USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Big Bayhorse Campground
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Cost
- No fees are required for this site
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,615 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- BAYHORSE LAKE C G (NFSR 40383) · native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Nearest town
- Challis, Idaho
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
Site map
The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
US Forest Service campground. A beautiful high mountain lake is the setting for this out of the way campground. Plenty of fishing in lake and streams. Good hiking and ATV trail access. Campsite facilities include picnic tables and fire rings with cooking grills. Within the campground there are vault toilets and a day use picnic area. On Bayhorse Lake campers will find a boat launch and two boat docks for use by non-motorized watercraft. This dirt road is narrow and steep and while trailers are allowed, caution is advised; best fit for trailers and motorhomes less than 32 feet long. No drinking water is on site, and please pack out your trash. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21° | 3° | -17° | 34° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 22° | 3° | -20° | 37° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 29° | 10° | -3° | 46° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 34° | 15° | -3° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 46° | 26° | 15° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 58° | 35° | 17° | 74° | 10 of 11 |
| July | 73° | 45° | 31° | 80° | 1 of 11 |
| August | 72° | 45° | 32° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 60° | 35° | 26° | 74° | 8 of 11 |
| October | 46° | 24° | 2° | 63° | 10 of 10 |
| November | 35° | 16° | -19° | 50° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 22° | 1° | -18° | 36° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
- Buster Lake Trailhead · 2.2 mi as the crow flies
Buster Lake 4.1 mi Hike · Drive there - Paasasikwana Naokwaide Creek Trailhead · 4.9 mi as the crow flies
Paasasikwana Naokwaide 6.6 mi Hike · Drive there - Malm Gulch Trailhead · 9.6 mi as the crow flies
Malm Gulch Trail 1.1 mi Hike · Drive there - Eleven Mile Trailhead · 9.7 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
All 656 trails in Salmon-Challis National Forest · All 124 trails in BLM lands in Idaho
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Mill Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Bayhorse Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 7 mi · 12 sites
- Mosquito Flat Reservoir Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi
- Deadman Hole Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 8 mi
- East Fork Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 11 mi · 8 sites
All public campgrounds in Idaho · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.