Porcupine
Porcupine Campground is situated on St. Charles Creek in a scenic canyon in the rolling Idaho forests. The campground is also close to Bear Lake State Park and North Beach, offering visitors countless recreational opportunities in a serene forest setting.
More like this: reservable in Idaho · group sites in Idaho
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 16 |
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 32 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
17 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Group | Back-in | 32 | Paved | Partial | 20 / 6 | Yes | |
| 13 | 1 | Standard | Pull-through | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 14 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 15 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 16 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 17 | 1 | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Paved | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 1 | 2 | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Paved | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 3 | 2 | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 4 | 2 | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 5 | 2 | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | 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 | 32 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers six family sites, as well as one group site that can accommodate up to 20 people. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Roads to and within the campground are paved.
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 | 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 |
| Fees | For current fees, please go to Recreation.gov |
Weather by month
Getting there
From U.S. Highway 89, turn west onto St. Charles Canyon Road/Forest Road 412. Follow for approximately 7 miles to the campground on the left side of the road.
| Nearest town | Duck Creek, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 42.0950° N, 111.5194° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Beaver Mountain Rental Shop ↗ | 8.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 14.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 18.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Porcupine Restcamp Campsite Review
Worth a stop
Minnetonka Cave, one of only two developed caves in the Forest Service, is 2 miles from the campground. Guided cave tours are scheduled every 30 minutes daily from approximately early June until Labor Day. The Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge is just north of Bear Lake, offering excellent bird watching. Bear Lake's Raspberry Days Festival occurs the first weekend in August every year, with a parade, fireworks, craft booths and a rodeo.
- 6.2 miParis Peak Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miPorcupine1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miMinnetonka0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miNorth Fork St. Charles4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.9 miMiddle Fk. St. Charles2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miDavis Canyon1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.8 miMaple Springs2.7 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
Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge begins about 8.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 8.5 miBear Lake National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 18,273 acres
- 12.7 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 · 6.8 mi
- Anna Nielsen Scofield HouseBuilding · Fish Haven · 7.4 mi
- Cole HouseBuilding · Paris · 10.1 mi
Natural features
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest occupies more than 3 million acres and stretches across southeastern Idaho, from the Montana, Utah and Wyoming borders. The forest is also home to the Curlew National Grassland, and on the northern end of the forest the massive profile of the Teton Range can be seen. Pines and aspens forest the area, providing partial shade, and summer wildflowers dot the landscape. St. Charles Creek flows gently past the campground.
Recreation
Nearby, the North Fork Trail and its associated trails access the Highline Trail #316. The Highline Trail is part of the National Trail System and is the Montpelier Ranger District's premier trail. It stretches 55 miles along the backbone of the Wasatch Mountains and is open to hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders and motorcyclists, attracting trail users from around the world. 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 Porcupine?
Sites at Porcupine 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 Porcupine?
For current fees, please go to Recreation.gov
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Porcupine?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Porcupine open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Porcupine have?
17 sites, including 16 standard sites without power and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Porcupine?
The longest site here provides 32 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 there showers or a dump station at Porcupine?
Flush toilets and drinking water are provided.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Porcupine?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Porcupine?
Nearby, the North Fork Trail and its associated trails access the Highline Trail #316. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Porcupine?
Duck Creek, Idaho. Minnetonka Cave, one of only two developed caves in the Forest Service, is 2 miles from the campground.
Source: Getting there
What if Porcupine is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cloverleaf Campground (0.6 mi), North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon (0.7 mi), and Davis Canyon Campground (1.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby