Camping Near Boise at Swan Falls - The Lost Longboarder

If you’re looking for free camping near Boise, Idaho we would definitely recommend a spot at the Swan Falls Dam. This area is located within the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. According to the BLM website, this National Conservation area is “home to the greatest concentration of nesting birds of prey in North America, and perhaps, the world”. The deep canyon of the Snake River provides ledges, cracks and thermal updrafts making the perfect habitat for the many birds of prey. This canyon is also where the free camping is!

We used the website freecampsites.net to find out about this particular boondocking location. With all of the public land set aside to be enjoyed and explored, we have managed to essentially boondock (for free) for about 95% of the two and a half years that we’ve spent on the road so far. Be sure to check out our Life On the Road section of our blog for free camping destinations as well as information about living on the road.

About Snake River Camping

There are semi-developed camp spots in designated areas upriver and downriver from Swan Falls Dam. There are 5 semi-developed sites upriver and 15 downriver. Camping is in designated spots only. Each site has a fire ring and are within walking distance to a vault toilet. The sites are free and first-come, first-served.

Quick Info About Camping Near Boise

Cost: Free

Ownership: Idaho Power/BLM; 14 day limit

Directions: From Boise, take I-184 W to I-84 W. Follow I-84 W toward Nampa for 8.4 miles. Take exit 44 and turn left onto ID-69 S/Meridian Road. Follow ID-69 S for about 8 miles. Once you reach Auto Zone, continue east onto Avalon Street briefly before turning left on South Swan Falls Road. After about 20 miles South Swan Road will reach the day use area. Continue up or downriver for designated camping.

Road Conditions: Nice paved road but the last section down into the canyon is very steep and curvy.

Solar: Good, no trees/shade but being in the canyon did limit the direct sunlight hours we received.

Cell Service: None, but we did get service at the top of the canyon.

Where to Get Water: There are drinking fountains and sinks with running water at the Swan Falls Park but might be best to fill up in town.

Miles from Town: About 20 miles to Meridian

Our Experience Camping Near Boise

We stumbled upon Swan Falls Dam free camping when we were looking for free camping near Boise. The drive through the Birds of Prey National Conservation Area was flat and wide open. When we first arrived, it was dark so when we reached the steep curvy descent down into the deep canyon we were alert! We followed the road down to the bottom of the steep canyon and were relieved to see the designated camp sites to confirm we were in the right place. Sometimes arriving new places in the dark can feel… adventurous?

beautiful starry sky while camping near boise

All of the Swan Falls designated camping is tucked way down at the bottom of the canyon. There are towering 700 feet cliff walls on either side of the canyon and the Snake River runs through it. Even better, these camp sites are all right next to the river. Score! The camp spots themselves are well spaced out and aren’t even a stones throw away from the Snake River. They are all relatively level dirt spots with a fire ring.

The canyon itself is very pretty and the river attractive, making for a scenic and refreshing swim. The dramatic canyon walls are not only beautiful but provide a great environment for the birds of prey. Seeing them soaring around overhead was definitely a bonus!

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The campsites and day use area are very well maintained. The Swan Falls Park features a grassy area, a path lined with trees and informative signs, picnic tables, a fishing dock, as well as flush toilets and water fountains.

There are residences of the dam workers here and you’ll likely hear them at work if you stay. One morning during our stay one of the workers drove around the camp spots and handed out a trash bag to each camper to encourage keeping the area clean. We thought it was a nice gesture and it must be working because the area was clean.

view from our window while camping near boise at swan falls dam

The campground was frequented during the week but got noticeably busier on weekends. Overall, it was peaceful and quiet most of the time. Past the designated camp spots is a boat launch so there was some traffic but not a big deal. A lot of the traffic that frequented the other parking area by the restrooms were either fishermen or hikers.

In the Area

Swan Falls Park has a fishing dock as well as interpretive signs about the area. There is an old power house that has been turned into a museum. Check the hours of operation before going. There are hiking opportunities on both sides of the Snake River. Visitors can walk across the dam to reach the trails on the south side of Snake River. In addition to the fishing dock, there are boat launches too. There are also recreation opportunities up above the canyon. For instance, there is a 56 mile loop driving tour that stops at cultural stops in the National Conservation Area.

Since we were camping near Boise, we did make the drive into town a couple times but the distance to town wasn’t a quick jaunt. We sell our hand painted, one of a kind Lost Coast Longboarding longboards to sustain our lifestyle of adventure. So while we were in Boise we set up to sell our boards and we met some really supportive and friendly locals. We were happy to sell a few boards, check out the Boise Skatepark (which was fantastic) and cruised the Greenbelt Trail with a local that we met. Good vibes in Boise!

longboarding the greenbelt trail in boise

Also worth mentioning, is city of Twin Falls. If you’re travelling south from Boise, after about two hours on the I-84 S the main road passes through Twin Falls. We definitely recommend taking a short break here to check out the view of Twin Falls!

It’s a very gorgeous and scenic vista. There is a bridge with pedestrian crossing that goes across the huge canyon. And the view from the heights of the bridge is just breathtaking!