Established Camping
Boise National Forest Helende Campground
About
USDA Forest Service
Boise National Forest
Overview
Helende Campground is located 10 miles east of Lowman, Idaho, along Highway 21 at an elevation of 4,100 feet. The South Fork Payette River lies a few hundred yards away. Visitors enjoy fishing and rafting on the river, soaking at nearby Kirkham Hot Springs and exploring the extensive Kirkham Ridge Trail.
Recreation
The South Fork Payette River offers whitewater rafting, kayaking and trout fishing. The Deadwood and Danskin River Access areas are nearby. Popular Kirkham Hot Springs is less than 5 miles west of the campground along Highway 21. A trail with staircases leads down to the soaking pools on the riverside. Kirkham Ridge Trail is one of the Lowman Ranger District's premier trails. It begins near Kirkham Campground and stretches through beautiful country for 35 miles, connecting with many other trails in the area. It is open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Sections of the trail are open seasonally to off-road vehicles.
Facilities
The campground contains single-family sites, all of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided.
Natural Features
The campground is situated in a dense forest of lodgepole and Ponderosa pine, which offers plentiful shade in most sites. Summer wildflowers dot the landscape. Deer and elk may be seen wandering through the area on occasion.
Nearby Attractions
Numerous natural hot springs pools can be found along the Banks-Lowman Highway, also known as the Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway and Highway 21, the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway. Both byways offer scenic views, wildlife watching, historical information kiosks and several trail opportunities. Whitewater rafting and kayaking are popular activities on the South Fork and Main Payette Rivers. Several companies in the area offer guided half and full-day trips.
Fee Info
There is a $5 fee for vehicles entering the campground for day use.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Drinking Water
LegendClose to Lowman
Nice little campground with less than a dozen sites. Everything is very flat here so no worries about finding a level site. The river is nearby but there is no real access here. Go down the road a bit and you will have some nice water access. The campground is clean and maintained, with the usual picnic tables and fire pits. No dedicated tent pads, but lots of cushy pine needles for under your tent. Lots of trees that are good for hammocks, just know that you might get a drop or two of pine sap dripping on you. Pop down to the Lowman ranger station down river a few miles to get some good maps; while you are at it, stop in at the Lowman Inn for some killer pizza.
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TravelerFun spot
We stayed here in the summer of 2017. it didn’t look like much as we pulled up, because there were a lot of trees that had been burned in a recent fire. however, we had a lot of fun. we discovered the river that ran behind the campground there and spent quite a bit of time there just hanging out. You could definitely hear the roar of cars since it was pretty close to the highway, but it wasn’t overly distracting. overall had a fun time with the family!
Location
Boise National Forest Helende Campground is located in Idaho
Directions
From Boise, Idaho, take State Highway 55 to Banks. Turn east and travel on Forest Highway 24/Banks-Lowman Highway to Lowman. Turn left on Highway 21. Campground is located at milepost 82.
Address
7359 Hwy 21
Lowman, ID 83637
Coordinates
44.0927778 N
115.4758333 W