U.S. Forest Service · Caribou-Targhee National Forest · Pocatello, ID

Mink Creek Group Site Campground

Mink Creek Group Site Campground is located just 12 miles south of Pocatello, Idaho, along the Bannock Highway. The Mink Creek area is a popular area for birding and wildlife viewing, with many miles of multi-use trails waiting to be explored.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov1 site50 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in Idaho · big rigs in Idaho · pets allowed in Idaho · group sites in Idaho

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Mink Creek pavilion and viewThe view of Mink Creek from the roadMink Creek sign and viewThe sign alerting drivers to Mink Creek's entrance
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group sites1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
1Pull-through50GravelPartial200 / 45YesYes

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

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length50 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySite 1 is listed accessible

The campground offers one large accessible group site that can accommodate up to 200 people. The site contains a 40x80-foot picnic pavilion with concrete base, large paved parking area, 12 large picnic tables, two serving tables and a large fire ring, two accessible vault toilets and four potable water hydrants. The pavilion has two electrical outlets and night lighting. The road to the campground is paved, allowing easy access for RVs and cars. Security is provided by a locked entrance gate, area campground hosts and periodic county sheriff patrols. Remember that site check-in time is 2:00 pm on the day of your reservation and check-out time is noon of the following day. Mink Creek Group Site is managed by Pinnacle Parks Llc under a special use permit with the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMay 26 to Sept. 9
ForestCaribou-Targhee National Forest
BookingThis 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 http://www.recreation.gov
FeesFor current fees, please go to Recreation.gov
RulesATV's or ORV's are allowed on designated trails only. No ATV riding in the campground. Vehicles and RV's must park in developed parking lot only.

Caribou-Targhee National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Mink Creek Group Site Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 1.08 inches of precipitation, 5.5 inches of snowFebruary: 0.95 inches of precipitation, 6.7 inches of snowMarch: 1.31 inches of precipitation, 3.3 inches of snowApril: 1.42 inches of precipitation, 1.4 inches of snowMay: 1.46 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowJune: 1.16 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.55 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.85 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.02 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.04 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowNovember: 0.96 inches of precipitation, 2.9 inches of snowDecember: 1.17 inches of precipitation, 9.1 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 28.6°F averageFebruary: 31.3°F averageMarch: 41.5°F averageApril: 48.7°F averageMay: 57.4°F averageJune: 66.0°F averageJuly: 74.8°F averageAugust: 72.7°F averageSeptember: 63.6°F averageOctober: 50.8°F averageNovember: 37.9°F averageDecember: 28.5°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Pocatello City, 10 miles from the campground at 4,460 feet, station USC00107210 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 13 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 30 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, May 26 to September 9.

Getting there

Take exit 63 off I-15 just south of Pocatello. Follow the brown "Mink Creek Recreation Area" signs to Bannock Highway for 2 miles, then turn left up Mink Creek Canyon. Go 7 miles south on Bannock Highway, past Bannock Guard Station, to the campground.

Nearest townPocatello, Idaho
Coordinates42.7286° N, 112.4172° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Firewood is not provided and is not available on site for gathering.
  • Garbage service is not provided.

Supplies & services

Dump stationPocatello's public and free dump station and drinking water ↗8.4 mi
Outdoor gearPocatello Running Company ↗9.4 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗53.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

Cherry Springs Nature Area is nearby, with its pretty namesake spring, a stream for fishing, paved self-guided nature trails and picnic facilities. Mink Creek Nordic Center is also nearby, with hiking and horseback riding trails in summer months and groomed cross-country ski trails in the winter.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.4 mi
    Valve House--Ptma
    4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 0.4 mi
    Slate Mt-Valvehouse Connector
    1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 0.4 mi
    West Fork Mink Creek
    3.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Transmission Line Trail
    1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 0.6 mi
    Slate Mountain ↗
    7.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 0.6 mi
    Chimmey Creek
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is situated along Mink Creek in the scenic Bannock Mountain Range of southeastern Idaho. A grove of ponderosa pines borders one side of the site, offering partial shade. Aspens and pines dot the surrounding mountainsides. A wide variety of birds can be found in the area, including the Western Scrub-Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Bushtit, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Mountain Bluebird and Green-tailed and Spotted Towhees and Calliope Hummingbirds.

Recreation

The West Fork Mink Creek Trail begins just outside the campground and is popular with hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. Additional trails including Corral Creek Trail and Valve House Trail are in the vicinity.

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 Mink Creek Group Site Campground?

Sites at Mink Creek Group Site Campground 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 http://www.recreation.gov Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Mink Creek Group Site Campground?

For current fees, please go to Recreation.gov

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Mink Creek Group Site Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Mink Creek Group Site Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 26 to Sept. 9.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Mink Creek Group Site Campground have?

1 site, including 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Mink Creek Group Site Campground?

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 Mink Creek Group Site Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Mink Creek Group Site Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Mink Creek Group Site Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. ATV's or ORV's are allowed on designated trails only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Mink Creek Group Site Campground?

Site 1 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 Mink Creek Group Site Campground?

The West Fork Mink Creek Trail begins just outside the campground and is popular with hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Mink Creek Group Site Campground?

Pocatello, Idaho. Cherry Springs Nature Area is nearby, with its pretty namesake spring, a stream for fishing, paved self-guided nature trails and picnic facilities.

Source: Getting there

What if Mink Creek Group Site Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Scout Mountain Campground (3.9 mi, partly first-come), Goodenough Creek Campground (8.4 mi, first-come), and Hawkins Reservoir Campground (15.6 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby