Big Elk
Big Elk is a national forest campground in Idaho. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- Idaho
- Coordinates
- 43.32250, -111.11611
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Swimming Site, Wildlife Viewing
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- (208) 270-0150 OR 541-351-1182
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Big Elk
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 pur
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- Ferrellgas Etna · 22 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 75 designated routes (105 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Elk Creek Campground | Private campground | under 0.1 mi | — | — |
| Blowout Campground | Private campground | 2.6 mi | — | — |
| Blowout Campground & Boat Ramp | National forest campground | 2.7 mi | — | — |
| Riverside Park Cg &Day Use Area | National forest campground | 4.6 mi | — | — |
| Blowout Campground | BLM campground | 4.7 mi | — | — |
| Calamity | National forest campground | 4.9 mi | — | — |
Open Big Elk in DryRig
Save it offline, check your rig's clearance on the drive in, and see what's nearby on the map.
Sources. USFS and BLM recreation sites, Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.