Spring Bar Campground
A popular take-out point for floaters of the Salmon River, the Spring Bar Campground offers a boat launching ramp and 18 tent campsites. A table and fire ring are provided at all but two of the sites. Spring Bar is situated next to a relatively flat part of the Salmon River with the south end nestled in the shade of various fruit bearing trees. The surrounding area also provides for fishing, swimming, berry picking, and exploring. Wheelchair accessible picnic facilities are available at Allison Creek, to the west, and Riggins Hot Springs (not public lands) are across the river just west of the campground. No trailer hookups or RV dumps provided.
More like this: first-come in Idaho
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | The campground is open year-round, but might not be accessible because of snow |
| Forest | Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests |
| Fees | $12.00 per night. There is an additional fee of $3 for each extra vehicle. |
| Rules | This is rugged, wild country with no cell phone service. No garbage services available; Pack It In, Pack It Out |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Riggins go east 6.5 miles on Big Salmon Road then north on Forest Road 1614 for 4 miles.
| Coordinates | 45.4311° N, 116.1426° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedBrush Rx
23 mi from the campground · 150 acres
- PrescribedGoose Rx
34 mi from the campground · 529 acres
- PrescribedMeadow Marsh Rx
34 mi from the campground · 70 acres
- PrescribedCold Rx
35 mi from the campground · 1,094 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Rae Bros. Sporting Goods ↗ | 34.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 0.9 miAllison Creek Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 9.2 miBlackerby Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miVan Ridge2 mi trail
- 1.8 miKelly Mountain ↗4.5 mi trail
- 2.4 miLower Salmon River ↗5.2 mi trail
- 4.5 miGrangeville-Salmon Snow Trail ↗52.9 mi trail
- 4.9 miElkhorn Creek ↗9.3 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
This campground sits inside Payette National Forest.
- inPayette National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,407,306 acres
- 10.5 miGospel-Hump Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 205,395 acres
- 12.3 miHells Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 217,747 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
- Riggins High SchoolBuilding · Riggins · 8.4 mi
- Riggins MotelBuilding · Riggins · 8.6 mi
- Aitken BarnBuilding · Riggins · 9.2 mi
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 Spring Bar Campground?
No. Spring Bar Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Spring Bar Campground?
$12.00 per night. There is an additional fee of $3 for each extra vehicle.
Source: Forest Service
Is Spring Bar Campground 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
What if Spring Bar Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are North Fork Slate Creek Campground (14.7 mi, first-come), Jeanette (15.2 mi, first-come), and Rocky Bluff Campground (15.6 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby