Tailwaters Campground
The Tailwaters Campground is accessed from State Highway 20. There are 3 campsites and plenty of opportunities to fish for trout and bass. The campground is located on the west shore of Anderson Ranch Reservoir. The Tailwaters boat ramp is within the campground provides access for rafts, motorized and non-motorized boats. Be advised: There is an Elmore county ordinance restricting any motorized equipment on the Lower South Fork Boise River.
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
| Status | Open |
| Season | End of May to End of September |
| Forest | Boise National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations are necessary and there are no fees. This campground with 3 sites is on a first-come, first-serve basis. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 43.3531° N, 115.4662° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireEast Fork
33 mi from the campground · 266 acres · 5% contained
- PrescribedRx Mores South
35 mi from the campground · 245 acres
- PrescribedParadise Rx
38 mi from the campground · 400 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 4.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Boise Gear Collective ↗ | 41.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | American Trailer Sales ↗ | 42.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 1.3 miElk Creek Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 3.8 miLittle Camas Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 10.1 miCamp Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 14.8 mi
Trails nearby
- 1.2 miWilson Flat #606 ↗6.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.3 miWilson Flat #6110.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.5 miWilson Flat #6073.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.6 miWilson Flat #6092 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.6 miWilson Flat #6120.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.6 miWilson Flat #6080.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
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
Boise National Forest begins about 12 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 12 miBoise 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
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Tailwaters Campground?
No. Tailwaters Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations are necessary and there are no fees. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
Is Tailwaters Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season End of May to End of September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Tailwaters Campground have?
3 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Tailwaters Campground?
Tailwaters Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Tailwaters Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Spillway Campground (1 mi, first-come), Evans Creek Campground (4.1 mi, first-come), and Castle Creek Campground (5.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby