Bad Bear Campground

Boise National Forest — fishing

Location: Idaho City, ID, ID

Price: From $20 per night

Price range: $20–$40 per night

Rating: 4.1 out of 5 (23 reviews)

Season: May through October

Bad Bear Campground is located 48 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho, in the scenic Boise National Forest on the Idaho City Ranger District, along Highway 21 at an elevation of 5,100 feet. Wildlife and summer wildflowers are abundant. Historic Idaho City is just 11 miles south.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/bad-bear-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Bad Bear Campground offers scenic high-elevation camping at 5,100 feet in Boise National Forest with direct access to Mores Creek for whitewater and rainbow trout fishing, plus proximity to historic Idaho City just 11 miles away.

Wildlife alert: Gray wolves have been documented within 8km of this location via iNaturalist research-grade observations—be aware of wildlife safety protocols and proper food storage.

Insider tips for Bad Bear Campground: Book early—this is a federal campground with only 6 sites total and high demand Bring a self-contained RV or tent; no hookups available, so plan water and waste accordingly Drive Highway 21 (Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway) to explore scenic creek views beyond the campground

Skip Bad Bear Campground if: You need RV hookups—no hookups at most sites. You're planning to visit outside May-October—seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Bad Bear Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only; summer wildflowers abundant per RIDB description.

Nearby campgrounds: Edna Creek Campground (Idaho City, ID), Ten Mile Campground (Idaho City, ID), Beaver Creek Cabin (Id) (IDAHO CITY, ID), Black Rock (IDAHO CITY, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Bad Bear Campground

Cell signal at Bad Bear Campground (Idaho City, ID): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Boise National Forest — fishingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Bad Bear Campground

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Idaho City, ID, ID★ 4.1 (23 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Bad Bear Campground is located 48 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho, in the scenic Boise National Forest on the Idaho City Ranger District, along Highway 21 at an elevation of 5,100 feet. Wildlife and summer wildflowers are abundant. Historic Idaho City is just 11 miles south.

Best for:AnglersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV40 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFishing
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups—no hookups at most sites✕ You're planning to visit outside May-October—seasonal operations only

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 6 sites total and high demand

Bring a self-contained RV or tent; no hookups available, so plan water and waste accordingly

Drive Highway 21 (Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway) to explore scenic creek views beyond the campground

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only; summer wildflowers abundant per RIDB description

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Gray wolves have been documented within 8km of this location via iNaturalist research-grade observations—be aware of wildlife safety protocols and proper food storage.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
208-392-6681· Boise National Forest
Getting there →

From the Idaho City Ranger Station, drive north on Highway 21 for almost 10 miles, then turn left at the sign for Bad Bear Campground. Bad Bear Campground is located at milepost 48, just beyond Ten Mile Campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Boise National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Boise National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Bad Bear Campground cost per night?+
Bad Bear Campground costs $20–$40 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Bad Bear Campground open?+
Bad Bear Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Bad Bear Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Bad Bear Campground?+
Bad Bear Campground can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet.
How do I make reservations at Bad Bear Campground?+
Bad Bear Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Bad Bear Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Bad Bear Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Bad Bear Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Bad Bear Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Idaho City Ranger District InformationBoise National Forest Alerts and Notices
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$20 /night★ 4.1 (23)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Bad Bear Campground cost per night?+
What season is Bad Bear Campground open?+
Does Bad Bear Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Edna Creek Campground

Idaho City, ID

From $20/night

Ten Mile Campground

Idaho City, ID

From $20/night

Beaver Creek Cabin (Id)

IDAHO CITY, ID

From $80/night

Black Rock

IDAHO CITY, ID

From $20/night

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