Smokey Bear (Alturas) Campground
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.
Smokey Bear (Alturas) Campground
Smokey Bear Campground is composed of 8 single-sites and 3 double-sites on beautiful Alturas Lake situated in a mixed conifer setting. All sites are first-come, first-serve. A group picnic area is located on the east side of the campground. Trails at the end of Forest Road #205 lead to Alturas Lake Creek, Eureka Gulch and to Alpine Creek to the north in the beautiful Sawtooth Wilderness. At this campground there is a boat ramp and boat trailer parking area. This is a superb place to spend sunny summer days fishing for trout, sailing, motorized boating, swimming, and picnicking by the lake. .
Before you go
Season
June – September
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
Sawtooth NRA Camping Fees and Information n
Hours
This campground closes on September 21st.
Restrictions
Please keep pets 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.. Campsites must be occupied the first night, and cannot be left unattended for more than 24 hours. 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.