Alturas Tent Camping Area
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Alturas Tent Camping Area
This tent camping area is accessible by hiking in, and consists of 4 single-sites and 2 double-sites on the east side of beautiful Alturas Lake. It is first-come, first-serve. Experience a quiet, serene, relaxing time in the heart of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area with the Sawtooth Mountains to the west, Smoky Mountains to the south and the Hemingway-Boulder Mountains to the east. Fishing is terrific in Alturas lake along with swimming, kayaking and canoeing. Capturing the scenic beauty, plants and wildlife through photography is ideal at this unique location. It includes flush toilets, potable water, trash pick-up and fire rings. There is access to Alturas Lake Creek trail head towards Eureka Gulch, Jakes Gulch, Cabin Creek trail and Alpine Creek trail to the north.
Before you go
Season
June – September
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
Sawtooth NRA Camping Fees and Information
Hours
This tent camping area is open. This site will close September 15 th for water system repair.
Restrictions
Pets must be on a leash. All occupancy (includes developed/dispersed camping, boats, boat trailers, travel trailers, tents, etc): Occupancy limit is 10 days in a 30 day period within a 30 mile radius for all of SNRA. Campers must occupy the site the first night and cannot go more than 24 hours thereafter without occupying the site. Motorized vehicles and bicycles are not permitted in any of the designated wilderness areas.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.