North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon
North Fork Campground is located in scenic St. Charles Canyon in southern Idaho, near Bear Lake. Visitors enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding and motorcycling on local trails, and fishing in St. Charles Creek.
More like this: reservable in Idaho · pets allowed in Idaho · group sites in Idaho
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group tent areas | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS1 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 50 / 12 | Yes | 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
| Max vehicle length | 24 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Site GS1 is listed accessible |
The campground offers an accessible group site that can accommodate a maximum of 50 guests. The group site is made up of five smaller sites. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets. 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 | May |
| Forest | Caribou-Targhee National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations can be made for the Group Tent Area - Non Electric. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov from the beginning of June to the beginning of September. |
| Fees | For current fees, please go to Recreation.gov Open after season, First Come/First Served; No fee, No Toilets, No Water |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Garden City, Utah, take Highway 89 north to St. Charles, Idaho. Drive west from St. Charles along Forest Road 412 for 8.1 miles, then turn right and follow the dirt road a short distance to the campground.
| Nearest town | Duck Creek, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 42.0961° N, 111.5331° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Beaver Mountain Rental Shop ↗ | 8.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 14.8 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 17.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Minnetonka Cave is a short distance from the campground. Scenic Canyons offers guided, 90-minute tours through the nine-room cave with formations called the Bride and Groom, Three Sisters and Devil's Kingdom. The cave temperature is 40 degrees and the path through it includes 444 steps. Tickets must be purchased at the cave entrance. Bear Lake's North Beach is 12 miles from the campground, offering swimming and fishing opportunities on one of the Inter-mountain West's largest natural lakes. Bear Lake State Park Marina is 20 miles from the campground, with a seven-lane boat ramp, boat rentals, slips, a snack bar and general store.
- 6 miParis Peak Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 14.9 miTony Grove Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miNorth Fork St. Charles4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.5 miMiddle Fk. St. Charles2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miPorcupine1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miMinnetonka0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miChurch Hollow2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.8 miSnowslide3.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 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
Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge begins about 9.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 9.1 miBear Lake National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 18,273 acres
- 12.4 miMount Naomi Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 44,572 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
- Wilhelmina Nelson House and CabinsBuilding · St. Charles · 7.5 mi
- Anna Nielsen Scofield HouseBuilding · Fish Haven · 8.1 mi
- Cole HouseBuilding · Paris · 10.4 mi
Natural features
A dense, mixed growth conifer forest covers the campground. St. Charles Creek flows gently through the site.
Recreation
North Fork Trail, which has a trailhead within the campground, is open to motorcycles, horses, hikers and mountain bikers and connects with the Highline Trail, a 55-mile path along the backbone of the surrounding Wasatch Mountains. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game manages the river fisheries, providing excellent fishing most of the year, including in St. Charles Creek. In-season big game hunting is also a popular activity.
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 North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon?
Sites at North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made for the Group Tent Area - Non Electric. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon?
For current fees, please go to Recreation.gov Open after season, First Come/First Served; No fee, No Toilets, No Water
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon have?
1 site, including 1 group tent area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon?
The longest site here provides 24 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 North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon?
Yes, pets are allowed at North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon?
Site GS1 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon?
North Fork Trail, which has a trailhead within the campground, is open to motorcycles, horses, hikers and mountain bikers and connects with the Highline Trail, a 55-mile path along the backbone of the surrounding Wasatch Mountains. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon?
Duck Creek, Idaho. Minnetonka Cave is a short distance from the campground.
Source: Getting there
What if North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cloverleaf Campground (0.1 mi), Porcupine (0.7 mi), and Davis Canyon Campground (2.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby