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Top 5 Camping Spots in Idaho

Camping in Idaho is sublime for just about nine months of the year. Idaho is the 14th largest state, and is also the 7th least densely populated. This means there's A LOT of space, and subsequently, some really great terrain to camp in all throughout the state. 

 

We polled our office to find our teams favorite places, both well-known and not. All of these campsites are camper/RV and tent friendly, so you can camp whichever way you love most. 

 

1. Ponderosa State Park: Probaby a better known camping spot, Ponderosa is a fan-favorite Image result for ponderosa state parkaround here. On the northeast side of McCall, Ponderosa is known for its proximity to the town and all the activities that are accessible from the campsite. Hiking, biking, beach access, guided walks, wildlife watching, and snow activities are all availableto Ponderosa visitors. 

 

 

2. Bull Trout Lake: Part of the Boise National Forest, Bull Trout Lake sits at an elevation of 6,900 feet, with beach access and a campsite specifically for equestrian campers. The lake offers great canoe and kayak based activities as it is non-motorized watercraft only. 

(FTR, anywhere in Boise National Forest that is camping friendly will be an amazing spot for the whole fam.)

 

3. Farragut State Park: Farragut has the distinct pleasure of being relatively close to Ceour d' Image result for farragut state parkAlene and to Idaho's (what many would consider, best,) themepark, Silverwood. This massive camp area has close access to Lake Pend Oreille, and boasts amazing hiking trails and peaceful scenery. 

 

 

 

 

4. Pine Flats Campground: Another campground in the Boise National Forest, a few miles west of Lowman known for rafting, kayaking, or fishing. The jewel of this crown, though, is the numerous hot springs, accessible along the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway.

 

5. Salmon River Campground: Another hot spring- accessible campground is the Salmon River Campground. With two sides to this site, there are numerous areas to hike, fish, and also the added gem of being able to visit the town of Stanley during your stay.

Camper Camping 101

Camping is known to have a whole host of health benefits for everyone that partakes, and we definitely know why. Between sleeping better, increased vitamin D intake (probably), and just plain happiness, we recommend camping for everyone! Camping is said to be rising in popularity, especially among younger generations. This is due to affordability, stress reduction, and of course, authentic smores. In 2018, 77 million households in the US have someone who camps at least occasionally, with a majority camping at least three times a year. The best part is, you don’t usually have to travel that far to get to a good camping spot. 59% of campers stay within 100 miles of home.

While a lot of people do camp, there are always rookies looking to make camping their new hobby. We’ve compiled a list of things to remember while camping- specifically in a camper trailer- for newbies, but old pros might also like having their memory refreshed.

  • -Check how much your vehicle can tow- if you’re towing a camper trailer, this is going to be hugely important! How much your vehicle can tow will determine the size of camper you can get.
  • -Pre-check the size of your hitch- also important: most campers use a 2” ball on their hitch, but always be sure to triple check before you pick it up
  • -Have a list of essentials & check them off one by one- there are a billion pre-made lists online of things to bring while camping (food, supplies, medical supplies, etc.) so make sure you do your research.
  • -You can pre-pack & no suitcases- if you choose, you can pre-load the camper in the closet space for all your clothes- which seriously eliminates a lot of space-taking luggage. This brings us to our next tip:
  • -Don’t overload the camper- while it’s great to have the option of pre-packing the camper, don’t overload or make it too heavy and crowded. You want to be able to move around your camper, not have to pick your way through the maze of stuff you brought.
  • -Fresh water + black/grey water- it’s a gross topic, but necessary. Fill your tank with your fresh drinking water and don’t forget to empty your black/grey water tank when you’re done. TRUST ME.
  • -Set- up on flat ground- self explanatory enough; you don’t want to be sleeping on uneven ground- make sure your final set up spot is flat.
  • -Power- if you’re going to a campground that supplies power, make sure to have the correct power adaptor for all kinds of outlets. If you’re not going to a campground like that…
  • -Don’t forget a generator- you will most likely need power of some sort, so bringing a backup generator is always a good idea. (Psst- if you’re renting a camper from Redline, you can get one included in your reservation)
  • -Bring coolers/food inside when you leave your vehicle- bears, raccoons, other humans, oh my! Make sure to bring in all your food when you leave your campsite. Animals and other people are notorious for taking food that might not belong to them and potentially tearing up your campground. Be smart and avoid Brenda the bear’s visit.

Summer Send Off for Spring Shores

It's that time of year again! Spring Shores Marina at Lucky Peak Reservoir is in the early stages of lowering water levels, and getting ready to close the park for the season. The park will definitely be closed by the end of September, but as of right now, we don't know what the exact date will be. This will depend on weather, water level, and the Idaho Parks & Recreation team.

 

We will still be accepting reservations throughout summer to Spring Shores, with the caveat that the equipment may not be in the water when the member/renter gets there. It is also the time that we may recommend turning your eye to McCall and Payette Lake, since those water levels are not a concern. 

 

If you are a renter or member that has a reservation at Spring Shores in the next few weeks, don't worry, your reservation will still be intact. As stated above, depending on the water levels and subsequently, the dock levels, the equipment may not be in the water, but we're more than happy to help you trailer/untrailer when needed. We'll be keeping in contact with all reservation holders until the end of September to ensure no confusion or issue with any Spring Shores reservations. 

 

If you have any questions or concerns about Spring Shores and/or current reservations, don't hesitate to get in touch with us! 

Smoky the Bear Wants You to be Safe

As we’re coming towards the hottest part of the year, it’s fitting that we address one of the deadliest man-made disasters we face in the US.

 

Wildfires.

 

In 2018, there were 58,083 reported wildfires, with a total of 8.8 million acres burned. In a 2017 risk analysis, 4.5 million US homes were identified at high or extreme risk of wildfires. Over the past 10 years, losses from wildfires added up to $5.1 billion.

 

What’s worse? As many as 90% of wildland fires in the US are caused by humans. (The remaining 10% is said to be caused by naturally occurring lightning or lava.)

 

Statistics from 2019 already state that there have been 16,361 wildfires from January 1 to June 10, with about 355,014 acres burned. That’s just six months of data.

 

There is good news though. So far, numbers have decreased from 2018 to 2019. In the same six month period (January-June), 2018 saw 1.8 million acres burned vs the 355,014 acres stated above. And 2017 to 2018 saw a similar decreasing trend with 71,499 reported wildfires in 2017 vs 58,083 in 2018. These are still high numbers, but with proper education and care of the land, the National Interagency Fire Center is hopeful they can continue decreasing.

 

It seems simple: don’t start fires in the summer. Watch your burns. Don’t negligently discard cigarettes. But we’ve compiled a basic list of ways to prevent wildfires from starting, to keep you, your family, and your land safe.

 

  1. Never leave a fire unattended.
  2. Completely extinguish a fire before sleeping or leaving a campsite.
  3. Avoid spilling flammable liquid and store fuel away from appliances.
  4. Completely extinguish cigarettes before disposing of them.
  5. Do not discard cigarettes, matches, or smoking materials from moving vehicles or anywhere on park grounds.
  6. Follow local ordinances when burning yard waste.
  7. Avoid backyard burns in windy conditions.
  8. Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
  9. Avoid parking a hot car or other machinery in dry grass.
  10. When towing vehicles, make sure all chains are suspended and not dragging while driving.

These tips seem simple, but these above, including purposefully committing arson, account for 90% of wildfires. And they’re easily preventable. So make sure you’re being smart and taking care of our forests and wildlands.

Why You Should Redline

If you’re on this site, chances are you know about Redline and all the magical properties of being a member. However, it never hurts to get a refresher, and we wanted to take a moment to go over why being a Redline member can be more beneficial than owning. Of course, every situation is different and every person’s needs vary, but that’s what makes a Redline membership so great: it’s totally customizable and flexible depending on your needs.

 

  1. Owning is expensive

A lot of people don’t always take into consideration the true costs of ownership. There’s a lot to think about that sometimes fall to the wayside when the excitement of new toys come into play. For one, just storing the new equipment can get pricey. Not everyone has the space to store all the equipment they want to utilize. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll use average Boise prices for financial guesstimates. Depending on size, storage space for recreational equipment can cost anywhere from $90- $200 per month. That’s about $1080-$2400 per year. On top of an already expensive piece of equipment, that’s an expense that can be a drain. Keeping the equipment maintained and working (depending on how hard you are on your stuff) can also be a huge expense and can sometimes out-cost the actual piece of equipment. Another expense that is sometimes overlooked but very important is insurance. It depends on the piece of equipment, but for most full-time, large equipment averages anywhere from $900-$2000 per year. Not to mention the actual value of the equipment. The yearly depreciation of a $95,000 wake boat, plus the expenses of maintenance, storage, insurance, and other equally pricey factors can take a huge chunk out of your wallet.A Redline membership alleviates almost the entire expense. You don’t have to worry about any of those factors, just enjoy the equipment.

 

  1. All the equipment you get access to

The thing about owning your own equipment, is that you usually have to compromise on the actual equipment. Owning a boat, and an RV, and a UTV, and jet ski can get very expensive, and it usually isn’t feasible for the average outdoorsman. With a Redline membership, you get access to ALL of the toys in our fleet. That includes the watercraft, off road vehicles, campers/RV’s, and snowmobiles; all at your disposal. You don’t have to choose which equipment you get, because you can get all of it.

  1. Updated fleet

A lot of people end up buying equipment, only to have the next year’s model be the one they are really pining for. Unfortunately, it’s not always financially feasible to buy a brand new camper trailer every single year, and we understand that. Redline endeavors to update most of its’ big equipment at least every three to four years- think boats, RV’s, campers; and it’s smaller equipment (jet ski’s, snowmobiles, UTV’s, etc) every two to three years. 2019 alone saw new snowmobiles, jet skis, UTV’s, and a few new wake boats. That probably wouldn’t happen with owning.

 

All in all, owning your own recreation equipment can be fun and worthwhile, but more often than not, the financial burden outweighs the pros. That's where Redline comes in. Having access to all the toys you want, at a fraction of the price, is the top reason Redline boasts more than 500 members currently. Our members get to enjoy all the fun of having recreational equipment, with none of the hassle. 

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