Federal Gulch Campground and Trailhead
Federal Gulch Campground is a non-fee, non-reservation campground located on the East Fork of the Wood River. The campground is composed of 3 campsites on the East Fork of the Wood River. The trailhead provides access to Federal Gulch Tr. No. 169, which connects to the remote and seldom-visited Little Wood River country. The campground is generally accessible May through October. Campground amenities include a vault toilet is located in the campground, and each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Stock is permitted in designated areas and hitching rails are provided.
More like this: first-come in Idaho · tent only in Idaho
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Non-fee campground. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Sawtooth National Forest |
| Booking | Not accepted. |
| Fees | Non-fee campground. |
| Rules | Camping limit 16 days. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 43.6693° N, 114.1529° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedParadise Rx
36 mi from the campground · 400 acres
- WildfireEast Fork
41 mi from the campground · 266 acres · 5% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Video
Cold Camping with my Dog | PART 2 | Staunton State Park | Payne Gulch Trail | Colorado…
Worth a stop
- 11.2 mi
- 12.1 miAdam Gulch Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miFederal Gulch ↗10.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miTimber Draw3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miPorcupine ↗7.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.7 miFisher Creek ↗5.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 2.7 miHyndman-North Fork4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.7 miHyndman Creek ↗3.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- under 0.1 miFederal Gulch Campground and Trailhead ↗Sawtooth National Forest
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 Sawtooth National Forest.
- inSawtooth National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,190,139 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
- Proctor Mountain Ski LiftObject · Sun Valley · 9.5 mi
- Cold Springs Pegram Truss Railroad BridgeStructure · Ketchum · 9.9 mi
- Bald Mountain Hot SpringsBuilding · Ketchum · 10.5 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
How much does it cost to camp at Federal Gulch Campground and Trailhead?
Non-fee campground.
Source: Forest Service
Is Federal Gulch Campground and Trailhead open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Federal Gulch Campground and Trailhead have?
3 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Federal Gulch Campground and Trailhead?
Federal Gulch Campground and Trailhead is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Federal Gulch Campground and Trailhead is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Sawmill Campground (0.5 mi, first-come), Boundary (9.3 mi, first-come), and Wildhorse Campground (11.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby