Big Elk
Caribou-Targhee National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Irwin, ID, ID
Price: From $60 per night
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (15 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.For facility specific information, please call (541) 351-1182.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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Fishing, Boat Launch, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/big-elk to be notified when sites open up.
Big Elk sits on a scenic arm of Palisades Reservoir with excellent cutthroat trout and Kokanee salmon fishing, plus a boat launch for water recreation. The location offers multiple activities including hiking the Big Elk Creek Trail and wildlife viewing in a quiet setting.
Wildlife alert: Bald eagles and black-billed magpies are present in the area. Northern rubber boas also inhabit the region.
Insider tips for Big Elk: This is a federal campground with only 3 sites — book early as stated in known issues No hookups available, so ensure your RV is self-contained or plan for tent camping Big Elk Creek Trail is available for hiking and provides scenic exploration beyond the campground
Skip Big Elk if: You need RV hookups — the campground has no hookups at most sites. You're planning outside May-October — seasonal operations only. You want to launch a boat during low reservoir periods — water levels prevent launches at times.
Best time to visit Big Elk: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only. Late May through early September — Boat launch access is water-level dependent; launches are blocked when reservoir level is low.
Nearby campgrounds: Calamity (Swan Valley, ID), Alpine North Loop (Targhee, WY), Jensen Cabin (Idaho Falls, WY), Little Cottonwood Group (SNAKE RIVER CANYON, WY).
Cell Phone Coverage at Big Elk
Cell signal at Big Elk (Irwin, ID): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
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.For facility specific information, please call (541) 351-1182.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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryThis is a federal campground with only 3 sites
book early as stated in known issues
No hookups available, so ensure your RV is self-contained or plan for tent camping
Big Elk Creek Trail is available for hiking and provides scenic exploration beyond the campground
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Boat launch access is water-level dependent; launches are blocked when reservoir level is low
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Idaho Falls, Idaho, travel approximately 56 miles on Highway 26 to Palisades Dam. Once at the 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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Caribou-Targhee National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Caribou-Targhee National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Big Elk cost per night?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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