Saved Account Join
A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service campground

Elk Creek Campground (Clearwater Nf)

Forest Service campground in Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Clearwater County, Idaho. About 3,000 feet. 0.7 miles from Elk River.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
Elevation
About 3,000 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
13 13 standard electric
Longest rig
40 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Clearwater County

Overview

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.

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.

Facilities

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.

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.

Nearby Attractions

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.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Elk Creek Campground (Clearwater Nf)

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

Join Overlanding Life
Saved Account

Start with a region

Browse the directory