Chemeketan Campground
Chemeketan Campground sits near the headwaters of the Salmon River, at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountain Range.
More like this: reservable in Idaho · group sites in Idaho
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 150 / 75 | 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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 30 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
This campground is reached via dirt road, however visitors must ford a stream before reaching the site. Trucks, RVs and cars with higher clearance should have no trouble crossing the stream. The campground offers one group site than can accommodate up to 150 people. Vault toilets, tables and grills are provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | June to September |
| Forest | Sawtooth National Forest |
| Fees | Sawtooth NRA Camping Fees and Information |
| Rules | Maximum of 75 vehicles allowed at this site. Pets must be on a leash. All occupancy (includes developed/dispersed camping, boats, boat trailers, travel trailers, tents, etc): Occupancy limit is 10 days in a 30 day period within a 30 mile radius for all of SNRA. Campsites must be occupied the first night, and cannot be left unattended for more than 24 hours. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Stanley, Idaho, take Highway 75 south. Turn southwest off highway onto a dirt road located between mile markers 163 and 162. The campground is located 4 miles beyond the turnoff. Fording a stream is necessary to access the campground.
| Nearest town | Stanley, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 43.8475° N, 114.7567° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- If it is not reserved, it is available as a group site or individual sites on a first come, first served basis.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedParadise Rx
11 mi from the campground
- PrescribedBartlett Creek Rx
28 mi from the campground · 2,000 acres
- PrescribedRx Lowman Wui
39 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Video
Video of Chemeketan Campground, ID from Alex S.
Worth a stop
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area offers a myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities, and an estimated 750 miles of trails crisscross the valley and surrounding mountains. Popular area events include an Arts and Crafts Fair in July, and Wagon Days, Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair and Fireman's Ball in September.
- 5.9 miTwin Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6 miGladiator Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10.8 miPettit Lake Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miMule Creek ↗10 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 2.6 miTitus Lake ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.7 miOld Toll Road Trail3.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miBig Smoky ↗17.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3.3 miCorrals ATV Trail ↗7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3.6 miCut-Off Connector0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
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 Sawtooth National Forest.
- inSawtooth National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,190,139 acres
- 8.1 miHemingway-Boulders Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 67,993 acres
- 8.3 miSawtooth Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 217,511 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
Natural features
Chemeketan is a secluded, peaceful campground situated among lodgepole pines, which provide partial shade. Rugged peaks of the Sawtooth Range surround the area and the Salmon River flows at the campground's edge. Temperatures are cool, with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.
Recreation
This site is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where outdoor activities abound. The Salmon River offers excellent fishing for rainbow trout, westslope cutthroat trout and occasional hybrid cutbows and bull trout. The Idaho Centennial Trail can be easily accessed nearby. Alturas, Perkins, Pettit and Yellowbelly Lakes are nearby, with fishing, canoeing and hiking.
Guidebooks for Idaho
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Chemeketan Campground?
Sites at Chemeketan Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Chemeketan Campground?
Sawtooth NRA Camping Fees and Information
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Chemeketan Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Chemeketan Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season June to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Chemeketan Campground have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Chemeketan Campground?
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Can I have a campfire at Chemeketan Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Maximum of 75 vehicles allowed at this site.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Chemeketan Campground?
This site is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where outdoor activities abound. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Chemeketan Campground?
Stanley, Idaho. The Sawtooth National Recreation Area offers a myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities, and an estimated 750 miles of trails crisscross the valley and surrounding mountains.
Source: Getting there
What if Chemeketan Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Smokey Bear Campground (7.2 mi, first-come), Alturas Lake Inlet (7.3 mi), and North Shore Campground (7.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby