U.S. Forest Service · Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests · Grangeville, ID

South Fork Group Site 5

South Fork Campground is nestled along the South Fork of Clearwater River. All standard sites are first-come, first-served, but a group site that can accommodate up to 25 people is available for reservations. South Fork Campground is well-suited to moderately-sized RVs. An abundance of recreational activities and scenic attractions are in the area.

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in Idaho · reservable in Idaho · group sites in Idaho

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
South Fork Site #5South Fork Site #5South Fork Site #5, RiverSouth Fork Group Site 5
Photos courtesy of Forest Service · Recreation.gov

Site mix

group standard area nonelectric1
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

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

SiteSurfaceShadePeople / vehicles
005PavedPartial25 / 5

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents

Each campsite has a picnic table, grill, tent pad and paved parking spur. Vault toilets are provided. Drinking water is available during the peak season only. A camp host may be on-site during the summer.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonThe campground is open year-round, but might not be accessible because of snow
ForestNez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
BookingThere is a group use site available for reservations from late May to late September.
Fees$12.00 per night. There is an additional fee of $3 for each extra vehicle.
RulesGarbage services are not available. Pack It In, Pack It Out.

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near South Fork Group Site 530°40°50°60°70°January: 1.27 inches of precipitation, 7.9 inches of snowFebruary: 1.43 inches of precipitation, 6.2 inches of snowMarch: 2.31 inches of precipitation, 6.0 inches of snowApril: 2.90 inches of precipitation, 3.2 inches of snowMay: 3.44 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowJune: 3.26 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.07 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.90 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.30 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.93 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowNovember: 1.91 inches of precipitation, 5.0 inches of snowDecember: 1.79 inches of precipitation, 9.6 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 31.2°F averageFebruary: 33.7°F averageMarch: 39.4°F averageApril: 45.1°F averageMay: 52.7°F averageJune: 58.9°F averageJuly: 67.9°F averageAugust: 67.7°F averageSeptember: 58.9°F averageOctober: 47.0°F averageNovember: 37.0°F averageDecember: 30.4°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Grangeville, 10 miles from the campground at 3,300 feet, station USC00103771 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 24 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 39 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From the Forest Service offices in Grangeville, head south on Grangeville-Salmon Road. Turn left at the drive-in theater toward the small town Mt. Idaho. Continue on the Mt. Idaho Grade toward Elk City on Highway 14. The South Fork Campground is located just past mile marker 15 on Highway 14.

Nearest townGrangeville, Idaho
Coordinates45.8303° N, 115.9719° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Rx Stray Creek Lcrd

    29 mi from the campground · 150 acres

  • Prescribed
    Rx Rescue Jensen Nfrd

    50 mi from the campground · 44 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearRae Bros. Sporting Goods ↗9.6 mi

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

Explore

  • 0.2 mi
    Castle Creek
    2.5 mi trail
  • 0.2 mi
    Castle Creek Cg Bridge Trail
    under 0.1 mi trail
  • 1.9 mi
    2009A Connector
    0.3 mi trail
  • 2.5 mi
    Hayes Creek
    2.2 mi trail
  • 2.9 mi
    Earthquake
    2.6 mi trail
  • 3.9 mi
    Frank Brown ↗
    10.6 mi trail

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

In the heart of north central Idaho, rugged peaks, deep canyons, dense forests and remote wilderness comprise the Nez Perce National Forest. Due in large part to dramatic elevational differences, the forest supports a wide variety of vegetation, from cedar groves to desert ecosystems. South Fork Campground is located in the Highway 14 Corridor. This area features forested canyons with sections of rugged granite outcroppings, as well as gently sloping lodgepole pine-covered uplands and lush wildflower meadows.

Recreation

Anglers can fish for trout, steelhead and salmon in the Clearwater River. Berry picking is popular in season.

Nearby

The campground's proximity to Highway 14 makes it easy to do a scenic drive. This picturesque route winds through changing landscapes and historic areas.

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 South Fork Group Site 5?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at South Fork Group Site 5?

$12.00 per night. There is an additional fee of $3 for each extra vehicle.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at South Fork Group Site 5?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is South Fork Group Site 5 open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season The campground is open year-round, but might not be accessible because of snow.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does South Fork Group Site 5 have?

1 site, including 1 group standard area nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to South Fork Group Site 5?

South Fork Group Site 5 is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at South Fork Group Site 5?

Anglers can fish for trout, steelhead and salmon in the Clearwater River. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to South Fork Group Site 5?

Grangeville, Idaho. The campground's proximity to Highway 14 makes it easy to do a scenic drive.

Source: Getting there

What if South Fork Group Site 5 is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Castle Creek Campground (0.1 mi, first-come), Fish Creek Group Use (5.4 mi), and Rocky Bluff Campground (13.5 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby