French Gulch Campground
French Gulch Campground provides a good "base camp" for day trips to other areas of the Red River Ranger District, with two campsites and vault toilet. This is a roomy area, with plenty of parking available. It provides public fishing access on nearby Red River. French Gulch Creek flows through the campground.
More like this: first-come in Idaho · free in Idaho · tent only in Idaho
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No Fee. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | The campground is open year-round, but might not be accessible because of snow |
| Forest | Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests |
| Fees | No Fee. |
| Rules | Garbage services not available. Pack It In, Pack It Out. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 45.7796° N, 115.3871° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Blue Horse Rrrd
2 mi from the campground · 20 acres
- PrescribedRx Sad/Horse/Island Piles - Mcrd
17 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRx Doc Denny - Srrd
29 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRx D4 Wilderness Corridor Hand Piles
33 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Rae Bros. Sporting Goods ↗ | 36.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
French Gulch Camping fragment aaaiwv
Worth a stop
- 8.9 miFlint Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miPorters ↗14.1 mi trail
- 1.5 miBlue Ribbon Mine ↗5.8 mi trail
- 1.6 miAltemont ↗6.2 mi trail
- 1.7 miFrench Gulch ↗12 mi trail
- 2 miRed Horseunder 0.1 mi trail
- 2.1 miRed Horse Ridge2.7 mi trail
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
This campground sits inside Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest.
- inNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 4,072,795 acres
- 13.2 miGospel-Hump Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 205,395 acres
- 14 miSelway-Bitterroot Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 1,347,644 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Gold Point MillBuilding · Elk City · 0.4 mi
- Meinert Ranch CabinBuilding · Elk City · 7.9 mi
- Elk City Wagon Road-Vicory Gulch–Smith Grade SegmentSite · Elk City · 11.2 mi
Guidebooks for Idaho
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at French Gulch Campground?
No. French Gulch Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at French Gulch Campground?
Nothing. French Gulch Campground is listed as free. No Fee.
Source: Forest Service
Is French Gulch Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season The campground is open year-round, but might not be accessible because of snow.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to French Gulch Campground?
French Gulch Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if French Gulch Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Trapper Creek Camp Area (7.6 mi, first-come), Five Mile Campground (8.4 mi, first-come), and Orogrande Campground #1 And #2 (9.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby