Big Elk

Yellowstone

Big Elk

Yellowstone

About this campsite

Overview

Big Elk Campground is situated along Big Elk Creek on a quiet arm of the beautiful Palisades Reservoir, just 55 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing and exploring the scenic Big Elk Creek Trail.

Recreation

Big Elk Creek has great fishing for cutthroat trout and the occasional Kokanee salmon. Canoeing and swimming are popular activities on the reservoir. A small boat ramp is located on-site. When the reservoir level is low, boats cannot be launched on Big Elk Creek.

Big Elk Creek Trail, for hiking, biking and horseback riding, begins at the campground and meanders up a beautiful canyon brimming with wildflowers, towering trees and scenic views.

Palisades Reservoir is across the highway, offering excellent boating, water skiing, swimming and canoeing. Lake and shore fishing are very popular there as well, with wild and stocked cutthroat trout as the predominate species. Kokanee salmon, brown and Mackinaw trout can also be found. A boat ramp is located at Calamity Campground less than 10 miles away.

Facilities

This campground offers three group sites with picnic tables, campfire rings and grills. Site A-1 also has a picnic shelter and serving tables, and can accommodate up to 160 people. Sites B-1 and B-2 can accommodate up to 50 people each. Individual sites are available on a first come, first served basis only.

Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided, but there is no electricity. Firewood is available for purchase from the host. Roads and parking spurs are gravel.

Natural Features

The campgrounds lies on a hillside at an elevation of 5,700 feet, above Big Elk Creek among aspens and Douglas fir trees, which provide partial shade. Sagebrush and summer wildflowers dot the landscape.

Nearby Attractions

The Palisades Creek Trail begins nearby, leading hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders to beautiful Upper Palisades Lake and expansive views of Swan Valley.

The Snake River and Swan Valley offer more great fishing and boating opportunities, as well as rafting, canoeing and numerous trails for hiking, biking, horseback and ATV riding. Fall Creek Falls is 20 miles away, and the Fall Creek area has hundreds of miles of such trails.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (541) 351-1182.

Location

BIG ELK•ID

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Common questions about BIG ELK

Is BIG ELK free to camp at?

Yes. BIG ELK in ID is a free camp, so there is no nightly fee to stay. There is no booking system for it, so plan on first in, best dressed, especially on long weekends. We hold no facilities list for it, so go in self sufficient with your own water and a way to deal with rubbish.

Can you book BIG ELK online?

We hold no online booking link for BIG ELK, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season. If a managing authority takes bookings by phone, their number is the fastest way to confirm a site.

Where is BIG ELK?

BIG ELK sits in ID. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

4.2 km away

Blowout Campground

Campground: Blowout Campground. Operated by USFS.

7.7 km away

Blowout Campground

5700-foot elevation. 30 campsites on the east side of Palisades Reservoir. Excellent for RVs and large boats and trailers. Second largest boating facility on the reservoir. Forested sites available on top of the hill. RV sites at reservoir shoreline next to boat ramp. We are working to update this page. Please visit the website below for more information.

8.0 km away

CALAMITY

Overview Calamity Campground is located along the Snake River drainage at the north end of beautiful Palisades Reservoir at an elevation of 5,700 feet, just 55 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Visitors enjoy boating, water skiing, fishing and canoeing. Recreation Palisades Reservoir offers excellent boating, water skiing, swimming and canoeing. Lake and shore fishing are very popular here as well, with wild and stocked cutthroat trout as the predominate species. Kokanee salmon, brown and Mackinaw trout can also be found. A boat ramp and large parking area are located on-site. The Palisades Creek Trail begins nearby, leading hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders to beautiful Upper Palisades Lake and expansive views of Swan Valley. Facilities The campground offers several campsites on three loops. All sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Some sites have a few stairs from the parking spur to the site pad. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided, but there is no electricity. Firewood is available for purchase from the host. Roads and parking spurs are gravel. Natural Features The campground is situated on a hillside above Palisades Reservoir, affording scenic views from many sites. A mixed forest of lodgepole pine, spruce, fir, aspen and maple trees partially shade the campground. Summer wildflowers dot the landscape. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (541) 351-1182. Nearby Attractions Big Elk Creek Trail, for hiking, biking and horseback riding, begins at nearby Big Elk Campground and meanders up a beautiful canyon brimming with wildflowers, towering trees and views of the surrounding mountains. Swan Valley and the Snake River offer more great fishing and boating opportunities, as well as rafting, canoeing and numerous trails for hiking, biking, horseback and ATV riding. Fall Creek Falls is 20 miles away, and the Fall Creek area has hundreds of miles of such trails.

11.5 km away

Palisades Creek

Campground: Palisades Creek.

15.3 km away

ALPINE NORTH LOOP

Overview Alpine North Loop Campground is located in beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming at an elevation of 5,640 feet. The cozy town of Alpine is just 2 miles west. Visitors enjoy boating and fishing on Palisades Reservoir, and day-tripping to Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. Recreation Palisades Reservoir is very close, with excellent boating, water skiing, swimming and canoeing. Lake and shore fishing for wild and stocked cutthroat trout is very popular. Brown trout, Kokanee salmon and Mackinaw trout can also be found. Boat ramps are located 2 miles away in Alpine and about 10 miles away near Blowout Campground, off Highway 26. The Grey's River, Salt River and Snake River merge nearby, offering great fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities. The Palisades Creek Trail begins nearby, leading hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders to beautiful Upper Palisades Lake and expansive views of Swan Valley. Facilities The campground offers three group sites that can accommodate up to 50 people each, with picnic tables and campfire rings with grills. Single and double sites are available as well, some have stairs from the parking spur to the site pad. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided, but there is no electricity. Roads and parking spurs within the site are gravel. Firewood is available for purchase from the host. Natural Features The campground is situated near Palisades Reservoir in a forest of lodgepole pines, which provide partial shade. The campground is relatively flat and some sites offer views of Star Valley. Summer wildflowers are abundant. Wind and summer thunderstorms should be expected. Nearby Attractions The town of Alpine is just 2 miles east. The popular Mountain Days Celebration is held annually in June, complete with arts and crafts shows, food, live music, a horseshoe tournament, authentic pioneer village and Native American dancers. Jackson, Wyoming is 40 miles north, with restaurants, shops, galleries and ski resorts with summer activities. Grand Teton National Park is approximately 55 miles north, with boating, fishing, hiking, canoeing and outstanding mountain scenery. The Snake River and Swan Valley offer more great fishing and boating, as well as rafting, canoeing and numerous trails for hiking, biking, horseback and ATV riding. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (541) 351-1182.