U.S. Forest Service · Salmon-Challis National Forest · Idaho

Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area

This area serves as a base camp for climbing the tallest mountain in Idaho. It has 5 campsites, accessible vault toilet, No drinking water, safety and informational signs. Nearby areas of interest include Earthquake site and Mackay Reservoir.

Open nowFirst-come, first-served5 sitesFrom $5 per nightTents only

More like this: first-come in Idaho · tent only in Idaho

Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area
Photo from the area. Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photography (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
1fire
active
Bartlett Creek Rx (prescribed burn) · 24 mi away · 2,000 acres
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
Fees$5.00/Night for single unit

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
Season5/20
ForestSalmon-Challis National Forest
BookingNo reservations taken
Fees$5.00/Night for single unit

Salmon-Challis National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.28 inches of precipitation, 4.6 inches of snowFebruary: 0.23 inches of precipitation, 2.7 inches of snowMarch: 0.46 inches of precipitation, 1.9 inches of snowApril: 0.74 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowMay: 1.20 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowJune: 1.48 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowJuly: 0.58 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.66 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.65 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowOctober: 0.80 inches of precipitation, 0.9 inches of snowNovember: 0.44 inches of precipitation, 1.6 inches of snowDecember: 0.44 inches of precipitation, 4.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 19.0°F averageFebruary: 22.4°F averageMarch: 32.3°F averageApril: 40.3°F averageMay: 48.7°F averageJune: 56.5°F averageJuly: 64.5°F averageAugust: 62.6°F averageSeptember: 54.3°F averageOctober: 42.8°F averageNovember: 29.3°F averageDecember: 19.2°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Chilly Barton Flat, 11 miles from the campground at 6,260 feet, station USC00101671 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 8 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 18 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Coordinates44.1336° N, 113.8373° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Bartlett Creek Rx

    24 mi from the campground · 2,000 acres

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

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗31.6 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.2 mi
    Borah Peak
    2.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.3 mi
    Merriam Lake
    1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 5 mi
    Pass Lake
    1 mi trail · hiking, horse

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.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness begins about 14.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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.

Guidebooks for Idaho

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area?

No. Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area is first-come, first-served. No reservations taken Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area?

$5.00/Night for single unit

Source: Forest Service

Is Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season 5/20.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area have?

5 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area?

Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site (14.2 mi), Garden Creek Campground (15.7 mi, first-come), and Herd Lake Campground (17.3 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby