CamperWatch

National campground directory. Verified data, live availability, community tips.

info@camperwatch.org

Explore

  • Search all campgrounds
  • Free camping guide
  • Dispersed camping guide
  • National park campgrounds
  • When Yosemite is sold out
  • When Yellowstone is sold out
  • Availability alerts
  • Community feed
  • Baja California RV parks
  • Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

Featured Campgrounds

  • Emerald Bay — Lake Tahoe CAState
  • Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe ParksTribal
  • Slough Creek — Yellowstone
  • North Pines — Yosemite Valley
  • Jenny Lake — Grand Teton
  • Many Glacier — Glacier NP

For Owners

  • List your campground free
  • Hipcamp alternative
  • Campspot alternative
  • Campground booking software
  • List campground free guide

© 2026 CamperWatch · Not affiliated with Recreation.gov, NPS, or USFS

TermsPrivacyCancellationContactllms.txt

Helende

Boise National Forest — riverside, fishing, hiking

Location: LOWMAN, ID, ID

Price: From $12 per night

Price range: $12–$24 per night

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (38 reviews)

Season: May through October

Helende Campground is located 10 miles east of Lowman, Idaho, along Highway 21 at an elevation of 4,100 feet. The South Fork Payette River lies a few hundred yards away. Visitors enjoy fishing and rafting on the river, soaking at nearby Kirkham Hot Springs and exploring the extensive Kirkham Ridge Trail.The South Fork Payette River offers whitewater rafting, kayaking and trout fishing.

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

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

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

Helende is a hidden gem federal campground along the scenic South Fork Payette River with excellent access to fishing, rafting, and nearby Kirkham Hot Springs. Campers praise its clean facilities, beautiful riverside location, and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities.

Wildlife alert: American Elk, Mule Deer, Canada Goose, Western Screech-Owl, and Western Terrestrial Garter Snake documented in the area.

Insider tips for Helende: Book early — this is a popular federal campground that fills quickly, especially holiday weekends. Kirkham Hot Springs is only 6 minutes away by car and offers soaking opportunities. River access is within 5 minutes, ideal for anglers targeting trout on the South Fork Payette River. All 10 sites include fire rings and picnic tables; two vault toilets and potable water available.

Skip Helende if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available; only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You prefer full-service amenities — this is a basic federal campground with vault toilets only..

Best time to visit Helende: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only..

Nearby campgrounds: Kirkham (LOWMAN, ID), Park Creek (Idaho) (Lowman, ID), Mountain View (Lowman, ID), Warm Springs Guard Station (LOWMAN, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Helende

Cell signal at Helende (LOWMAN, 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.

    CamperWatch
    CommunityPlan a tripCompareTribes
    CamperWatch›ID›Helende
    Helende — photo 1
    Helende — photo 2
    Helende — photo 3
    See all photos
    Boise National Forest — riverside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    Helende

    Share: X Facebook
    LOWMAN, ID, ID★ 4.3 (38 reviews)From $12/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
    On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

    Helende Campground is located 10 miles east of Lowman, Idaho, along Highway 21 at an elevation of 4,100 feet. The South Fork Payette River lies a few hundred yards away. Visitors enjoy fishing and rafting on the river, soaking at nearby Kirkham Hot Springs and exploring the extensive Kirkham Ridge Trail.The South Fork Payette River offers whitewater rafting, kayaking and trout fishing.

    Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersWildlife 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 RV65 ft
    HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
    ADA sites10 sites
    PetsAllowed
    CampfiresAllowed
    Max/site6 people

    Amenities

    RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
    Essentials
    Fire RingsDrinking Water
    Recreation
    Picnic TablesFishing
    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 available; only suitable for self-contained RVs.✕ You prefer full-service amenities — this is a basic federal campground with vault toilets only.

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    Book early

    this is a popular federal campground that fills quickly, especially holiday weekends.

    Kirkham Hot Springs is only 6 minutes away by car and offers soaking opportunities.

    River access is within 5 minutes, ideal for anglers targeting trout on the South Fork Payette River.

    All 10 sites include fire rings and picnic tables; two vault toilets and potable water available.

    Best: May-October

    Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

    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: American Elk, Mule Deer, Canada Goose, Western Screech-Owl, and Western Terrestrial Garter Snake documented in the area.

    Location

    Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
    Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
    1111111111· Boise National Forest
    Getting there →

    From Boise, Idaho, take State Highway 55 to Banks. Turn east and travel on Forest Highway 24/Banks-Lowman Highway to Lowman. Turn left on Highway 21. Campground is located at milepost 82.

    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.

    Frequently asked questions

    RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
    How much does Helende cost per night?+
    Helende costs $12–$24 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
    What season is Helende open?+
    Helende is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Does Helende have hookups?+
    No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
    What is the maximum RV length at Helende?+
    Helende can accommodate RVs up to 65 feet.
    How do I make reservations at Helende?+
    Helende 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 Helende?+
    According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Helende is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
    What season is Helende open, and what are check-in times?+
    Helende is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    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.

    $12 /night★ 4.3 (38)
    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 Helende cost per night?+
    What season is Helende open?+
    Does Helende have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    Kirkham

    LOWMAN, ID

    From $15/night

    Park Creek (Idaho)

    Lowman, ID

    From $12/night

    Mountain View

    Lowman, ID

    From $20/night

    Warm Springs Guard Station

    LOWMAN, ID

    From $40/night

    Own a campground nearby?

    List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.

    List your campground →
    $12–24 /nightNo booking fees
    +TRIPCheck availability