South Fork Salmon River Campground

Photo of the volunteers working with tools along trail

Overview and Natural Features:

The South Fork Salmon River Campground hosts 11 campsites situated in a scenic forest of towering, old-growth ponderosa pine, which provides partial shade in the campground.

Warm Lake is just a short distance away from the campground and visitors enjoy all the recreation opportunities that the lake has to offer in the day, while staying in a quiet setting for evening relaxation.

Chipmunk Creek runs alongside the campground. Summer wildflowers and butterflies are abundant. There are lots of picnic and hiking opportunities. You may get a glimpse of variety of wildlife including bears, deer, elk, fox, grouse, eagles, osprey, grosbeaks, whooping cranes and otters, that live in the area.

Recreation:

Just a short drive from the campground, is Warm Lake offering great fishing opportunities for cutthroat, rainbow, lake and bull trout. Boating, canoeing and swimming are also popular activities.

Billy Rice Swim Beach is available at Warm Lake Lodge on the north side of the lake. The area offers a day-use site for picnicking and swimming. There is a boat ramp is located at nearby Shoreline Campground.

The surrounding area offers great hiking, mountain biking, horseback and off-road vehicle riding, and hunting. The WeWuKiye (Wa Wu Kia) Trail No. 252 was recently built and can be accessed at Shoreline Campground. It is popular for hiking and mountain biking.

For off-road vehicle enthusiasts, Telephone Ridge Trail No. 112 offers 20 miles of trails for all riding levels, with staging areas at Shoreline Campground.

In September, you may want to visit the South Fork Salmon River fish viewing site. The bridge-walkway enables you to see to see chinook salmon that have traveled 700 miles from the Pacific Ocean to spawn.

At a Glance

Operational Hours:	May – September – (weather permitting through hunting season)
Reservations:	No reservations are necessary. This campground is first come, first serve.
Fees:	This is a fee campground. Fee envelopes and a collection box are provided near the entrance. Please bring cash or check. Extra vehicle fees may apply.
Closest Towns:	Cascade, Idaho
Water:	Drinking water may not be available after September 30
Restroom:	Vault

General Information

Directions:

From Boise, Idaho, travel approximately 80 miles north on State Highway 55 to Cascade, Idaho.

From Cascade, Idaho, travel 1 mile north on State Highway 55 to the Forest Highway 22 (Warm Lake Highway) turnoff.

Turn east and travel approximately 24 miles to the southern intersection of Forest Service Road 579 and 474.

Turn right on Forest Service Road 474 to access the South Fork Salmon River Campground.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Campground Camping

Total of 14 sites.

Lake and Pond Fishing

Enjoy fishing Warm Lake for kokanee and several species of trout including rainbow, brook, lake, and bull.

Difficulty Level:	Intermediate

River and Stream Fishing

The South Fork Salmon River offers some of the best fishing in Idaho. Excellent opportunities for catching salmon, steelhead, whitefish, bull trout and cutthroat trout.