Big Elk
Campground · Idaho · 3 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Palisades Reservoir (Other Bureau of Reclamation Land) · Open Access
- 3
- Bookable sites
- 50 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 160
- People per site
- 5,646 ft
- Elevation
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.The facts
- Season: May — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 3 bookable sites
- Vehicles up to 50 ft
- Up to 160 people per site
- Loops: A, B
Site types
- 3 Group Standard Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Shade
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, grills, pets allowed.
3 campsites at Big Elk
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 | A | Group Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | 50 ft | 160 | |
| B-1 | B | Group Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | 50 ft | 50 | |
| B-2 | B | Group Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | 50 ft | 50 |
Getting there
From Idaho Falls, Idaho, travel approximately 56 miles on Highway 26 to Palisades Dam. Once at the dam, continue 6 miles east on Highway 26, then turn left onto Forest Road 262 (Big Elk Creek Road) and travel 2 miles to the campground.
43.32250, -111.11611 · 43°19'21.0"N 111°6'58.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 85°F in Jul, down to 30°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 30 | 35 | 45 | 56 | 66 | 75 | 85 | 84 | 75 | 59 | 43 | 32 |
| Low °F | 11 | 14 | 22 | 27 | 35 | 41 | 46 | 44 | 37 | 29 | 20 | 12 |
| Precip in | 1.9 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.4 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 11.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Big Elk
- Can you reserve a site at Big Elk?
- Yes, Big Elk is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Big Elk have?
- 3 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Big Elk?
- 50 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are campfires allowed at Big Elk?
- Campfires are allowed at Big Elk. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Big Elk also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Big Elk's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- $12/Night single sites, $24/Night double sites Group sites are $50/night up to 35 people, $1/person thereafter. $6/night extra vehicle, $6/Day for Day Use Fee
Camping near Big Elk
- Calamity 5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Alpine North Loop 9.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Jensen Cabin 9.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Little Cottonwood Group 12.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Riverside Park Campground 4.6 mi · Campground
- Blowout Campground 4.8 mi · Campground
- Palisades Creek Campground 7.1 mi · Campground
- McCoy Creek Campground 9.5 mi · Campground
- Blowout Campground 10.7 mi · Campground
- Greys River Corridor 12.7 mi · Facility
- Lunch Counter/Kahuna Overlook 13.4 mi · Facility
- Wolf Creek Campground 13.7 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone (208) 270-0150 OR 541-351-1182
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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