USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Bear Valley Campground
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Cost
- No fees are required for this site
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,398 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
- BEAR VALLEY CG (NFSR 579D) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Nearest town
- Stanley, 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. Bear Valley Campground is located along Bear Valley Creek which is one of the major headwater streams for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Use is moderate to high during the summer months and hunting season, and the campgroud is often full on weekends. There is no trash service, campers need to pack in and pack out. Open season: Mid June- End of September. 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 | 30° | 15° | -6° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 30° | 16° | -10° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 37° | 21° | 6° | 53° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 40° | 25° | 10° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 50° | 30° | 21° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 65° | 39° | 25° | 80° | 6 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 51° | 37° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 50° | 39° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 66° | 42° | 30° | 80° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 52° | 31° | 5° | 69° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 42° | 22° | -11° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 30° | 13° | 0° | 42° | 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
- North Fork Elk Creek Trailhead · 3.0 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Bluebunch / Bear Valley Trailhead · 3.9 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Middle Fork Transfer Camp & Trailhead · 8.8 mi as the crow flies
Sulphur Creek Cutoff 3.0 mi Hike · Drive there - Kirkham Ridge Trailhead (Bull Trout) · 8.9 mi as the crow flies
Kirkham Ridge 36 mi Hike · Drive there - Warm Springs Trailhead (Bull Trout) · 9.1 mi as the crow flies
Warm Springs 14 mi Hike · Drive there
All 494 trails in Boise National Forest · 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
- Elk Creek Cabins · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 2 sites
- Fir Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Banner Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
- Dagger Falls Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
- Boundary Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 5 sites
All public campgrounds in Idaho · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-01-13. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.