Idaho / Bear Lake County / Caribou-Targhee National Forest

North Fork Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. Typically operates late May through early September. After the main season, the campground remains accessible for dispersed camping with no fees, toilets, or water available.

About

North Fork Campground sits in scenic St. Charles Canyon in southern Idaho, approximately 12 miles from Bear Lake. Set within a dense mixed-growth conifer forest with St. Charles Creek flowing through the site, the campground provides a peaceful base for outdoor recreation. The campground consists of an accessible group site that accommodates up to 50 guests, divided into five smaller sites, each with picnic tables and campfire rings. The campground serves as the trailhead for North Fork Trail, a multi-use path open to motorcycles, horses, hikers, and mountain bikers. This trail connects with the Highline Trail, a 55-mile route following the backbone of the Wasatch Mountains. St. Charles Creek offers excellent fishing opportunities managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and the area is popular for in-season big game hunting. Nearby attractions include Minnetonka Cave, where visitors can take 90-minute guided tours through nine rooms featuring formations with names like the Bride and Groom and Three Sisters. Bear Lake's North Beach is 12 miles away, offering swimming and fishing on one of the Intermountain West's largest natural lakes. The campground has limited parking suitable only for small pop-up trailers. Cell phone service is unavailable, and off-road vehicles are not permitted in the canyon.

Directions

From Garden City, Utah, take Highway 89 north to St. Charles, Idaho. Drive west from St. Charles along Forest Road 412 for 8.1 miles, then turn right and follow the dirt road a short distance to the campground.

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