trailheads for the Alpine Way, Fishhook Creek, Redfish Lake Creek and Bench Lakes Trails. The Idaho Centennial Trail passes nearby

Facilities

This day-use site offers two waterfront picnic sites. Site A can accommodate up to 100 people; Site B can accommodate up to 50 people. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

A designated swim beach is on-site. Sandy Beach Boat Ramp is less than 1/4 mile away. Firewood can be purchased at the picnic area.

Natural Features

Summer wildflowers are plentiful, lodgepole pines provide partial shade and Fishhook Creek is nearby. Temperatures are cool, with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.

Nearby Attractions

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.

.

The Salmon River offers excellent fishing for rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout and occasional hybrid cutbows and bull trout.

Redfish Lake Lodge is nearby with a restaurant, general store, boat and kayak rentals, mooring services, lake tours and a lake shuttle.

Popular area events include an Arts and Crafts Fair in July, and Wagon Days, Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair, and Fireman's Ball in September.

Rules and notices at North Shore Picnic Area

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 28, 2026. Check North Shore Picnic Area on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

No overnight camping; day-use only.

Parking is limited; please carpool and arrive with as few vehicles as possible.

Opening and closing dates are weather permitting, please call 928-537-8888 for more information.

Don't Move Firewood: Help prevent the spread of tree-killing pests in our national forests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.

Idaho Off-road Vehicle Safety Message

Click here for more information about the Sawtooth National Forest

Reconstruction and improvement projects may affect your visit, please plan your trip accordingly.

  • โ€ขTraffic delays of up to 10 minutes while traveling into the campground
  • โ€ขWork hours of 8am to 8pm Monday โ€“ Thursday, and 8am to 5pm on Friday (Noise Issues)
  • โ€ขConstruction commotion during working hours

North Shore Picnic Area FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at North Shore Picnic Area?

North Shore Picnic Area is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at North Shore Picnic Area?

Cancellations happen frequently at North Shore Picnic Area, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does North Shore Picnic Area have?

North Shore Picnic Area has 2 campsites.

More campgrounds in Sawtooth National Forest

Same forest, same drive. Set an alert on any of them alongside this one.

All 21 Sawtooth National Forest campgrounds

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