Meadow Lake Campground

Salmon-Challis National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Leadore, ID, ID

Price: From $15 per night

Price range: $15–$30 per night

Rating: 2.6 out of 5 (9 reviews)

Season: May through October

Meadow Lake Campground is located on the Leadore Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. This high alpine campground sits at an elevation of 9,160 feet in the Lemhi Mountain Range, 22 miles from Leadore, Idaho.Meadow Lake Campground is located at the base of the 10,720-foot Meadow Lake Peak and along the banks of the 13.3-acre Meadow Lake. The high elevation campground is dotted with lodge pole pine and white bark pine trees and is frequented by deer and mountain goats.There are p

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Camp Host, Fishing, Boat Launch

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

High alpine campground at 9,160 feet in the Lemhi Mountains with a stocked lake offering excellent fishing and phenomenal views. Google reviewers consistently praise the scenic beauty, good fishing, and quality hiking opportunities.

Wildlife alert: American Pika, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, American Red Squirrel, Uinta Ground Squirrel, Pronghorn, Red-tailed Hawk, Clark's Nutcracker, and Common Raven documented in the area.

Insider tips for Meadow Lake Campground: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 2 sites and high demand. The campground sits 22 miles from Leadore; access requires driving 6 miles on a steep, narrow gravel road that climbs 2,080 feet. Lake is stocked twice yearly; fish from the bank or bring a non-motorized boat (no boat ramp available). RVs must be self-contained as there are no hookups.

Skip Meadow Lake Campground if: You need RV hookups — only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You require a paved or easy-access road — access involves a steep, narrow gravel forest service road.. You visit outside July-September — seasonal operations with limited accessibility..

Best time to visit Meadow Lake Campground: July-September — Official season runs May through October, but Google reviewers report the campground opens around early July and closes the first weekend of September due to high elevation and weather conditions..

Nearby campgrounds: Mcfarland Campground (Salmon, ID), Loristica Group Campground (MACKAY, ID), Tarpons Roost Cabin (Salmon, ID), Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site (Challis, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Meadow Lake Campground

Cell signal at Meadow Lake Campground (Leadore, 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
CamperWatch›ID›Meadow Lake Campground
Meadow Lake Campground — photo 1
Meadow Lake Campground — photo 2
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Salmon-Challis National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Meadow Lake Campground

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Leadore, ID, ID★ 2.6 (9 reviews)From $15/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Meadow Lake Campground is located on the Leadore Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. This high alpine campground sits at an elevation of 9,160 feet in the Lemhi Mountain Range, 22 miles from Leadore, Idaho.Meadow Lake Campground is located at the base of the 10,720-foot Meadow Lake Peak and along the banks of the 13.3-acre Meadow Lake. The high elevation campground is dotted with lodge pole pine and white bark pine trees and is frequented by deer and mountain goats.There are plenty of other attractions in the vicinity of Meadow Lake including the Gilmore Ghost Town and a number of other Forest Service recreation sites and trails.

Best for:AnglersHikersFamiliesSites: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 RV28 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking WaterBoat Launch
Recreation
Picnic TablesCamp Host
Family & Pets
Vault ToiletsFishing

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 — only suitable for self-contained RVs.✕ You require a paved or easy-access road — access involves a steep, narrow gravel forest service road.✕ You visit outside July-September — seasonal operations with limited accessibility.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 2 sites and high demand.

The campground sits 22 miles from Leadore; access requires driving 6 miles on a steep, narrow gravel road that climbs 2,080 feet.

Lake is stocked twice yearly; fish from the bank or bring a non-motorized boat (no boat ramp available).

RVs must be self-contained as there are no hookups.

Best: July-September

Official season runs May through October, but Google reviewers report the campground opens around early July and closes the first weekend of September due to high elevation and weather conditions.

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 Pika, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, American Red Squirrel, Uinta Ground Squirrel, Pronghorn, Red-tailed Hawk, Clark's Nutcracker, and Common Raven documented in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
Getting there →

From Leadore drive 17 miles south on Highway 28 and turn right (west) on to Forest Service Road #002 at the old Gilmore Townsite. Follow the gravel road for 6 miles as it climbs 2,080 feet to the 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 — Salmon-Challis National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Salmon-Challis National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Meadow Lake Campground cost per night?+
Meadow Lake Campground costs $15–$30 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Meadow Lake Campground open?+
Meadow Lake Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Meadow Lake Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Meadow Lake Campground?+
Meadow Lake Campground can accommodate RVs up to 28 feet.
How do I make reservations at Meadow Lake Campground?+
Meadow Lake 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 Meadow Lake Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Meadow Lake Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Meadow Lake Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Meadow Lake Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●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.

$15 /night★ 2.6 (9)
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 Meadow Lake Campground cost per night?+
What season is Meadow Lake Campground open?+
Does Meadow Lake Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Mcfarland Campground

Salmon, ID

From $2/night

Loristica Group Campground

MACKAY, ID

From $30/night

Tarpons Roost Cabin

Salmon, ID

From $75/night

Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site

Challis, ID

From $20/night

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