This is the waitlist for our car camping trip. If someone cancels, we will notify participants in the order they register here.
Pic from 2023 car camping trip at Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park
Description:
Join Idaho Sierra Club for an easy/beginner overnight car camping trip to Wood River Campground near Stanley, ID! Celebrate the Sawtooth Salmon Festival in Stanley, enjoy a relaxing evening in the woods, and stay a bit longer in Stanley the next day to partake in Salmon Fest's yoga class, Sunbeam dam tour, or Fire Ecology walk!
This event will be accessible to complete beginners, and a great opportunity for those around Idaho to build community outdoors in a safe and inclusive space. We'll also be sharing more about how to get involved in our campaigns for indigenous-led wildlife recovery, clean energy advocacy, and climate justice.
Gear:
The Idaho Sierra Club will provide larger gear items (tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad) to those who do not have this gear. A suggested packing list will also be provided to participants who sign up, and group gear will be provided by the Sierra Club (e.g. cooking gear, an emergency GPS communication device, etc.)
Food:
The Sierra Club will provide dinner and breakfast (dietary restrictions can be accommodated, please note any limitations or concerns in the RSVP), as well as some light snacks, refreshments, and s'mores. Participants are responsible for packing their own lunches on both days, as well as any special snacks you will want. We will have a cooler that folks can use to store their lunches for Sunday.
Timeline:
Sat, August 23rd, 2025
10:00 a.m. | Saturday activities for Sawtooth Salmon Festival begin in Stanley, ID (Sawtooth Festival is happening all weekend! While we're only staying one night, you're welcome to book your own accommodations if you'd like to come on Friday and experience the entire schedule of events)
3:00 p.m. | Check-in at Wood River Campground is open; participants may arrive and set up tents/leave gear (a leader will be at the site).
6:00 p.m. | All participants arrive at Wood River Campground for dinner
8:00 p.m. | Salmon Festival ends (if you would like to skip group dinner and stay at Salmon Fest later than 6pm, please coordinate with leaders ahead of time)
Afternoon/evening | Dinner; set up camp; have fun!
Sun, August 24th, 2025
Morning | Breakfast
10:00 a.m. | Sign out & check out from campground (can be earlier as needed). Sierra Club trip official ends, but anyone interested can engage in Sunday's Salmon Fest events, including:
- 10am Sunrise yoga led by Lori Mitchell at the Mountain Village lawn
- 10am Sunbeam Dam Tour - Historical Perspectives
- 11am Fire Ecology w/ Sawtooth Society. When the Ashes Cool: Fire Ecology & Post-Fire. When the ashes cool, what happens to a forest after fires? How do the trees, flowers, salmon, animals, and other species recover? Learn about the impact of last year's Bench Lake and Wapiti Fires on the surrounding ecosystem with fire ecologist and former park ranger Melinda Markin of the Sawtooth Society.
Level: Easy/Beginner
More about difficulty, accessibility, & skill level
This outing is open to people of all experience levels! We will ask for volunteers with cooking and cleaning, and will provide assistance with setting up gear as necessary; no prior camping experience is required. The hike will be intentionally paced to support everyone in the group, including beginners and folks who need to take it slower. We never leave anyone behind!
Exact details of trail difficulty will be sent well in advance of the trip so participants will know what to expect.
Safety
Our trip leaders are certified in Wilderness First Aid and will carry a full first aid kit. They will also carry/provide safety items like bear spray and water filters. We will have extra water in case it is needed for participants to refill bottles.
A comprehensive safety plan will be developed, which will include an at home emergency safety lead, contact information for emergency services, wildlife safety information, and contingency plans in the event of an incident or emergency.
Finally, leaders will bring a Satellite GPS Messenger for emergency communication, in case there is no cell service in the area.
Other considerations
- No dogs
- Kids and families welcome! All minors must be accompanied by a guardian and must provide medical information in advance (leaders will coordinate prior to Outing)
- Please fill out a separate registration form for each person, so we can have a signed waiver on file for each person and know each individual's dietary preferences, etc.
- We expect everyone joining this event to act respectfully and help create a safe and inclusive space for folks from marginalized identity groups. All participants must adhere to the standards of conduct in our Participant Agreement.
- After you register, we'll be in touch shortly with a packing list and additional information about food and rental equipment. PLEASE RESPOND TO THESE EMAILS IN A TIMELY MANNER! This will ensure you can participate safely on the trip with us!
Directions to campground
Coordinates: 43° 47' 35.0002" N 114° 27' 32.0000" W. From Ketchum, take Highway 75 north for 10 miles. Turn at the Wood River Campground sign. Stay on the main campground road for a short distance until you reach the group area parking lot on the right side of the road.
Level: Easy
Cost: Dinner and breakfast will be provided by the Sierra Club for free! Gear rental (as needed) will be done on a sliding scale basis; Sierra Club can cover the cost if needed.
Signup Instructions: Please register by Thursday, August 14th so we can have enough time to order food and reserve gear.
Bring: A full packing list will be provided prior to the trip; a form will also be sent allowing participants to mark any gear they will need to rent.
Carpool: Prior to the trip, we will connect anyone who needs a ride with those who are willing to drive/carpool.
Note: Carpool transportation is at the sole risk of the participants.
Cancellation Policy: Leaders will check both wildfire and weather conditions the morning of the event. If the weather or any proximity to a wildfire is considered unsafe, we will cancel the trip and communicate with all participants.
Campground description & map