Elk Creek Campground
Elk Creek Campground lies just off Highway 21 in a beautiful valley at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountain Range in central Idaho.
More like this: reservable in Idaho · big rigs 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 40 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 | Pull-through | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 40 / 8 | 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 | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
This small campground offers one group site that consists of three smaller sites. Campers must walk a few yards from parking area to campsites. Vault toilets area provided. The road to the site and the parking spur within are paved.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Stanley, Idaho, take State Highway 21 west approximately 8 miles. Turn north at milepost 123 onto Forest Road 892 and follow the road to the campground.
| Coordinates | 44.2889° N, 115.0319° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- If the group site is not reserved, the individual sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Lowman Wui
25 mi from the campground
- PrescribedParadise Rx
41 mi from the campground
- PrescribedBartlett Creek Rx
49 mi from the campground · 2,000 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Worth a stop
Numerous sparkling lakes and streams, including the Salmon River, dot the area, making for great rainbow and native Westslope cutthroat trout fishing. Stanley and Redfish Lakes are nearby with great boating, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and even more fishing. Popular area events include an Arts and Crafts Fair in July, and Wagon Days, Salmon Festival, Quilt Fair and Fireman's Ball in September.
- 2 miElk Meadow Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 3.3 miStanley Lake Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 11.7 miOrval Hansen Point Beach ↗Swimming
- 12 miSandy Beach Boat Ramp - Day Use Location ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miLupine Loop Ski0.6 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.5 miShooting Star Ski1.6 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.5 miSkyrocket Trail Ski2.4 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.7 miCamas Trail Ski1.1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.1 miLarkspur Trail Ski2 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.1 miElk Meadow - Park Creek4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
Trailheads within three miles
- 2 miElk Meadow Trailhead ↗Sawtooth 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 Boise National Forest.
- inBoise National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,526,862 acres
- 0.3 miSawtooth National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,190,139 acres
- 8.3 miSalmon-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
- Ivan W. Day HouseBuilding · Stanley · 4.2 mi
- Stanley Ranger StationBuilding · Stanley · 6.7 mi
- Niece Brothers' StoreBuilding · Stanley · 6.8 mi
Natural features
Summer wildflowers are plentiful and lodgepole pines provide partial shade. Elk Creek is nearby. Temperatures are cool, with an average summer high of 78 degrees and a low of 40 degrees.
Recreation
Elk Creek is situated in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. A myriad of excellent hiking and biking opportunities are available, with an estimated 750 miles of trails crisscrossing the valley and surrounding mountains, including the Idaho Centennial Trail, which passes nearby. Expansive and scenic Elk Meadow is near the campground, providing a great location for bird and wildlife watching.
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 Elk Creek Campground?
Sites at Elk Creek Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Elk Creek Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Elk Creek Campground have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Elk Creek Campground?
The longest site here provides 40 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 Elk Creek 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.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Elk Creek Campground?
Elk Creek is situated in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Elk Creek Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Sheep Trail Campground (1.7 mi), Lake View Campground (3 mi, first-come), and Stanley Lake Campground (3 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby