USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Helende
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Sites
- 10
- Hookups
- 2 with water, 10 no hookups
- Season
- May 21 to September 30
- Cost
- There is a $5 fee for vehicles entering the campground for day use.
- Max RV length
- 65 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 4,222 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- HELENDE SOUTH RIVER SPUR (NFSR 025JC) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Boise National Forest
- Nearest town
- LOWMAN
- Address
- 7359 Hwy 21, LOWMAN, ID, 83637
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Historic Sites, Hunting, Mountain Biking, Wildlife Viewing
10 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Helende Campground is located 10 miles east of Lowman, Idaho, along Highway 21 at an elevation of 4,100 feet. The South Fork Payette River lies a few hundred yards away. Visitors enjoy fishing and rafting on the river, soaking at nearby Kirkham Hot Springs and exploring the extensive Kirkham Ridge Trail.
Recreation
The South Fork Payette River offers whitewater rafting, kayaking and trout fishing. The Deadwood and Danskin River Access areas are nearby.
Popular Kirkham Hot Springs is less than 5 miles west of the campground along Highway 21. A trail with staircases leads down to the soaking pools on the riverside.
Kirkham Ridge Trail is one of the Lowman Ranger District's premier trails. It begins near Kirkham Campground and stretches through beautiful country for 35 miles, connecting with many other trails in the area. It is open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Sections of the trail are open seasonally to off-road vehicles.
Facilities
The campground contains single-family sites, all of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided.
Natural Features
The campground is situated in a dense forest of lodgepole and Ponderosa pine, which offers plentiful shade in most sites. Summer wildflowers dot the landscape. Deer and elk may be seen wandering through the area on occasion.
Nearby Attractions
Numerous natural hot springs pools can be found along the Banks-Lowman Highway, also known as the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway and Highway 21, the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway. Both byways offer scenic views, wildlife watching, historical information kiosks and several trail opportunities.
Whitewater rafting and kayaking are popular activities on the South Fork and Main Payette Rivers. Several companies in the area offer guided half and full-day trips.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36° | 18° | -1° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 37° | 22° | -5° | 50° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 44° | 28° | 11° | 59° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 46° | 30° | 17° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 58° | 35° | 28° | 76° | 6 of 11 |
| June | 73° | 48° | 30° | 88° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 87° | 57° | 44° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 87° | 57° | 45° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 74° | 48° | 38° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 58° | 36° | 12° | 77° | 6 of 10 |
| November | 48° | 29° | 0° | 66° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 36° | 17° | 2° | 50° | 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
- Kirkham · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 16 sites
- Park Creek (Idaho) · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 26 sites
- Mountain View · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 15 sites
- Warm Springs Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 2 sites
- Deadwood Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
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.