USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Elk Creek Campground (Clearwater NF)
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Sites
- 13
- Hookups
- 13 electric
- Season
- May 18 to October 3
- Max RV length
- 40 ft
- Drinking water
- No
- Elevation
- 2,828 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
- ELK BUTTE (NFSR 3311) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
- Nearest town
- POTLATCH
- Address
- 1700 HIGHWAY 6, POTLATCH, ID, 83855
- Phone
- 208-875-1131
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Wildlife Viewing
6 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 26° | -14° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 38° | 26° | -10° | 50° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 45° | 28° | 11° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 50° | 33° | 18° | 75° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 62° | 44° | 33° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 49° | 40° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 86° | 60° | 47° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 86° | 59° | 50° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 72° | 52° | 41° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 57° | 41° | 32° | 76° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 45° | 33° | 10° | 64° | 8 of 10 |
| December | 36° | 26° | 12° | 51° | 9 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
- Partridge Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Upper Basin Camp · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Dent Acres · Army Corps of Engineers · 12 mi · 52 sites
- Moose Creek Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 13 mi
- Little Boulder Campground · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi
All public campgrounds in Idaho · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.