Like to camp but don’t like crowds? Consider the “Gem State” of Idaho. There are fewer people in all the state than you’ll find on the freeway during an average LA commute.
If you’re looking for incredible scenery, wilderness and outdoor adventure more or less all to yourself – Idaho camping is for you. Fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, rock-hounding, mountain-biking, kayaking, it has it all in abundance. Here’s a run-down on some of the most famous possibilities.
The River of No Return
The name fits. Nowhere outside of Alaska can you find a wilderness experience to match the Frank Church-River of No Return, the largest contiguous unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System in the Lower 48.
Not for the faint of heart, this is a land of deep canyons, clear rivers, and awe-inspiring mountains. White-water rivers course through the wilderness. The Main Salmon River –dubbed “the river of no return” — runs west near the northern boundary while the Middle Fork runs north for about 104 miles until it joins the Main.
A network of 296 maintained trails, covering 2,616 miles and featuring 114 bridges, provides access to this seemingly endless area. While there are 32 Forest Service Roads leading to 66 trailheads, an amazing 1.5 million acres remains trail-free.
Photo credit: US Forest Service
Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon is North America’s deepest river gorge – that’s right, deeper than the Grand Canyon. It plunges more than a mile down from its rim, and every day a roaring Snake River carves it a bit deeper.
Located on the border of eastern Oregon, Washington and western Idaho, there are no roads crossing Hell Canyon’s 10-mile wide expanse. Only a handful provide access to the river itself.
Hells Canyon is not for the faint of heart — big water, wild country, and no civilization. The isolation and surging rapids make it a favorite for rafting trips, and fishing guides ply the surging river in jet boats – primarily after huge sturgeon and world-class smallmouth bass fishing.
Hells Canyon straddles the Oregon-Idaho border for more than 100 miles, and it’s rough country. You can raft-camp in luxury, or be a real adventurer and hike it. Not many do. The river canyon is so pristine that the tent pole holes of Native Americans can still be seen, along with petroglyphs and other evidence.
Photo credit: US Forest Service
The Owyhee Desert
Owyhee County is twice the size of Connecticut – 8,000 square miles — and has a total population of 11,000 people. That’s some elbow room. The Owyhee desert encompasses the vast, high desert southwestern corner of Idaho, and extends into Nevada and Oregon. One of the last regions of the continental United States to be explored, it is a lonely but beautiful land of deep canyons, tall mountains and sparse deserts. Most is unchanged since it was a sanctuary known only to Native Americans.
This is serious isolation for the adventurous, but take plenty of food, gas and water. As a matter of fact, take plenty of anything that you might want, because there are no paved roads at all. No stores, gas stations, hotels, nada. Forget the KOA campgrounds. But if you’re comfortable being hundreds of dirt road miles from the nearest sign of civilization, this is the place for you.
Three camping gems – ideal for the adventurous seeker of isolation and desolate beauty – but clearly not for the faint-hearted.
Photo credit: Onda.org
20 Camping Hacks
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Use a tarp
One of the heaviest items in any pack is a tent. When you want to cut back, switch to only a tarp. You can drape it over an A-frame and tie it down with stakes. If those eyelets tear through you can always strap on a line using a “monkey fist.” Just wrap the tarp corner around a small rock and tie that off instead. Then tie the loose end to a stake.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Cook over a fire
Dealing with liquid fuel cook stoves can be a hassle and while propane fueled stoves are great, that’s just one more thing you have to carry. Skip the camp stove altogether and rely solely on the abundant resources around you. Make a fire. But don’t just cook over any fire. By digging a hole and then constructing a small tunnel for air flow, you can have a great backcountry camp stove that works every time.
Photo credit: Rich Wright
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Make an alcohol stove out of a beer can
We’ve all seen the range of fancy camp stoves on the market. But what you might not realize is that you can create a simple camp stove that burns as hot and efficient as an expensive version you might find at REI with just a beer can. Here is a link to a video on how to make one. It just takes some careful cutting and a steady hand. But be warned, you should only use a small amount of fuel and be careful that you do not tip this over as it can start a fire that spreads quickly.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Baby powder your feet
Wet feet are the enemy of every hiker. Bit when you have to cross a stream, sometimes it’s just unavoidable. For a great way to keep your feet dry or to dry them off quicker once they get wet, carry a small amount of baby powder that you can sprinkle right on those little piggies.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Use Altoids containers
Let’s face it, most of us buy Altoids breath mints not so much for the mint, though they are delicious, but for the ready-made tin that comes with it. These tiny containers can be used to carry anything, but the most popular applications include first aid kits, fire starter and turning them into a makeshift camp light by rolling up cardboard soaked in wax that can then be lit.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Use Tic-Tac containers
A Tic-Tac container is another great receptacle that can be reused in the backcountry for any number of purposes. You can store fishing lures, spices or sugar for example.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Coffee cans make great TP holders
At hunting camps, wet toilet paper and the infiltration of rats and mice can be an issue. A great way to avoid either of these fates for your coveted TP is to enclose the roll in a plastic Folgers coffee container. You can cut a slit down the side for the paper to scroll out and tie it up with a string from the lid.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Bundle coffee grounds in filters
For many people, they just can’t live without their morning cup of Joe. In the backcountry, coffee can be replaced with tea, instant grounds or even pine needles. But no true coffee drinker can really deal with replacements. For an easy way to have fresh coffee on the go just wrap a tablespoon of grounds in a coffee filter and tie that off with fishing line or a piece of string and dunk it into your cup for instant java.
Lilittas1 | Dreamstime.com - Metal Touristic Tea Cup In Woman Hands Outdoor Photo
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Crescent rolls on a stick
Who doesn’t like crescent rolls? An easy addition to any meal, you can carry a can of crescent rolls and wrap them around a stick. Hold it over the fire for some quick and easy buttery dinner rolls. Or you can also wrap them around a hotdog and then on the stick for added goodness.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Roast cinnamon rolls in an orange
Cinnamon rolls are another pastry that comes in a can. What a great way to start the morning? For an orange flavored Cinnabon and a great way to cook them easily, place the uncooked dough on an orange slice and set that on a hot bed of coals or rock.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Use a belt and hooks to hang things
Keeping things organized is an important way for a trip to remain fun rather than frustrating. A great way to organize your things like pots, pans, lights and virtually anything that can hang is by using a belt around a tree. Wrap the belt around the tree and hang simply hang hooks.
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Burn sage to keep mosquitoes away
Mosquitoes can be a huge nuissance in the woods. Sometimes it’s a good idea to revert to the ancient ways of repelling insects such as sage. Bring along a sprig of sage to throw on the fire to keep those pesky mosquitoes away.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Johnson's baby creamy oil can repel mosquitoes
Keeping mosquitoes off your skin while you’re hiking and away from the fire is another trick altogether. Many people can’t stand the smell of deet and other repellents. And after a day of lathering that it can leave your skin greasy and uncomfortable. A great alternative is Johnson’s Baby Creamy Oil with Aloe & Vitamin E.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Use cotton balls and liquid soap to remove ticks
Ticks are one of the worst enemies in the woods. They often carry lyme disease, and if they are not removed within 24 hours that lyme disease can transmit into your blood. It’s always important to check for ticks. But what to do if you find one? Attempting to burn or smoke them out is a bad idea and can lead to the tick burrowing further into your skin. Instead, try soaking cotton balls in liquid dish soap and pressing that to the tick. In a few minutes it should stop chewing and likely back out of its endeavor.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Turn an acorn into a whistle
When you’re lost in the woods or trying to dissuade a wild animal from getting any closer, a whistle is a great thing to use. Every hiker should carry one. But let’s say you forgot it, or your pack got washed down river. Not to fret, there are always acorns. It takes some practice, though, so here’s the technical details.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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An easy hand-washing station
This one’s more for car camping then backcountry. If you need a way to easily wash your hands and don’t want to waste drinking water, you can use an old laundry detergent jug as a hand washing station. And even if you don’t get all the detergent out, you can still use it to wash your hands. Fasten a roll of paper towels to the top to complete the deal.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Make a lantern out of a water jug
To make a quick lantern, stick a head lamp or glow stick into a plastic water bottle. This you can hang like a lantern for general ambient light that ends up being broader than what the light by itself could provide.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Put duct tape around your water bottle
There is nothing in the world that duct tape won’t fix. That’s why it’s always a good idea to carry a roll with you. But where to store it? You have a ready-made duct tape storage device in any water bottle. Just wrap that sucker up.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Bucket, milk crate and toilet seat
Another one for the hunting camp or rugged car camping scenario, you can create a makeshift outhouse with a bucket, milk crate and toilet seat. Just cut hole in the bottom of the crate, place it over the bucket and put the toilet seat over that. Then sit and enjoy.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
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Carry a wok
Cooking gear is another heavy item that you can likely do without. For an all-in-one utensil try carrying a Chinese cooking wok. This is a great item you can use to sauté, boil water, wash clothes, pan for gold or even wear it as a hat.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
