Calamity
Caribou-Targhee National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Swan Valley, ID, ID
Price: From $20 per night
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (53 reviews)
Season: May through October
Calamity Campground is located along the Snake River drainage at the north end of beautiful Palisades Reservoir at an elevation of 5,700 feet, just 55 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Visitors enjoy boating, water skiing, fishing and canoeing.The campground offers several campsites on three loops. All sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill.
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/calamity to be notified when sites open up.
Calamity Campground sits at 5,700 feet along the Snake River drainage at Palisades Reservoir's north end, offering excellent boating, fishing for cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon, water skiing, and canoeing. The campground provides 40 sites with fire rings, picnic tables, vault toilets, drinking water, and a camp host.
Wildlife alert: Bald Eagles, Ruffed Grouse, Black-billed Magpies, Long-tailed Weasels, and Northern Rubber Boas have been documented in the area.
Insider tips for Calamity: Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand. Firewood is available for purchase on-site. Most sites lack hookups; confirm self-contained RV suitability before booking.
Skip Calamity if: You need RV hookups—most sites have no hookups.. You require year-round camping—seasonal operations only May through October.. You're visiting outside the May-October window..
Best time to visit Calamity: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October per verified schedule..
Nearby campgrounds: Big Elk (Irwin, ID), Falls Campground (Swan Valley, ID), Jensen Cabin (Idaho Falls, WY), Alpine North Loop (Targhee, WY).
Cell Phone Coverage at Calamity
Cell signal at Calamity (Swan Valley, 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 · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
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.
Calamity Campground is located along the Snake River drainage at the north end of beautiful Palisades Reservoir at an elevation of 5,700 feet, just 55 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Visitors enjoy boating, water skiing, fishing and canoeing.The campground offers several campsites on three loops. All sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill.
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 entryBook early
this is a federal campground with high demand.
Firewood is available for purchase on-site.
Most sites lack hookups; confirm self-contained RV suitability before booking.
Campground operates seasonally May through October per verified schedule.
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 on Hwy. 26 for approximately 50 miles. Turn right off of Hwy. 26, (just before ascending grade to top of dam) and go ¼ mile, turn right and cross the river following signs to the campground. Distance is approximately 5 miles.
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 Calamity cost per night?+
What season is Calamity open?+
Does Calamity have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Calamity?+
How do I make reservations at Calamity?+
What is the cell service like at Calamity?+
What season is Calamity open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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