Big Eddy Campground
Big Eddy Campground is located approximately 15 miles north of Banks, Idaho, just off Highway 55 at an elevation of 4,000 feet. The North Fork Payette River flows next to the highway, where whitewater rafting and kayaking are popular activities. Big Eddy used to be a water stop for the old steam engines. The foundation of the old water tower can still be seen across the river. Big Eddy Campground is one of 4 campgrounds that lie along State Highway 55, on the North Fork of the Payette River between Banks and Smiths Ferry. Natural Features. The campground is situated is a scenic canyon just above Highway 55.
More like this: first-come in Idaho · tent only in Idaho
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | Mid-May to End of September |
| Forest | Boise National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations are necessary. This is a fee campground. Fee envelopes and a collection box are provided near the entrance. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 44.2205° N, 116.1068° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx High Valley
4 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRx Fawn Tussock
16 mi from the campground · 86 acres
- PrescribedRx Mores South
33 mi from the campground · 245 acres
- PrescribedRx Lowman Wui
33 mi from the campground · 63 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Outdoor gear ↗ | 38.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Nelson's RV's ↗ | 40.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
No site-by-site records, no fee schedule, no directions or photos in the Recreation.gov record. What is here comes from the agency's own listing. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the record fills in.
Explore
Video
A Video Tour of Big Eddy Campground on the North Fork of the Payette River
Worth a stop
- 7.4 miWest Mountain (South) Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 7.7 miKyaott Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 8.6 miSage Hen Creek Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 8.8 miAntelope Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 9.4 mi
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Boise National Forest.
- inBoise National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,526,862 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
- Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association (Sitpa) BuildingsHistoric district · Smiths Ferry · 5.6 mi
- North Fork Payette River BridgeStructure · Smiths Ferry · 7.6 mi
- Ola SchoolBuilding · Ola · 9.5 mi
Guidebooks for Idaho
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Big Eddy Campground?
No. Big Eddy Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations are necessary. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Big Eddy Campground?
Big Eddy Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Big Eddy Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cold Springs Campground (1.9 mi), Canyon Creek Campground (2.3 mi, first-come), and Swinging Bridge (3.5 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby