Redfish Lake Recreation Complex
Redfish Lake is at the headwaters of the Salmon River, the waters of which flow north to meet the Snake River and continue to the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean.
As late as the 1950's, more than 4,000 sockeye salmon made the annual 900-mile, or 1,440-km, pilgrimage from the ocean to their spawning grounds in the Sawtooth Valley. However, in recent years only between 2-20 have returned each year. In an effort to save the endangered fish, whose bright red color gave Redfish Lake its name, the National Marine Fisheries Service established a local hatchery. Since 1999, the lake has been stocked with sockeye salmon. Bull trout, steelhead and Chinook salmon can also be spotted in the area.
There is a visitor center at Redfish Lake Lodge. Between Little Redfish Lake and Redfish Lake, there are commercially operated showers, a gas station with propane, a dump station, and horse rentals. Little Redfish Lake does not allow motorboats.
Redfish lake campsites that accept reservations include:
- Sunny Gulch campsite,
- Glacier View,
- Outlet campsite,
- Point,
- North Shore picnic area and
- Sunny Gulch Pavillion picnic area.
Reservations can be made by going to www.recreation.gov or by calling (877)444-6777.
First-come, first-serve campsites include:
- Chinook Bay,
- Mountain View,
- Mt. Heyburn,
- Sockeye,
- Red Fish Inlet,
- Outlet Day Use Area, and
- Sunny Gulch campsite offers some as well.
Double-sites are available at:
- Sunny Gulch campsite,
- Sockeye,
- Glacier View, and
- Outlet.
Picnic and day use areas include:
- North Shore picnic area,
- Sunny Gulch Pavillion and picnic area, and
- Outlet day use area.
Chinook Bay Campground is composed of 13 campsites on the north side of Little Redfish Lake on Little Redfish Creek and is situated in a lodgepole pine overstory.
Glacier View Campground is composed of 64 campsites including 9 double-sites on the north shore of Redfish Lake. The campsites accept reservations which can be ma
This campground is located on the east side of Little Redfish Lake. There are six campsites which are all first-come, first-serve.
Mt. Heyburn Campground is composed of 19 campsites on the east side of Redfish Lake and all sites are first-come, first-serve.
The picnic area is located at the north end of Redfish lake to the east of Redfish Lodge. Equestrian stables and boat rentals can be found at Redfish Lake Lodge.
This day use area is located on the North-East side of Redfish lake and is first-come, first-serve.
Point Campground is composed of 17 campsites on the west side of Redfish Lake. This campground is consistently rated as one of the top campsites in the country.
Redfish Lake Inlet is accessible either through water access: shuttle boat, kayak, canoe or hiking in. The campground consists of 4 sites and is first-come, first-serve.
Sockeye Campground is composed of 23 secluded campsites including 6 double-sites on the shore of Redfish Lake. All sites are first-come, first-serve.
Sunny Gulch Campground is composed of 45 campsites including 8 double-sites situated in a lodgepole pine overstory.
This site is located north of Little Redfish lake along the Salmon river on the East side of Hwy 75 and is great for group celebrations and events.