Herd Lake Campground
Herd Lake Campsite is adjacent to Jerry Peak-Jim McClure Wilderness. There is one (1) first come, first served campsite located 10 miles southeast of the East Fork Road on Herd Lake Road. The site is located about 1 mile north of Herd Lake, tucked down below the road and next to Herd Creek. The access road to the campsite is narrow with limited turn-around space. Use caution with trailers. A trail provides non-motorized access to the lake. Amenities include: 1 campsite with picnic table and fire ring, 1 vault toilet, trailhead to Herd Lake. This site has limited cell service and no potable water.
More like this: first-come in Idaho
Amenities & rules
| Fees | Camping Fee: Free, Stay limit: 14 days. |
| Stay limit | 14 Days |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Challis, go 18 miles southwest on US 93 and ID 75, then 16 miles southeast on East Fork Road (Forest Road 120) and Herd Creek Road.
| Nearest town | Challis, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 44.0949° N, 114.1817° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedBartlett Creek Rx
14 mi from the campground · 2,000 acres
- PrescribedParadise Rx
44 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 29.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 11.4 miJimmy Smith Lake Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 13.4 miSquib Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 2.6 miLake Basin-Hells Canyon3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.1 miToolbox-Herd Creek ↗16.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3.1 miSage Brush ↗4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3.3 miMcDonald Taylor ↗7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3.6 miWest Fork Herd Creek ↗7.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 4.9 miLake Basin Cutoff0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
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 Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness, which overlaps Sawtooth National Forest.
- inJim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 116,843 acres
- inSawtooth National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,190,139 acres
- 14.5 miHemingway-Boulders Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 67,993 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
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 Herd Lake Campground?
No. Herd Lake Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: How first-come camping works
How much does it cost to camp at Herd Lake Campground?
Camping Fee: Free, Stay limit: 14 days.
How long can I stay at Herd Lake Campground?
14 Days
What is the nearest town to Herd Lake Campground?
Challis, Idaho.
Source: Getting there
What if Herd Lake Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Garden Creek Campground (10 mi, first-come), Phi Kappa Campground (16.3 mi, first-come), and Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area (17.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby