Can you reserve a site at Calamity?

Yes, Calamity is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Calamity have?

41 sites in total, of which 40 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Calamity?

50 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Calamity?

Yes, pets are allowed at Calamity.

Are campfires allowed at Calamity?

Campfires are allowed at Calamity. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Calamity, Idaho — 40 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

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.

The facts

Season: Mid May — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
40 bookable sites
41 sites in total, including non-bookable
Vehicles up to 50 ft
Up to 8 people per site
Loops: A, B, CALA, CALAMITY

Site types

40 Standard Nonelectric
1 Management

Amenities

Campfires allowed
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, grills, shade.

Book on Recreation.gov

41 campsites at Calamity

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
A-01	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	8	🐾
A-02	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	8	🐾
A-03	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	25 ft	8	🐾
A-04	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	8	🐾
A-05	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	50 ft	8	🐾
A-06	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	50 ft	8	🐾
A-07	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	25 ft	8	🐾
A-08	A	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	8	🐾
A-09	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	8	🐾
A-10	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	8	🐾
A-11	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	25 ft	8	🐾
A-12	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	8	🐾
A-13	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	8	🐾
A-14	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	45 ft	8	🐾
A-15	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	8	🐾
A-16	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	8	🐾
A-17	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	8	🐾
B-02	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	8	🐾
B-03	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	25 ft	8	🐾
B-04	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	8	🐾
B-05	B	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	50 ft	8	🐾
B-06	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	8
B-07	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	8	🐾
B-08	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	8	🐾
B-09	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	8	🐾
B-10	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	8	🐾
B-11	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	25 ft	8	🐾
B-12	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	25 ft	8	🐾
B-13	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	8	🐾
C-01	CALA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	8	🐾
C-02	CALA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	8
C-03	CALA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	8	🐾
C-04	CALA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	25 ft	8	🐾
C-05	CALA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	8
C-06	CALA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	8	🐾
C-07	CALA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	8	🐾
C-08	CALA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	8
C-09	CALA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	8	🐾
C-10	CALA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	8	🐾
C-11	CALA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	8	🐾
00	CALAMITY	Management	—	—	50 ft	8	🐾

Getting there

From Idaho Falls, Idaho, travel on Hwy. 26 for approximately 50 miles. Turn right off of Hwy. 26, (just before ascending grade to top of dam) and go ¼ mile, turn right and cross the river following signs to the campground. Distance is approximately 5 miles.

43.32778, -111.21500 · 43°19'40.0"N 111°12'54.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

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, 8.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Calamity

Can you reserve a site at Calamity?: Yes, Calamity is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Calamity have?: 41 sites in total, of which 40 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Calamity?: 50 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Calamity?: Yes, pets are allowed at Calamity.
Are campfires allowed at Calamity?: Campfires are allowed at Calamity. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Calamity also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Calamity's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

For current fees, please go to Recreation.gov

Restrictions:

No trailers allowed in Loop C. Vehicles must be parked in developed areas only. No ATVs or ORVs allowed, except for entering and exiting the campground. A designated parking area is available next to the campground host.

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Calamity

Big Elk 5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Falls Campground 10.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Jensen Cabin 10.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Alpine North Loop 12.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Caribou Mountain Guard Station 13.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Riverside Park Campground 1 mi · Campground
Palisades Creek Campground 4.8 mi · Campground
Blowout Campground 7.5 mi · Campground
McCoy Creek Campground 11.4 mi · Campground
South Fork of the Snake River: Conant Boat Access 12.5 mi · Facility
Blowout Campground 13 mi · Campground
South Fork of the Snake River - Conant 14.2 mi · Activity pass

Contact

Phone 208-270-0150 OR 541-351-1182
Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Calamity