Ponderosa
This campground is located adjacent to the Secesh River and offers beautiful river views. There are eleven camp sites.
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 | 10 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Pull-through | 99 | 6 / – | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
There are eleven camp sites, drinking water, fire-pits, tables, toilets, pack in/pack out. Please pack out your own trash. 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 McCall, go 31 miles northeast on Lick Creek Road #48. The South Fork corridor is about 30 miles from Cascade along the Warm Lake Highway. Usually by July, Lick Creek Pass (Road #48) is snow-free, providing a faster access from McCall (35 miles) to the South Fork corridor.
| Coordinates | 45.0621° N, 115.7586° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMeadow Marsh Rx
18 mi from the campground · 70 acres
- PrescribedGoose Rx
23 mi from the campground · 529 acres
- PrescribedBrush Rx
30 mi from the campground · 150 acres
- PrescribedMill Creek Council Mtn Rx
32 mi from the campground · 1,817 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Video
Ponderosa Campground Los Padres National Forest Big Sur Area 360 VR 4K
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miSecesh River ↗14.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.5 miCow Creek ↗9.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.6 miLoon Creek/Loon Lake ↗13.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.8 miHum Lake/North Fork Lick ↗10.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.3 miSplit Creek Lookout1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.4 miFitsum Cr. - Tie Cr. Connector2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miSecesh River Trailhead ↗Payette National Forest
- 1.5 miSplit 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 Payette National Forest.
- inPayette National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,407,306 acres
- 4.5 miFrank Church-River of No Return Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 2,358,886 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
- Chi-Sandra GardenSite · Warren · 14.1 mi
- Ah Toy GardenSite · Warren · 14.5 mi
- Chinese Mining Camp Archeological SiteSite · Warren · 14.7 mi
Recreation
There is fishing and trail access.
Nearby
The South Fork of the Salmon River is a highly popular area of the Forest and is one of the earlier areas to be snow-free in the spring. Several campgrounds and dispersed campsites can be found along the South Fork Road (FS Rd #674). The southern-most 7 miles of the South Fork Road are on the Boise National Forest.
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 Ponderosa?
No. Ponderosa 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 Ponderosa?
$10 single units
Source: Forest Service
What time is check-in at Ponderosa?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Forest Service
Is Ponderosa open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Ponderosa have?
11 sites, including 10 standard sites without power.
Source: Forest Service
Are pets allowed at Ponderosa?
Yes, pets are allowed at Ponderosa. Leash rules apply.
Source: Forest Service
Can I have a campfire at Ponderosa?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What if Ponderosa is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Secesh Campground (0.2 mi, first-come), Indian Point Camping Area (4 mi, first-come), and Deadman Bar Camping Area (8.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby