U.S. Forest Service · Sawtooth National Forest · Idaho

Elk Creek Campground - Hwy 21

Elk Creek Campground is composed of 3 campsites, located in a lodgepole pine understory, This small campground offers one group site that consists of three smaller sites. The group site can accommodate up to 40 people. Expansive and scenic Elk Meadow is near the campground, providing a great location for bird watching and wildlife viewing. Numerous sparkling lakes and streams, including the Salmon River, dot the area, making for great rainbow and native westslope cutthroat trout fishing.

Open nowPartly reservable3 sitesTents only

The group site takes reservations. Single sites are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in Idaho · reservable in Idaho · tent only in Idaho

Elk Creek Campground - Hwy 21
Photo from the area. tinosa (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
3fires
active
Rx Lowman Wui (prescribed burn) · 38 mi away · 63 acres
2 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesSawtooth NRA Camping Fees and Information

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonMay to September
ForestSawtooth National Forest
BookingReservations can be made by clicking on the following link www.recreation.gov/camping/elk-creek-campground-sawtooth-nf/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70263 or by calling…
FeesSawtooth NRA Camping Fees and Information
RulesPlease keep pets on a leash. All occupancy (includes developed/dispersed camping, boats, boat trailers, travel trailers, tents, etc): Occupancy limit is 10 days in a 30 day period within a 30 mile radius for all of SNRA. Campers must occupy the site the first night and cannot go more than 24 hours thereafter without occupying the site.

Sawtooth National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Elk Creek Campground - Hwy 2110°20°30°40°50°60°January: 1.80 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.44 inches of precipitationMarch: 2.02 inches of precipitationApril: 1.69 inches of precipitationMay: 1.67 inches of precipitationJune: 1.48 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.62 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.55 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.01 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.60 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.00 inches of precipitationDecember: 2.32 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 11.3°F averageFebruary: 15.9°F averageMarch: 25.6°F averageApril: 34.0°F averageMay: 43.2°F averageJune: 50.0°F averageJuly: 57.1°F averageAugust: 55.5°F averageSeptember: 47.7°F averageOctober: 37.4°F averageNovember: 24.0°F averageDecember: 11.4°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 in2 in2.5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Stanley, 11 miles from the campground at 6,249 feet, station USC00108676 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 18 inches a year.

Getting there

Coordinates44.2658° N, 114.7236° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Rx Lowman Wui

    38 mi from the campground · 63 acres

  • Prescribed
    Paradise Rx

    39 mi from the campground · 400 acres

  • Wildfire
    East Fork

    43 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.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗32.4 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Elk Creek Campground | Cumbres Pass | Antonito Colorado | Review

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 1.2 mi
    Lower Muley Creek
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.2 mi
    Lower Muley Creek
    4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 2.5 mi
    Warm Springs Creek ↗
    20.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 3.3 mi
    Peach Muley Cutoff
    3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 3.6 mi
    Hay-Knapp Creek ↗
    29.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more · national_recreation_or_other
  • 3.7 mi
    Ramey-Fivemile ↗
    7.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Sawtooth National Forest.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

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 Elk Creek Campground - Hwy 21?

For some sites. The group site takes reservations. Single sites are first-come, first-served.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Elk Creek Campground - Hwy 21?

Sawtooth NRA Camping Fees and Information

Source: Forest Service

Is Elk Creek Campground - Hwy 21 open right now?

Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season May to September.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Elk Creek Campground - Hwy 21 have?

3 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Elk Creek Campground - Hwy 21?

Elk Creek Campground - Hwy 21 is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Elk Creek Campground - Hwy 21 is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Blind Creek Campground (1.2 mi, first-come), Upper O'Brien Campground (1.4 mi, first-come), and Lower O'Brien Campground (1.6 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby