Still looking for a Memorial Day weekend campsite? Here’s what’s open in Idaho forests
Though Boise has settled into summer temperatures in recent weeks, it wasn’t long ago that Idaho was experiencing an unusually cold, wet spring. In the mountains — where temperatures are still about 20 degrees cooler than in the Treasure Valley — that meant inches upon inches of snow into late April.
Snowpack data shows snow levels are still above average in the mountains surrounding Boise. In the Boise basin, the snow water equivalent is 126% of normal, while in the McCall area it is about 108% of normal. In the Sawtooths, snow levels are between 146% and 193% of normal.
With Memorial Day weekend just days away, camping season is here. Dozens of campgrounds are open, but some some remain inaccessible due to snow — including several campsites that in past years have been open by Memorial Day weekend. U.S. Forest Service officials recommend calling ahead to the ranger district in charge of a campsite if you have questions about access.
Here’s what to expect:
BOISE NATIONAL FOREST
Emmett Ranger District
▪ All campgrounds are open.
Hot Springs, Tie Creek, Trail Creek, Hardscrabble, Boiling Springs, Big Eddy, Canyon Creek, Antelope Annex, Cartwright Ridge and Hollywood do not require reservations.
▪ The Hot Springs group campsite doesn’t open until Saturday, May 27. It requires reservations, as do Rattlesnake, Peace Valley, Swinging Bridge, Cold Springs, Silver Creek, Antelope, Sage Hen Creek and Antelope campgrounds.
Cascade Ranger District, 208-382-7400
▪ All campgrounds in the Cascade Ranger District are open with the exception of Amanita Campground.
▪ Rainbow, French Creek, Picnic Point, Warm Lake and Shoreline (single and group) campgrounds take reservations. South Fork Salmon River, Penny Springs, Summit Lake, Penn Basin, Buck Mountain, Trout Creek, Ice Hole, Golden Gate and Yellow Pine campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
Idaho City Ranger District, 208-392-6681
▪ Edna Creek Campground is closed for the season for renovations. Power Plant Campground is expected to open Friday but will close July 1 for renovations. All other campgrounds are slated to open Friday.
▪ Bad Bear, Hayfork, Grayback, Ten Mile and Black Rock campgrounds require reservations. Officials noted that Black Rock may be delayed in opening due to snow.
▪ Whoop-um-up, Riverside, Queens River and Willow Creek campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
Lowman Ranger District, 208-259-3361
▪ Pine Flats, Mountain View, Park Creek, Helende and Bonneville campgrounds are open and require reservations. Little Deadwood Campground is the only open site that does not require reservations.
▪ Bull Trout, Deer Flat, Bear Valley, Fir Creek, Barney’s, Cozy Cove, Hower’s and Riverside are expected to open June 19.
▪ Kirkham Hot Springs is now a day-use only site, open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mountain Home Ranger District, 208-587-7961
▪ Curlew Creek, Pine, Castle Creek, Evans Creek, Spillway, Elks Flat, Dog Creek, Tailwaters, Cottonwood, Willow Creek, Badger Creek and Troutdale campgrounds are open. Only Dog Creek requires a reservation.
▪ Shafer Butte should open June 15, and Big Trinity Lake, Little Roaring River Lake and Big Roaring River Lake sites are scheduled to open July 15.
Payette National Forest
▪ Big Flat, Brownlee, Buckhorn Bar, Cabin Creek, Camp Creek, Cold Springs, Deadman Bar, Evergreen, Four Mile, Huckleberry, Kennally Creek, Lafferty, Lake Fork, Last Chance, Mann Creek, Ponderosa, Poverty Flat, Secesh and Spring Creek campgrounds are open.
Some sites at Cold Springs, Evergreen, Mann Creek and Spring Creek require reservations.
▪ Big Creek, Burgdorf, Chinook, Jeanette, Grouse, Hazard and Upper Payette Lake campgrounds are not yet open. The Payette National Forest did not say when those sites are expected to open.
Sawtooth National Forest
Reservation information wasn’t immediately available for the Sawtooth area. Contact the ranger district or check recreation.gov for details on individual campgrounds.
Fairfield Ranger District
▪ Abbott, Bowns and Hunter Creek Transfer campsites are closed.
▪ Chaparral, Bird Creek, Willow Creek, Willow Creek Transfer, Baumgartner, Canyon, Bear Creek Transfer and Five Points campgrounds are open. Sites 3-5 at Pioneer Campground are open.
Ketchum Ranger District
▪ Federal Gulch, Sawmill and Boundary campgrounds are open.
▪ Copper Creek/Garfield Campground is inaccessible due to snow.
▪ Dispersed camping (without campsite amenities) is available in parts of Trail Creek, Corral Creek, Deer Creek, Baker Creek and Lake Creek drainages.
Minidoka Ranger District
Albion Division
▪ Independence Lakes Campground is open.
▪ Bennett Springs, Lake Cleveland (east and west sides), Thompson Flat and Twin Lakes campgrounds are inaccessible due to snow. Forest officials noted the gate beyond Pomerelle ski area is locked.
Cassia Division
▪ Bear Gulch, Bostetter, Diamondfield Jack, Father and Sons, Lower Penstemon, Pettit, Porcupine Springs, Schipper, Third Fork and Upper Penstemon campgrounds are all open.
Raft River Division
▪ Clear Creek Campground is open.
Sublett Division
▪ Mill Flat and Sublett campgrounds are open
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Alturas Lake and Pettit Lake Areas
▪ Alturas Inlet, Chemeketan and Yellowbelly Lake campgrounds are closed and inaccessible due to snow.
▪ North Shore, Perkins Lake and Smokey Bear campgrounds are closed and inaccessible due to a rock slide.
▪ Pettit Lake Campground is open. Sites are first-come, first-served.
Redfish Lake Recreation Complex
▪ Chinook Bay, Glacier View, Mountain View, Mt. Heyburn, Outlet, Point, Sockeye and Sunny Gulch campgrounds are all open. Mountain View is without running water.
▪ Redfish Inlet Campground is open if the Redfish Boat Shuttle is operating.
Salmon River Area
▪ Casino Creek, Holman Creek, Lower and Upper O’Brien, Mormon Bend, Salmon River and Whiskey Flats campgrounds are open.
▪ Riverside Campground is closed.
Stanley Lake and Idaho 21
▪ Elk Creek, Grandjean, Sheep Trail, Stanley Lake and Trap Creek campgrounds are open.
▪ Iron Creek Campground is inaccessible due to snow.
Wood River Valley Area
▪ Caribou and Murdock campgrounds are fully open.
▪ Easley Campground is open, but some sites are closed due to flooding. Sites 1-19 at North Fork Campground are also closed due to flooding. The front loop of Wood River Campground is open.
