The downstream campgrounds along the Salmon River northeast of Stanley don’t get too much respect in these parts.

That’s because the crowds rush to campsites at Redfish, Stanley and Alturas lakes, where it can become a camping circus in the height of summer.

But the so-called “downriver” campgrounds, given the nickname because they are downstream from Stanley, offer quiet little hideaways.

They are places where you can enjoy the sound of the river rushing by your campsite, the squawking of an osprey near its nest and the knocking of a woodpecker on yellow pines.

You’ll find things a lot more relaxed than the Jellystone pace around some of the more popular lakes in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

“These are always the last to fill,” said Judy Funderburg, who oversees the campgrounds and is based out of the U.S. Forest Service’s Stanley Ranger Station. “People like to be by the lakes.”

The only time the campgrounds might be really busy is during the Mountain Mamas Arts and Craft Fair in Stanley on July 21-22.

But most of the summer, the campgrounds don’t get crowded.

“Where is everybody?” said Heather Coffel of Roseburg, Ore. She and her family were on their way to Glacier National Park and heard that it was difficult to get a campsite near the lakes around Stanley.

So they opted to drive a few miles northeast of Stanley along Idaho 75 and snagged a campsite at Casino Creek. The campground was almost empty on the Friday night they were there.

The campsite also put them at the Casino Creek trailhead, and they had an opportunity to hike in the White Clouds.

The eight campgrounds are operated by a private concessionaire, Scenic Canyons, and have services like garbage collection.

They are ideal if you want to float the section of the Upper Salmon River from Stanley to Mormon Bend.

Canoeists, rafters, kayakers and even paddle boarders can be seen on the river.

Despite not being in the hubbub of Stanley tourist activity, you’re still within minutes of the resort town and Redfish and Stanley lakes, if you want to do some flatwater paddling or pleasure boating.

Although the campgrounds are close to Idaho 75, traffic noise usually subsides in the evening and throughout the night.

Here is a list of the downriver campgrounds along the Salmon River. All are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no reservations.

SALMON RIVER

What: The campground has 30 campsites and is the closest to Stanley in case you need to run into town for your cup of java or want dinner in a restaurant or cafe. It has campsites on both sides of the highway, with some along the river.

Fees: $13, single campsite; $26, double family campsite; $5 per extra vehicle.

Season: May 18-Sept. 3.

Amenities: Vault toilet, drinking water, garbage service.

Getting there: Drive about 3.5 miles northeast of Stanley on Idaho 75.

Notes: The campsites nearest the river close Aug. 17 when spawning salmon begin to arrive in the river near the campground.

CASINO CREEK

What: You’ll find 10 campsites in this campground, which is across the river from the highway. If you’re a hiker, mountain biker or horseback rider, you’ll like this campground. It’s located at a trailhead to alpine lakes in the White Cloud Mountains. There are three campsites set aside for equestrians.

Another plus is that the river is a buffer between campsites and the highway noise.

Fees: $13, single campsite; $26, double; $5, extra vehicle.

Season: May 18-Sept. 3.

Amenities: Vault toilet, drinking water, garbage service.

Getting there: Drive about 4 miles northeast of Stanley.

RIVERSIDE

What: The campground has 17 campsites, which are located on both sides of the highway, with some along the river.

Fees: $13, single campsites; $5, extra vehicle.

Season: May 18-Sept. 3.

Amenities: Vault toilet, drinking water, garbage service.

Getting there: Drive about 6 miles northeast of Stanley.

Notes: The campsites nearest the river close Aug. 17, when spawning salmon are in the river near the campground.

MORMON BEND

What: You’ll find 15 campsites on the highway side of the Salmon River. It has a boat ramp and is a good spot to take out after floating the river from Stanley. The river has rapids from here on downstream.

There’s plenty of room in the campground for large RVs and boat trailers.

Fees: $13, single campsite; $26, double; $5, extra vehicle.

Season: May 18-Sept. 17.

Amenities: Vault toilet, drinking water, garbage service.

Directions: Drive about 6.5 miles northeast of Stanley.

UPPER O’BRIEN

What: The campground has nine campsites located across the river from the highway. The advantage is that you can’t see or hear traffic.

Fees: $13, single campsite; $26, double family campsite; $5 per extra vehicle.

Season: May 18-Sept. 17.

Amenities: Vault toilet, drinking water, garbage service.

Getting there: Drive about 12.5 miles northeast of Stanley.

LOWER O'BRIEN

What: The campground has 10 campsites and is on the opposite side of the river from the highway and has the same advantages of Upper O’Brien.

Fees: $13, single campsite; $26, double; $5, extra vehicle.

Season: May 18-Aug. 15.

Amenities: Vault toilet, drinking water, garbage service

Getting there: Drive about 12.5 miles northeast of Stanley.

WHISKEY FLATS

What: Anglers like this campground because it’s right on the river. It is one of the smaller campgrounds in the area, with only four campsites. It is located down off the highway.

Fees: $10, single campsite; $5, extra vehicle.

Season: May 18-Sept. 3.

Amenities: Vault toilet, garbage service. No drinking water.

Getting there: Drive about 22 miles northeast of Stanley.

HOLMAN CREEK

What: The campground has 10 campsites and is the least used of any of the campgrounds in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. That means it is also the last to fill up on a busy weekend.

That means saving the best for last. Campsites No. 8, 9 and 10 are tucked up on a creek where you can’t see the highway.

Fees: $10 per campsite; $5 extra vehicle.

Season: May 18-Sept. 3.

Amenities: Vault toilet, drinking water, garbage service.

Getting there: Drive about 23.5 miles northeast of Stanley.

Pete Zimowsky: 377-6445, Twitter: @Zimosoutdoors