French Creek
French Creek Campground is located next to scenic Lake Cascade in west-central Idaho. It is near the town of Donnelly, at an elevation of 4,850 feet. Boating, fishing, swimming and hiking are popular activities in this scenic region.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Idaho · reservable in Idaho · big rigs in Idaho · pets allowed in Idaho
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 21 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
21 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | FREN | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 002 | FREN | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 003 | FREN | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 004 | FREN | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 005 | FREN | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 006 | FREN | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 007 | FREN | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 008 | FREN | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 009 | UP | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 010 | UP | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
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 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
The campground is divided into two sections of campsites. Some are located on the east side of West Mountain Road, closer to the lakeshore and with beautiful lake views. Other sites are on the west side of the road, on a hillside above the lake. A few of these sites have partial lake views. Some also have stairs from the parking spur to the campsite. Campsites are equipped with a table and campfire ring. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided, but there is no electricity at the campground. Roads and parking spurs within the facility are gravel.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | Mid-May to Mid-September |
| Forest | Boise National Forest |
| Booking | This is a fee campground with 21 sites, with some sites on a first come, first serve basis. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Boise, Idaho, travel north on Highway 55 for 85 miles to Cascade. Turn west on Old State Highway and go a half-mile to Lakeshore Drive. Turn south and travel 3 miles to West Mountain Road. Turn west and follow the road 5 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Cascade, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 44.5283° N, 116.1083° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMill Creek Council Mtn Rx
23 mi from the campground · 1,817 acres
- PrescribedMeadow Marsh Rx
28 mi from the campground · 70 acres
- PrescribedGoose Rx
29 mi from the campground · 529 acres
- PrescribedCold Rx
35 mi from the campground · 1,094 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Video
French Creek State Park - Tour and Best Campsites
Worth a stop
- 2.9 miSkein Lake Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 3.9 miWillow Creek Trailhead (Cascade) ↗Trailhead
- 13.9 miSage Hen Creek Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 14 miAntelope Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 1.3 miCampbell Creek3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miVan Wyck1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.5 miAnderson Creek ↗12.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowmobile and 2 more
- 2.8 miWilson Creek ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miWilson Creek2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.9 miSkein Lake1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.9 miSkein Lake Trailhead ↗Boise 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
Boise National Forest begins about 6.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 6.3 miBoise National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,526,862 acres
- 6.8 miPayette National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,407,306 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
- Indian Mountain Fire LookoutBuilding · Council · 8.5 mi
- North Fork Payette River BridgeStructure · Smiths Ferry · 14.2 mi
- Jacob and Herman Mahala HomesteadBuilding · Donnelly · 14.4 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated on the western shore of Lake Cascade and on the banks of French Creek. A forest of mixed conifers covers the campground, providing ample shade. Thimbleberry and huckleberry plants are abundant throughout the upper reaches of the campground. A wide variety of wildlife makes its home around the lake. Waterfowl and songbirds are abundant, as well as pelicans and bald eagles.
Recreation
Lake Cascade offers excellent opportunities for boating, water skiing, canoeing, windsurfing and sailing. Anglers enjoy casting for rainbow trout, coho salmon, smallmouth bass and perch. Many hiking and biking trails are in the area as well.
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 French Creek?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at French Creek?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does French Creek have?
21 sites, including 21 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at French Creek?
The longest site here provides 45 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
Are pets allowed at French Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at French Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at French Creek?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at French Creek?
Lake Cascade offers excellent opportunities for boating, water skiing, canoeing, windsurfing and sailing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to French Creek?
Cascade, Idaho.
Source: Getting there
What if French Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Big Flat (7.7 mi, first-come), Cabin Creek (11.9 mi, first-come), and Amanita (12 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby