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The Upper O'Brien Campground is composed of 9 campsites including 1 double-site under lodgepole pines along the Salmon River. All sites are first-come, first-serve. Visitors can fish for steelhead and trout or soak in the fabulous Sunbeam Hot Springs which maintains a temperature of 169 degrees fahrenheit. You can adjust the temperature by moving rocks to allow river water to flow in. A boat ramp at Yankee Fork is available for floating the river, which has 14 miles of Class III and IV rapids. An interesting trip is to explore the mining history of the area by touring the Land of the Yankee Fork north of the Sunbeam Dam and resort on Forest Road #013. Sunbeam Dam was the only dam ever built on the Salmon River, which remains one of the last free-flowing rivers in the west. The dam was intended to provide power to mining operations located on the Yankee Fork, but in 1911, the mine property was sold at a Sheriff`s auction and part of the dam was destroyed with dynamite in 1934. The campground closes on August 15 to allow for streambank revegetation to occur.
From Stanley, go northeast 14 miles on ID 75. Turn south on Forest Road #454, the Robinson Bar Road.
A great, little campground off the road. Great access to the river, bathrooms, water pump and dump. A little traffic noise but mostly you hear the river.
Nice campground, the roads Are all dirt and gravel. Nice quiet campground for the weekend getaway or a 2 week stay. Water is drawn from a long handle pump like the old days.
Quiet campground to stay in. Very pleasant, right next to the Salmon River. The entrance to this campground probably seems a little difficult, I did it with my truck and a 18 foot trailer and I had no problem at all. I think it is inadvisable to try to bring an RV into the Lower O'Brian campground, although you could walk from Upper to Lower and see for yourself. Regardless, Upper is really nice and peaceful and at night you really do get that feeling of solitude because this seems like a campground which is rarely full.
