Deadwood Reservoir Camping
If you are looking for a quieter recreation area, within a few hours of Boise, you’ll want to explore Deadwood Reservoir. Deadwood Reservoir is located about 90 miles northeast of Boise within the Boise National Forest and is home to a multitude of outdoor activities.
Key Takeaways
- A not-so-busy recreation option within a few hours of Boise
- The lake-view state campsites are worth the money
- Don’t miss taking a dip in the lake and exploring Deadwood Dam
- For those who like long drives in nature, making this drive a loop is a MUST!
Getting There
We traveled there via Banks-Lowman road, passing through Garden Valley and turning North onto Forest Road 555. Once you turn on the dirt forest road, there will be a sign noting that it is about 25 miles to the reservoir. AWD or 4WD is not required in the summer months, but I imagine it would be needed if muddy/snowy. While 4WD is not necessary, we do recommend a vehicle with higher clearance, as some areas of the road are rutted and rough.
Note that winter access is limited, depending on snow melt, you may not be able to get to Deadwood until mid-June. They note that peak season is end of June-beginning of September.
From the time we left Boise, to the time we got to our campsite, it was less than 3 hours.
Camping Options
There are a few different state campsites at Deadwood that you can pay to camp in. There are also dispersed camp sites as you travel around the lake.
Cozy Cove is the first state campsite that you will get to if coming from the south, and the one we opted to stay at. Most of the sites at Cozy Cove have lake views and quick access to the reservoir. There is a boat launch within the area as well.
Howers, Barneys, and Riverside are other state camp sites on the northern end of the reservoir. You will be able to spot multiple dispersed spots that others have used along the east side of the lake, however, you will not have any amenities.
You can reserve a state campsite online, or if sites are available, you can pay at the self-serve kiosk when you arrive. We went on a Sunday evening and did not reserve prior, there was one other group at Cozy Cove at the time of our stay, not busy at all. If you are going on a Friday/Saturday during peak season, we recommend reserving online at recreation.gov.
The state campsites will have restrooms, picnic tables, leveled campsites, drinking water and firepits. Cost is $12/night or $6 if you have a state park pass.
What to Do There
Deadwood is a great location for boating, fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding and more.
According to recreation.gov : Available species include Atlantic, Chinook, and kokanee salmon, and rainbow and cutthroat trout. The Idaho state record Atlantic salmon (13 lb. & 4 oz., 29 3/4 inches) was taken in 1995 from Deadwood reservoir.
By August, the reservoir was low along the banks and not too cold, making it a nice environment for adults and kids alike.
Deadwood Dam is located just north of Cozy Cove and is worth viewing.
If you are looking for a guided adventure, Deadwood Outfitters is north of the lake and offers horseback riding, hunting trips, survival courses, and more.
Weather
We camped at the end of August. During the day, it was at least 10 degrees F cooler than down in the valley (70/75 F) and the nights/morning were brisk (around 40 F). It was warm enough to feel comfortable with just sleeping bags in our roof top tent and jump in the lake during the day, but cold enough to layer up around a fire.
I was surprised at how much fog there was in the morning. I would not recommend leaving out anything you do not want to get wet, as it could get damp from the fog.
Alternate Route
If you want to make this trek a loop, or simply take a different route in, you can also access Deadwood Reservoir via Cascade, ID.
Just north of Cascade, you will turn East onto Warm Lake Road, connecting to Forest Road 555 near the Landmark airstrip. From Boise this route would be longer, and still requires time on a dirt forest road. We opted to make it a loop and came back to Boise via Warm Lake Road & Cascade. If you enjoy driving and seeing new scenery, you will enjoy the loop route as well.
Cell Coverage for Verizon Carriers
You lose cell service on Highway 55 just North of Horseshoe Bend. On Banks-Lowman road, once you get closer to Garden Valley, you will get service back for a few miles. Once you are outside of Garden Valley you will no longer have coverage. We recommend screenshotting aerial maps and studying where you are going if you do not have a map that works out of service.
References:
https://www.deadwoodoutfitters.com/index.html
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