Valley County Parks and Recreation is pleased to assume management of Horsethief Reservoir Campground, starting in 2026. Please direct any questions to the Recreation Director or Recreation Planner, as campground hosts are off duty until the campground opens in May. Management details are subject to final approval (pending) of an MOU between Valley County and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

2026 Camping Season

The Campground will be open May 19th through Labor Day Weekend (longer, weather permitting).

Campsite Availability 

Many campsites are “first come, first serve” with no reservation required; hosts will update availability info on our busiest days. 

New for 2026
In the future, some campsites will allow advance reservations. When that happens, you’ll find reservation information on this page.  

Background

Horsethief Reservoir Campground (HRC) is owned by the State of Idaho, under the auspices of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). IDFG and the Treasure Valley Family YMCA (YMCA) formed a partnership in July 2017, whereby the YMCA managed the campsites at the HRC and IDFG managed the facilities, reservoir, wildlife and all real property. In 2026, Valley County Parks and Recreation (VCR) will assume management of the campsites under the rules and regulations as specified by IDFG and will participate with IDFG in determining best campground practices and campground operational issues. Campground Host(s) will be jointly selected by the IDFG and VCR and managed by VCR on behalf of IDFG.

Location & Camping Conditions

Horsethief Reservoir is located approximately 75 miles north of Boise and 9 miles east of Cascade, Idaho. This 260-acre, IDFG-owned and operated reservoir is surrounded by pine forests and granite-capped mountains. These lands are relatively undeveloped, offering very scenic views with little noise or distractions. The reservoir is managed as a trout fishery and is owned by the State of Idaho, and all but the southern shoreline is accessible for walk-in fishing. Much of the east side of the reservoir (outside the 30-foot strip owned by the State of Idaho) is privately owned - please respect private property. There are also boat-launching facilities for small fishing boats on both the east and west sides of the reservoir.

The public campground area is of a semi-primitive nature with no electrical hookups, no pressurized water, and no sewer hooks-ups for campsites. Cell coverage may vary depending on your wireless provider. 

The nearby community of Cascade offers a wide variety of services: laundromat, groceries, restaurants, auto mechanics, barbers, and clothing shops. 

At present, the campground does not provide trash collection points and Campers and Day Use Visitors must "pack out" all garbage. Fire rings must be fully doused and any unburned wood removed from the campsite. Current "extreme fire conditions" pertain for the entire Campground property with the exception of the campsite fire rings.  

Overnight Camping Fee

First come, first serve sites.
A fee of $20 per night/site, cash or check only, (no credit card payments can be processed, no internet available). Please pay with 30 minutes of campsite(s) selection to eliminate disputes in who paid first.

Reserved Sites
Online payment options (forthcoming) will be available in the future for reservable sites. 

Horsethief Campground requires ATV/UTV users to respect other campers by creating no dust, driving safely and strictly adhering to State of Idaho Rules and Regulations. ATVs/UTVs operated on public/state land have very specific restrictions. On public land, operators under the age of 16 must be supervised by an adult (within 300 ft), must wear a helmet and must have completed an ATV/UTV safety course approved by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. Have FUN, but be SAFE and RESPECT others.

Frequently Asked Questions