Elk Creek Campground
Elk Creek Campground offers visitors a little bit of everything. From scenic views and vistas, to attractive waterfalls and ancient foliage, the campground provides a great place to stay in the mountains of north central Idaho. Recreational opportunities abound in the area and a variety of services are located nearby.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Idaho · reservable in Idaho · big rigs in Idaho
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 13 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
13 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 |
| 002 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 |
| 003 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 |
| 004 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 |
| 005 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 |
| 006 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 |
| 007 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 |
| 008 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 |
| 009 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 |
| 010 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 |
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 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
The campground offers single-family sites for tent and RV camping, most of which are available on a first-come, first-served basis (no reservation needed). A total of 6 sites are available for advanced reservation up to four days before arrival date, at which point unreserved sites will also become first-come first-served. Electrical hookups are available at all sites including the six campsites available for advanced reservations. Parking and driving surfaces are gravel throughout the campground. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. A more rustic overflow section offers additional campsites.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests |
| Booking | The campsites are available on a first-come first-serve basis, except for 6 reservable sites. |
| Fees | Electrical hookup sites are $20.00/night |
| Rules | Camper length maximum is 30-40 feet in the campground. Garbage services not available. Pack It In, Pack It Out. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Moscow, Idaho, travel northeast on State Road 8 to Elk River. Turn north onto Forest Road 382 and then east onto Forest Road 1705. The campground is about 45 minutes from Moscow.
| Nearest town | Potlatch, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 46.7919° N, 116.1731° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Barnyard Units Nfrd
26 mi from the campground · 41 acres
- PrescribedRx Rescue Jensen Nfrd
33 mi from the campground · 44 acres
- PrescribedD4 Rx Hwy 50 Roadside Salvage
40 mi from the campground
- WildfireNugget Hill
41 mi from the campground · 35 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 33.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Hyperspud Sports ↗ | 39.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Travelland RV ↗ | 47.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Elk Creek Campground - Rio Grande National Forest
Trails nearby
- 0.7 miRock Pit1.1 mi trail
- 1.4 miTop of the World1.5 mi trail
- 1.4 miPartridge Creek3.3 mi trail
- 1.4 miRail Grade0.9 mi trail
- 1.5 miWest Fork Lindley1.4 mi trail
- 1.7 miFalls Reservoir Link3.3 mi trail
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.8 miElk Creek Falls Trailhead and Picnic Area ↗Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests · Season May
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
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest begins about 10.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.9 miNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 4,072,795 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
On the National Register nearby
- St. Joseph's Catholic ChurchBuilding · Bovill · 11.5 mi
- Bovill Opera HouseBuilding · Bovill · 11.6 mi
- Hotel BovillBuilding · Bovill · 11.6 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated in a mature pine forest in the Clearwater National Forest, next to Elk Creek, at an elevation of about 3,000 feet. The surrounding area is home to the tallest waterfall in Idaho, as well as the largest cedar tree east of the Cascade Range. Elk, deer, moose, bear and cougar make the forested country their home.
Recreation
Elk Creek and nearby Elk River Reservoir provide visitors with opportunities for fishing and other water-related recreation. Cutthroat and rainbow trout, chinook salmon and steelhead swim in the clear waters. Fishing or hunting are popular activities in the rugged and primitive landscape. Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are available on the area's many trails and forest roads. The Elk Creek Falls Trail takes hikers 3.5 miles to the tallest waterfall in the state.
Nearby
The town of Elk River is less than a mile from the campground and offers a variety of basic services, including gas, groceries, showers and fishing equipment.
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 Elk Creek Campground?
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 Elk Creek Campground?
Electrical hookup sites are $20.00/night
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Elk Creek Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Elk Creek Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Elk Creek Campground have?
13 sites, including 13 standard sites with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Elk Creek Campground?
The longest site here provides 40 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
What is there to do at Elk Creek Campground?
Elk Creek and nearby Elk River Reservoir provide visitors with opportunities for fishing and other water-related recreation. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Elk Creek Campground?
Potlatch, Idaho. The town of Elk River is less than a mile from the campground and offers a variety of basic services, including gas, groceries, showers and fishing equipment.
Source: Getting there
What if Elk Creek Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Partridge Creek Campground (1.2 mi, first-come), Dent Acres (11.8 mi), and Little Boulder Campground (13.6 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby