USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Elk Creek Campground
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States · in Sawtooth National Recreation Area
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,919 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
- ELK CR BOAT LAUNCH (NFSR 70466) · bituminous surface treatment · moderate degree of user comfort
- Nearest town
- Stanley, ID
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. Elk Creek Campground is composed of 3 campsites, located in a lodgepole pine understory, This small campground offers one group site that consists of three smaller sites. The group site can accommodate up to 40 people. If the group site is not reserved, the individual sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Expansive and scenic Elk Meadow is near the campground, providing a great location for bird watching and wildlife viewing. Numerous sparkling lakes and streams, including the Salmon River, dot the area, making for great rainbow and native west slope cutthroat trout fishing. Stanley and Redfish Lakes are nearby with great boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and even more fishing. The campground has a general parking area from which visitors must walk to their site. 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 | 31° | 15° | -4° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 33° | 16° | -8° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 22° | 9° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 43° | 26° | 9° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 54° | 35° | 24° | 68° | 6 of 11 |
| June | 69° | 44° | 24° | 83° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 82° | 56° | 40° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 81° | 55° | 41° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 45° | 33° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 54° | 33° | 10° | 72° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 45° | 22° | -4° | 60° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 14° | -3° | 45° | 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
- Basin Creek Transfer Camp Trailhead · 7.1 mi as the crow flies
Lower Basin 3.0 mi Hike · Drive there - West Fork Transfer Camp Trailhead · 7.3 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
All 503 trails in Sawtooth National Forest · All 157 trails in Sawtooth National Recreation Area · All 656 trails in Salmon-Challis National Forest
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
- Blind Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Upper O'Brien Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 4 sites
- Lower O'Brien Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 4 sites
- Flat Rock Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Flat Rock Campground Extension · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
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.