Bureau of Land Management · Idaho
Tower Rock Campground
Bureau of Land Management · Idaho, United States
- Sites
- 12
- Hookups
- 6 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 3,766 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · AT&T good · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Salmon Field Office (BLM)
- Nearest town
- Salmon
- Address
- 1206 S Challis St, Salmon, ID, 83467
- Activities
- Birding, Boating, Camping, Day Use Area, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Non-Motorized Boating, Off Highway Vehicle Trails, Photography, Rafting, Water Activities
12 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
The Lewis & Clark Expedition camped at the Tower Rock site, along the main Salmon River. Today, the site offers prime river access for floaters and steelhead and trout anglers. Camping and picnic sites are also available, and the area makes a great stopping point for scenic drivers.
Recreation
The area surrounding the campground offers a multitude of recreation opportunities including motorized and non-motorized trails, hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Rafters and anglers often use the boat ramp to access the Salmon River.
Facilities
The campground offers single-family campsites for both RV and designated tent-only camping. Each site is equipped with accessible picnic tables and campfire rings with grills. Vault toilets, fishing platforms, picnic shelter, and boat ramp with access to the Salmon River are provided. No hookups are available at this location.
Natural Features
William Clark described the rock formation above the campground, known today as Tower Rock, as a “Clift of dark brown flint”. The Precambrian quartzite is some of the oldest rock in Idaho and can be found in the outcrops between the campground and North Fork, ID. At the nearby Tower Pirimids Day Use Area "hoodoo" type sandstone, gravel, and capstone formation can be seen near another Corps of Discovery campsite.
Contact Info
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (208) 756-5400.
Nearby Attractions
Salmon River
Tower Pirimids Day Use Area
Morgan Bar Campground
Charges & Cancellations
No changes/cancellations/refunds are allowed as all fees are paid either on-site or through the Recreation.gov Scan & Pay App.
Fees
Campsite nightly rates are $5/site and $2 per additional vehicle. Limit of one additional vehicle per campsite. Fees may be paid on-site using fee envelopes or with the Recreation.gov Scan & Pay App.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33° | 19° | -5° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 36° | 22° | -6° | 52° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 45° | 28° | 15° | 65° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 48° | 34° | 12° | 65° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 41° | 30° | 80° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 73° | 51° | 38° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 62° | 45° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 87° | 62° | 51° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 77° | 52° | 40° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 60° | 38° | 30° | 78° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 44° | 31° | -13° | 61° | 8 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 17° | -4° | 47° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Morgan Bar Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 4 mi · 16 sites
- Wallace Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
- Twin Lakes Cabin (Mt) · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi · 1 sites
- Twin Lakes Campground · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi
- Shoup Bridge Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 15 mi · 16 sites
All public campgrounds in Idaho · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.