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Established Camping

Elk Creek Campground

Elk Creek Campground, near Potlatch, Idaho, is a solid spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors with some basic amenities. The campground offers electric hookups and is conveniently located near a reservoir, making it easy to fish, swim, or boat right from your site.

Visitors appreciate the clean facilities, including pit toilets and fresh water spigots. Many campers have mentioned the large pavilion across the road, which is perfect for gatherings, and the shaded sites provided by mature trees help create a bit of separation between campers.

If you're up for some exploration, the nearby Giant Cedar Grove is a must-see, featuring some of the largest cedar trees in North America. The area is also home to beautiful hiking trails, like the one leading to Elk Creek Falls, which many have praised for its stunning scenery. Just keep in mind that while the campground is a convenient base, there are also free dispersed camping options nearby for those seeking a bit more privacy.

Description

USDA Forest Service

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests

Overview

Elk Creek Campground offers visitors a little bit of everything. From scenic views and vistas, to attractive waterfalls and ancient foliage, the campground provides a great place to stay in the mountains of north central Idaho. Recreational opportunities abound in the area and a variety of services are located nearby.

Recreation

Elk Creek and nearby Elk River Reservoir provide visitors with opportunities for fishing and other water-related recreation. Cutthroat and rainbow trout, chinook salmon and steelhead swim in the clear waters. Fishing or hunting are popular activities in the rugged and primitive landscape. Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are available on the area's many trails and forest roads. The Elk Creek Falls Trail takes hikers 3.5 miles to the tallest waterfall in the state.

Natural Features

The campground is situated in a mature pine forest in the Clearwater National Forest, next to Elk Creek, at an elevation of about 3,000 feet. The surrounding area is home to the tallest waterfall in Idaho, as well as the largest cedar tree east of the Cascade Range. Elk, deer, moose, bear and cougar make the forested country their home.

Nearby Attractions

The town of Elk River is less than a mile from the campground and offers a variety of basic services, including gas, groceries, showers and fishing equipment.

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Location

Elk Creek Campground is located in Idaho

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Moscow, Idaho, travel northeast on State Road 8 to Elk River. Turn north onto Forest Road 382 and then east onto Forest Road 1705. The campground is about 45 minutes from Moscow.

Address

1700 HIGHWAY 6
Potlatch, ID 83855

Coordinates

46.7919444 N
116.1730556 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Poor
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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5 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 30, 2020

Pricey and not very private

Decent campground, but I likely wouldn’t stay there again. $20 per night, hookups are available and there were most RVers there. The spaces were all very close together so there wasn’t much privacy. Bathrooms seemed reasonably clean and there was fresh water spigots available. I got there on a Thursday night on August 27th and most of the non-reservable spots were full, we may have actually pulled into the last available space. If you turn left towards the Giant Cedar trailhead instead of right towards the campground there are a number of free dispersed camping sites along that road, they looked pretty private and spacious. If we have known that before we paid we would have stayed in one of those instead. We drove up that road and up the mountain and went on a short hike to Perkins Cedar Grove, the forest was beautiful and well worth a visit.

  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Kelsey G., August 30, 2020
  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Kelsey G., August 30, 2020
Reviewed Jul. 31, 2020

Waterfront Sites

Although this campground is right on the road, it also has easy access to the reservoir where you can fish, swim, and boat. There are life jackets for use here next to the dock. Sites include a fire pit, grill, and picnic table. There is also water available and pit toilets for use. There is a wonderful pavilion just across the road which is perfect for large gatherings.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Hannah W., July 31, 2020
  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Hannah W., July 31, 2020
  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Hannah W., July 31, 2020
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jul. 4, 2020

One of my favorite places!

I've been coming to Elk River my whole life. If you are looking for a quiet town surrounded by forest this is the place to go. Be sure to go to the Giant Cedar Grove which has the largest cedar tree in North America. The hike to Elk Creek falls is beautiful too! There is not much to offer in town, but you can get great huckleberry ice cream at the store and a great burger from the Elk Butte Log Inn. Whether you are fishing, hunting, riding around, or just hanging out with the family this is a great place to stay. If you are having a get together there is a nice big pavilion that will hold everyone.

  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Hannah W., July 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Hannah W., July 4, 2020
  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Hannah W., July 4, 2020
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Oct. 29, 2019

Good area attractions

This is a pretty decent place to camp. There are other sites in the area that might be a little quieter and less expensive, but I would bump this site up on the list in terms of how easily it is to get to some of the attractions in the area! The giant cedars and Elk River Falls are a must stop if you head this way. It can be crowded, and a little noisy. Interesting plants and mushrooms to see, depending on time of year!

  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Celine K., October 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Celine K., October 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Celine K., October 29, 2019
Reviewed Jun. 27, 2017

Good location but Overpriced

This is a small campground near a neat grove of giant cedars (about 10 miles). All sites have electricity and cost $20, which is expensive by Idaho standards if you have a tent. The campground has some large trees which provide shade and separation between sites. There is good dispersed (read free) camping on the same road leading to the cedar grove park, which is well worth visiting. The dispersed sites have fire rings and there are outhouses ever couple of miles.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Gretchen B., June 27, 2017
  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Gretchen B., June 27, 2017
  • Review photo of Elk Creek Campground by Gretchen B., June 27, 2017
  • (6) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Elk Creek Campground?

    Elk Creek Campground allows vehicles up to 40 feet.

  • Does Elk Creek Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Elk Creek Campground does not have wifi.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Elk Creek Campground?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Elk Creek Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Elk Creek Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Elk Creek Campground?

    There are 6 campsites at Elk Creek Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts