Jacks Creek Campground

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

Fishing, kayaking, and bird watching draw campers to Jacks Creek Campground, where sites sit directly on the water along the Bruneau arm of the Snake River reservoir. The access road runs through roughly an hour of open farmland before transitioning to gravel near the entrance, so plan the drive accordingly, especially after dark. Camping is free, and the area is managed as a natural area by Idaho Power, which accounts for its consistently maintained condition.

Most of the roughly dozen sites are positioned at the water's edge, and several accommodate large rigs. Each site has a fire ring, and reviewers consistently note that the pit toilets, two or three depending on the site count, have been clean across multiple seasons. Verizon users report strong signal here; T-Mobile coverage is spottier, sometimes dropping to a single bar. Campers who visit in spring should expect ticks and insects near the water, while late spring and summer bring active bird life, including pelicans. Joel G. describes the experience as "camping literally on the water's edge."

Fishing boats and kayakers regularly use the reservoir, and the site has a boat launch. The campground draws a local fishing crowd, which can mean generators and noise at one end of the loop on weekends, though reviewers note the sites are spaced well enough that this is rarely a serious issue. Trash service is provided. Campers looking for additional options along the reservoir can explore CJ Strike Area - Cottonwood Park a short distance to the northwest.

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Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

Air Quality at this campground may currently be unhealthy for sensitive groups.

RV Road Trip Guides

Map & DirectionsJacks Creek Campground is located in Idaho near Bruneau

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Coordinates

42.9032812 N
115.86451067 W

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Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 4/2/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage
    Verified by 8 users
    Last on 4/1/26

Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 4/2/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage
    Verified by 8 users
    Last on 4/1/26

Access

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

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Phone Service
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

FREE established camping

Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

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Reviews8 Camper Reviews - Jacks Creek Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

38%
38%
12%
0%
12%

4.0

out of 5

8 Reviews

Campers regularly cited the pristine waterfront sites with direct lake access and exceptionally clean facilities as major highlights. Some visitors reported seasonal tick issues during spring visits, but most found the location peaceful and well-maintained.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile
Reviewed Jul. 8, 2025

Weekend of July 4th ‘25

Extremely quiet! Found a secluded spot large enough for our 24’ trailer and two vehicles. Had a little beach on the spot for the kiddos. A couple of days were sunny and low 90s, and the rest were wind, more wind and rain! Other spots throughout the site were decent and all on the water. Pack in/out and never checked out the facilities.

Sitewhen you see the first road to the left, the spot is on the left.
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Jacks Creek Campground by J S., July 8, 2025
  • Review photo of Jacks Creek Campground by J S., July 8, 2025
  • Review photo of Jacks Creek Campground by J S., July 8, 2025
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Apr. 2, 2024

Dogs and cows and birds oh my!

Great spot on the river with clean bathrooms, water access, beautiful views and Strike hot spring right nearby. Awesome place to camp for free. Lots of big fish in the river and lots of birds.

Month of VisitApril
Reviewed May. 23, 2023

Clean and quiet :)

The drive out there is a little spooky, about an hour of desolate farm land which I drove in the day but I’d imagine it’s scary at night. I came in at around 8pm on a Monday and there was only two other people there. In late May there were swarms of bugs, but it’s expected when camping on water in late spring; just bring bug spray. Campsites themselves were very clean but my fire pit had what felt like 100 cigarette butts in them. Found two pit toilets, one when you first enter the camp and one in the back, they were both very clean and (thank god) bug-free. The reservoir was pretty active, saw quite a few fishing boats and a kayaker. I saw either a fish or an otter (are there otters in the reservoir?) come up out of the water, and I woke up to pelicans on the water near my site. Definitely could’ve spent hours in peace just watching the wildlife. T-Mobile signal was spotty, sometimes one bar. Verizon signal was great, full four bars.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Jacks Creek Campground by Alyssa W., May 23, 2023
  • Review photo of Jacks Creek Campground by Alyssa W., May 23, 2023
Reviewed May. 7, 2021

Nice free campsite

With some fire rings and in May, clean pit toilets. Lots of bugs, but then lots of birds! Right on the Bruneau arm of the snake. The sites are well spaced and not very defined. A local fishing favorite with several huge rigs and generators at one end and someone doing miserable rap karaoke at the other. But, all in all, I would def come back. We couldn't hear the generators and the rap guy fell asleep. The view is lovely. Dog people beware...lots of ticks.

  • Review photo of Jacks Creek Campground by MeLinda W., May 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Jacks Creek Campground by MeLinda W., May 7, 2021
Reviewed May. 5, 2021

More ticks than I’ve ever seen in my life

Do not come here during spring! We found 6 ticks within an hour of being there. You might have better luck at black sands RV resort down the road but a local said it’s best to avoid bringing your pets there or camping at all there.

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Oct. 13, 2020

Great open area on water!

Several sites along reservoir with camping literally on the water's edge. Out of probably a dozen sites, most are rv friendly, even a couple of sites for big rigs. This campground is a utility operated natural area by Idaho Power and very well maintained. Fishing, kayaking and bird watching abounds. Very quiet, has the cleanest pit toilets I've ever seen (there's 3), fire pit rings, boat launch and excellent verizon cell service. Paved road through pristine farmland to the gravel road entrance about 3 miles beyond the small community of Bruneau. 5 stars.

  • Review photo of Jacks Creek Campground by Joel G., October 13, 2020
  • Review photo of Jacks Creek Campground by Joel G., October 13, 2020
  • Review photo of Jacks Creek Campground by Joel G., October 13, 2020
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Aug. 9, 2020

Lakeside Bliss

About 8 spots right on the shore of the lake - each site has a cutout “step” down through the weeds and into the lake. Ideal for fishing or wading. Water is cleaner in some sites than other depending on winds/currents, but never goes up very far above the knees. One vault toilet, very clean. Sites are mostly gravel, not a ton of grass, and pretty flat. Large campfire rings at each site. Fairly good breeze throughout the day. Solid service with Verizon.

  • Review photo of Jacks Creek Campground by Brandon F., August 9, 2020

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Jack's Creek Campground located in Idaho?

Jack's Creek Campground is located along the Bruneau arm of the Snake River in Idaho. The campground is situated in a somewhat remote area about an hour's drive through rural farmland. It's positioned directly on the water's edge, offering shoreline camping with beautiful views. The location provides a serene setting that's popular with anglers and nature enthusiasts, though it requires traveling through relatively isolated country to reach.

What amenities are available at Jack's Creek Campground?

Jack's Creek Campground offers basic amenities including clean vault toilets, fire rings at campsites, and direct water access. The campground features approximately 8-12 sites, many situated right along the reservoir's shore with natural "step" access points through the vegetation to the water. There's no running water or electric hookups. Sites are well-spaced, providing decent privacy, though not clearly defined. The area is maintained by Idaho Power as a natural recreation area.

How close is Jack's Creek Campground to CJ Strike Reservoir?

Jack's Creek Campground is located directly on CJ Strike Reservoir. The campground sits right at the water's edge along the Bruneau arm of the Snake River portion of the reservoir. Many of the campsites feature direct access to the water with small beach areas. Strike Hot Springs is also nearby, offering an additional recreational opportunity for visitors to the reservoir area.

Is there free camping available near Jack's Creek Campground?

Jack's Creek Campground itself is free to camp at. The campground offers no-cost camping right on the water's edge with basic amenities like vault toilets and fire rings. This makes it a popular option for budget-conscious campers seeking waterfront access. For those looking for alternative free camping in the broader area, check with local land management agencies as regulations may change. Black Sands RV Resort is nearby but is not a free option.