U.S. Forest Service · Payette National Forest · Idaho

Buckhorn Bar

Located alongside the South Fork Salmon River, Buckhorn Bar Campground has 9 campsites, and an additional four walk-in, tent only sites.

Closed for the seasonFirst-come, first-served12 sitesPets ok

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

Buckhorn BarDouble walk-in campsite at River Loop adjacent to the South Fork of the Salmon River.Campsite in forested setting with pedestal grill, fire pit and picnic table.Campsite with picnic table, pedestal grill and fire ring.
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
Meadow Marsh Rx (prescribed burn) · 17 mi away · 70 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups10
Host/management2
No reservations, so arrive before checkout on a weekday, usually 11 a.m. to noon, and take what is open. In season, weekends fill by Thursday. The first-come playbook

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed

There are nine campground units, four walk-in sites with tables, fire rings, grills, handicapped accessible toilets and drinking water.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestPayette National Forest
BookingNo reserveable sites.
Fees$10/night for single units; $15/night for double unit.

Payette National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Buckhorn Bar20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 2.69 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.97 inches of precipitationMarch: 2.67 inches of precipitationApril: 2.10 inches of precipitationMay: 1.79 inches of precipitationJune: 2.13 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.91 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.71 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.33 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.05 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.72 inches of precipitationDecember: 2.97 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 24.2°F averageFebruary: 28.2°F averageMarch: 34.6°F averageApril: 42.3°F averageMay: 49.7°F averageJune: 57.7°F averageJuly: 65.8°F averageAugust: 65.5°F averageSeptember: 56.8°F averageOctober: 44.7°F averageNovember: 32.5°F averageDecember: 24.1°F average0 in1 in2 in3 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Yellowpine, 12 miles from the campground at 5,050 feet, station USC00109950 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 24 inches a year.

Getting there

Eight miles south of the confluence of the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River on the South Fork of the Salmon River Road. From McCall, go 30 miles northeast on Forest Road 48, then 7.5 miles south on FR 674; or access via Warm Lake Road just north of Cascade and then down the South Fork of the Salmon River road.

Coordinates44.9371° N, 115.7386° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Meadow Marsh Rx

    17 mi from the campground · 70 acres

  • Prescribed
    Goose Rx

    22 mi from the campground · 529 acres

  • Prescribed
    Mill Creek Council Mtn Rx

    29 mi from the campground · 1,817 acres

  • Prescribed
    Brush Rx

    34 mi from the campground · 150 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Explore

Video

A Video Tour of Buckhorn Bar Campground on the South Fork of the Salmon River

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

Trailheads within three miles

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Payette National Forest.

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.

Recreation

Fishing and rafting in the South Fork of the Salmon River.

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 Buckhorn Bar?

No. Buckhorn Bar is first-come, first-served. No reserveable sites. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Buckhorn Bar?

$10/night for single units; $15/night for double unit.

Source: Forest Service

What time is check-in at Buckhorn Bar?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Forest Service

Is Buckhorn Bar open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Buckhorn Bar have?

12 sites, including 10 standard sites without power.

Source: Forest Service

Are pets allowed at Buckhorn Bar?

Yes, pets are allowed at Buckhorn Bar. Leash rules apply.

Source: Forest Service

What if Buckhorn Bar is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Camp Creek (3.5 mi, first-come), Deadman Bar Camping Area (4.2 mi, first-come), and Indian Point Camping Area (5.4 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby