Big Elk

About

Big Elk Campground occupies a hillside setting at 5,700 feet elevation above Big Elk Creek in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Aspens and Douglas fir provide partial shade, with sagebrush and wildflowers dotting the landscape. The campground sits on a quiet arm of Palisades Reservoir, approximately 55 miles east of Idaho Falls via Highway 26. Three group sites are available by reservation through Recreation.gov: Site A-1 accommodates up to 160 people with a picnic shelter and serving tables, while Sites B-1 and B-2 each handle up to 50 people. Individual sites operate on a first-come-first-served basis. All sites have gravel parking spurs and are equipped with fire rings, picnic tables, and access to vault toilets and potable water. No hookups or electricity are available. Big Elk Creek offers fishing for cutthroat trout and occasional Kokanee salmon. A small boat ramp provides reservoir access when water levels are adequate. Big Elk Creek Trail begins at the campground and follows a scenic canyon with wildflowers and towering trees, open to hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Directions

From Idaho Falls, travel approximately 56 miles east on Highway 26 to Palisades 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.