Calamity
Calamity Campground is located along the Snake River drainage at the north end of beautiful Palisades Reservoir at an elevation of 5,700 feet, just 55 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Visitors enjoy boating, water skiing, fishing and canoeing.
More like this: reservable in Idaho · big rigs in Idaho · pets allowed in Idaho
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 40 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
40 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-01 | A | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| A-02 | A | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| A-03 | A | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| A-04 | A | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| A-05 | A | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| A-06 | A | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| A-07 | A | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| A-08 | A | Pull-through | 50 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| A-09 | A | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| A-10 | A | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | 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 | 50 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers several campsites on three loops. All sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Some sites have a few stairs from the parking spur to the site pad. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided, but there is no electricity. Firewood is available for purchase from the host. Roads and parking spurs are gravel.
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. |
| Season | Mid May |
| Forest | Caribou-Targhee National Forest |
| Booking | This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at… |
| Fees | For current fees, please go to Recreation.gov |
| Rules | No trailers allowed in Loop C. Vehicles must be parked in developed areas only. No ATVs or ORVs allowed, except for entering and exiting the campground. A designated parking area is available next to the campground host. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Idaho Falls, Idaho, travel on Hwy. 26 for approximately 50 miles. Turn right off of Hwy. 26, (just before ascending grade to top of dam) and go ¼ mile, turn right and cross the river following signs to the campground. Distance is approximately 5 miles.
| Coordinates | 43.3278° N, 111.2150° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Mountainist ↗ | 15 mi |
| RV sales & service | Airstream of Wyoming ↗ | 21.2 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 30.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Calamity Campground - Caribou Targhee National Forest, ID
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miRed Ridge ↗10.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.5 miCalamity Cutoff1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 1.2 miRussell Creek3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miTag Alder1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.9 miYeaman Creek4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.5 miLittle Sheep2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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 Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
- inCaribou-Targhee National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,077,758 acres
- 5.2 miBridger-Teton National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,466,359 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
The campground is situated on a hillside above Palisades Reservoir, affording scenic views from many sites. A mixed forest of lodgepole pine, spruce, fir, aspen and maple trees partially shade the campground. Summer wildflowers dot the landscape.
Recreation
Palisades Reservoir offers excellent boating, water skiing, swimming and canoeing. Lake and shore fishing are very popular here as well, with wild and stocked cutthroat trout as the predominate species. Kokanee salmon, brown and Mackinaw trout can also be found. A boat ramp and large parking area are located on-site. The Palisades Creek Trail begins nearby, leading hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders to beautiful Upper Palisades Lake and expansive views of Swan Valley.
Nearby
Big Elk Creek Trail, for hiking, biking and horseback riding, begins at nearby Big Elk Campground and meanders up a beautiful canyon brimming with wildflowers, towering trees and views of the surrounding mountains. Swan Valley and the Snake River offer more great fishing and boating opportunities, as well as rafting, canoeing and numerous trails for hiking, biking, horseback and ATV riding. Fall Creek Falls is 20 miles away, and the Fall Creek area has hundreds of miles of such trails.
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 Calamity?
Sites at Calamity are reservable on Recreation.gov. This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at… Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Calamity?
For current fees, please go to Recreation.gov
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Calamity?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Calamity open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Mid May.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Calamity have?
41 sites, including 40 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Calamity?
The longest site here provides 50 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 Calamity?
Yes, pets are allowed at Calamity. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Calamity?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. No trailers allowed in Loop C.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Calamity?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, 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 Calamity?
Palisades Reservoir offers excellent boating, water skiing, swimming and canoeing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Calamity is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Riverside Park Campground (1 mi, first-come), Palisades Creek Campground (4.8 mi, first-come), and Big Elk (5 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby