Horsethief Reservoir Campgrounds

Beginning July 1, 2017 Horsethief camping will no longer be free. The fee will be $15 per night and fewer campsites will be available(probably 85).

Name: Horsethief Reservoir Campgrounds

The Horsethief Reservoir Fishing Access Area is owned by the Idaho Dept of Fish and Game. It is not a state park as some other sites indicate. There are 270 acres on the north and west sides on the reservoir. Horsethief Reservoir is almost 2 miles long and one half mile wide. It is surrounded by gently rolling forested hills. During the summer the lake is very crowded and fishermen are lined up along the banks. Even though there are 120 campsites, there were no vacancies when we were there and there were campers anywhere they could squeeze in. The YMCA has a large facility on the south end of the reservoir that is off limits to the general public. The east side of the lake is private property and is posted "Do Not Trespass".

Campsites: There are 9 camping loops with a total of 120 campsites. Groups are limited to 25 persons.

Host on Site: There are volunteer hosts scattered through the 9 loops.

Water: There are hand-pumps on several wells throughout the campgrounds to provide drinking water.

Garbage Services: This is a "Pack it in, Pack it out" campground.

Restroom: Vault Style outhouses are available.

Handicap Accessible: Yes, the outhouses are handicap accessible as are the new docks.

Firewood: Bring your own. Gathering firewood from the property is prohibited.

Pets: Pets are allowed on a leash only.

Picnic Area: There is no picnic area.

Recreation: People come here for the free camping and fishing. However, many also come for the trail riding, hiking, bird watching and other fun.

Fishing: Horsethief Reservoir was drained in 2006 to get rid of the perch that had taken over. It has since been restocked with trout.

Boating: Boating is allowed and there are several docks and ramps.

Swimming: I am sure campers swim, however there is "no swimming" area.

Wildlife: Deer are commonly seen. I have never heard of bear bothering this campground, but one would be wise to use caution with your food and garbage. Wolves are in this area so watch your dogs.

Additional Camping Opportunities: Warm Lake Area Campgrounds are available 20 miles up Warm Lake Rd with 3 campgrounds. There are many hunting camps in the National Forest all along Warm Lake Rd. Primitive camping may appeal to you, and I have seen people camping in these areas all summer.

Phone service: We had cell service until we got right to the campground. The nearest pay phone would be at Cascade, Idaho.

Nearby Services: For services such as gas, ice, pop and food, I would recommend driving to Cascade.

RV Dumping Site: There is no RV Dumping Station. Cascade would be your nearest location for a dumping station.

Location/Driving instructions: If you check google for directions from Cascade, it will give you 2 routes. I recommend Warm Lake Rd. Warm Lake road is well developed and paved. As you leave Cascade heading north on Hwy 55, Warm Lake Rd is a right-hand turn about a half mile out of town. Follow it about 6 miles to Road 443/Horsethief Rd, also a right-hand turn. It is about 2 miles on this road to Horsethief Reservoir.

Coordinates: 44.511948,-115.921111

Elevation: 5070 Feet

Reviewed Date: July 2010

Alert: Beginning July 1, 2017 Horsethief camping will no longer be free. The fee will be $15 per night and fewer campsites will be available(probably 85).

Fees And Reservations: Not reservable. Starting July 1, 2017 single campsites will be $15 per night.

This information is accurate as of the date of the review.

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7 Day forecast for Horsethief Reservoir Campgrounds

Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
High: 37°F	High: 36°F	High: 37°F	High: 36°F	High: 37°F	High: 39°F	High: 43°F

Possible light snow in the morning and afternoon.	Possible flurries in the afternoon.	Possible light snow in the morning and afternoon.	Possible light snow starting in the afternoon.	Possible light snow until evening.	Possible light snow in the evening.	Light rain throughout the day.
71% chance of snow	66% chance of snow	76% chance of snow	78% chance of snow	79% chance of snow	56% chance of snow	88% chance of rain
Low: 29°F	Low: 29°F	Low: 29°F	Low: 26°F	Low: 28°F	Low: 22°F	Low: 32°F

Comments

Sarah M:

Spent the day here a couple years ago. The volunteer campers were pretty nosy but other than that was a nice place!!!

01/17/2019

Kimberly Williams:

My husband and I have gone camping here on average twice a year for the past 10 or 12 years at Least! We love the atmosphere and if we forgot something, or want something a trip to Cascade is a Breeze! We love taking our 4 wheeler all over, I have a couple of pictures of some Awesome rock Formations, and our pontoons out on the Water! We won't be able to afford this now but we will still come now and then!

01/17/2019

Krystal Haney:

I grew up in Idaho and always loved the camping trip with the family. 
But now I am very disappointed in the  camp site staff,they gave my mom's campsite with her fire pit to out of staters, forced my mom off her campsite and started to yell at our mom and then us . There's no water pumps for drinking water anymore for they are capped off. VERY LOUD RUDE CAMPSITE MANAGERS, harassing us from the time we got there from an hour before we left , 2 night's is all we could stand and we were going to stay a total of 5.WOW IDAHO I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY YOU TURNED OUR BEAUTIFUL CAMPSITES INTO A NIGHTMARE. I will NO LONGER CAMP IN OUR STATE AGAIN. FIX YOUR STATE CAMPING IDAHO. The worst I've ever had here and they want you to pay now for their rudeness and harassment. 
NO THANK YOU.

01/17/2019

Mac Mac:

I always loved this campground, until now.  The road in was in the worst shape ever with washboards and deep holes.  When I found a site that looked somewhat level, I discovered cow poop everywhere.  I continued looking, and finally found a site that may work.  Ha!  Still cow poop, no fire rings (closed fire season anyway), no picnic tables, and a $15 fee now!  $15 for what?  The YMCA I guess.  Outhouses stunk so bad I gagged.  My trail cam showed a massive skunk population during the night, which they would have smelled better than the outhouses.  The campground is the worst in Idaho now.  For $25 you can go to a State site, power, water, sewer, clean, paved, level, shower houses, tables and fire rings.  F**k this place.  Glad the Y found it's cash cow (poop everywhere).  Not going back.  Sad, it was a great place for several years

01/17/2019

Emily K:

This was our first time camping at here.  Our camp site had a massive amount of trash everywhere.  The last campers had just piled garbage in the fire ring and all over the camping site there was left over trash.  It almost looked like a dog had ripped open the trash bag and they hadn't bothered to pick it up.  We arrived late in the afternoon so there was plenty of time for the host to clean up but they hadn't.  What we did like about the campground were the bathrooms which were relatively clean, quiet neighbors, all of the trees, close to Cascade, and the reservoir.  We'll likely be back and will chalk this visit up to crappy/trashy campers that came before us.

01/17/2019

Horsethief Reservoir Campgrounds

7 Day forecast for Horsethief Reservoir Campgrounds

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