Big Creek
Located next to the Big Creek airstrip this four unit campground offers a good staging place to access the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. It is popular with pilots camping overnight in Big Creek. The campground is near the Big Creek Work Station. The four walk-in campsites are near a small stream, which flows into Big Creek.
Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.
More like this: first-come in Idaho · pets allowed in Idaho
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 4 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Facilities include an accessible toilet and drinking water. Pack in/pack out. No hook-ups.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Payette National Forest |
| Fees | $10 single units. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Yellow Pine, go 18 miles northeast on Forest Road 412, FR 340, and FR 371. Eighty-six miles northeast of McCall on Big Creek Road (#371).
| Coordinates | 45.1276° N, 115.3231° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMeadow Marsh Rx
39 mi from the campground · 70 acres
- PrescribedGoose Rx
44 mi from the campground · 529 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Video
BIG CREEK CAMPGROUND REVIEW / SECLUDED NATIONAL FOREST CAMPING
Trails nearby
- 1.8 miGolden Cup Mine East Fork0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 1.8 miGolden Cup Mine4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 2 miCougar Basin ↗14.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.1 miBig Creek ↗34.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.9 miNorth Fk Logan Creek1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 3.7 miSmith Creek Krassel ↗4.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.8 miLick Creek Trailhead ↗Payette National Forest
- 2.1 miBig Creek/Smith Creek Trailhead ↗Payette National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, which overlaps Payette National Forest.
- inFrank Church-River of No Return Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 2,358,886 acres
- inPayette National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,407,306 acres
- inSalmon-Challis National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 4,396,382 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Big Creek CommissaryBuilding · Big Creek · 0.7 mi
- Ah Toy GardenSite · Warren · 12.9 mi
- Chi-Sandra GardenSite · Warren · 13.2 mi
Recreation
Trailhead access to the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness to the north on FR 371. Fishing in Big Creek.
Guidebooks for Idaho
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Big Creek?
No. Big Creek is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Big Creek?
$10 single units.
Source: Forest Service
What time is check-in at Big Creek?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Forest Service
Is Big Creek open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Big Creek have?
5 sites, including 4 standard sites without power.
Source: Forest Service
Are pets allowed at Big Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Big Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Forest Service
Can I have a campfire at Big Creek?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Big Creek?
Trailhead access to the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness to the north on FR 371. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Big Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Shiefer Campground (12.9 mi, first-come), Yellow Pine Campground (14.7 mi), and Golden Gate Campground (15.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby