Lemhi Hole

This Public River Access spot met all of our passing-through needs! There’s a drop toilet (with artwork inside?!). The lock wasn’t working when we visited but, whatever. Very good Verizon cell service, I used my hotspot to host and stream a webinar for work from here. Super close to town. Also check out the Island Park (with a weird entrance basically through a parking lot) if you want a spot to visit during the day. I believe the sign says 48 maximum without moving your vehicle. 10 nights maximum within 30 days if you’re leaving and coming back. No fires or tents allowing in the flat, dirt parking lot but there is a small area behind a fence designated for tents! It’s a short, maybe .25 mile dirt road entrance that any vehicle can handle. We were able to find level spots for our bus to sleep. Had 1 or 2 neighbors, nobody on the third night.

This is a no amenity free camping area - a level, decently sized gravel/dirt lot - right on the outskirts of the town of Salmon, Idaho. Nothing special - just a lot that can fit several rigs and was not used for anything except parking sleeping rigs (and a tent) while we were here. The lot is bordered by: a large grassy field with a nest post which is home to an Osprey family (awesome!), a fast flowing river, a grassy cow field which is abutted by the town's sewage pools. The road accessing Lemhi Hole is dirt, but short - and also provides access to a place that has construction type vehicles. This is a fairly busy area - lots of folks driving in and out in the evenings. There is apparently a fishing hole here, but access is not great (you will have to walk down a rocky embankment and cling to the side of it. Nights were quiet except for the flow of the river. Days are a bit noisier - vehicles on the main road, and in the morning, big engines and back up beeps as folks from down the dirt road prepare for their day. Vault toilet and opportunity to watch the Osprey family are only amenities. Lot sits on a birding trail. There is a tent dwelling gentleman who calls this place home semi-frequently (when he's not traversing some form of wilderness). He resides under a treed area that juts into the lot, and will make you aware that he doesn't like generators. Otherwise, he liked rambling about one thing or another and was friendly enough. Doesn't appear that the Fish & Game office in the area is strict on the stay limits - but there also isn't anyone set-up down here permanently. Be careful if you wade into the river - it is shallow near the parking area, but drops off about 100 feet down and will sweep you into its fury. Both AT&T & Verizon worked well here.