Calamity Campground
Irwin, Idaho
| GPS: |
43°19'40.0"N 111°12'47.0"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Idaho |
Restrooms Picnic Tables Fishing
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, and Swim
Calamity Campground is located just 55 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. This is the perfect area to access the Palisades Reservoir and enjoy the water activities available there. The water here is clean, blue and open for swimming, fishing, canoeing, water skiing and boating. There is a boat ramp available for use at the reservoir.
The campground itself has restrooms, picnic tables and campfire rings with grills. This wooded campground has beautiful views of the reservoir and in the summer this area is dotted with wildflowers. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided for campers. Campsites are available to reserve for $12 for a single site and $24 for a double site per night.
There are miles and miles of trails available near the campsite. There are trails open to hikers, as well as some trails open for ATV use, horseback riding and mountain biking. The variety of activities available here make this the perfect place to come explore for the day, the weekend, or to spend a lifetime exploring.
More Information
Caribou-Targhee National Forest | Recreation | Forest Service
Find and Discover Recreation Sites and Trails in Caribou-Targhee National Forest
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/caribou-targhee/recreationNever modify trail features. Ride trails when they're dry enough that you won't leave ruts. Speak up when you see others on the trail and always yield to hikers, horses, and others coming uphill. Always ride on the established trail.
Read MoreBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read MoreDirections
From Irwin, Idaho
- Head southeast toward Old Irwin Rd (161 ft)
- Turn left onto Old Irwin Rd (0.1 mi)
- Turn right onto US-26 E (6.2 mi)
- Turn right onto Forest Rd 277 (0.4 mi)
- Turn right to stay on Forest Rd 277 (0.1 mi)
- Turn left to stay on Forest Rd 277 (1.7 mi)
- Turn left onto Forest Rd 076 (2.7 mi)
- Turn left onto Bear Creek Rd (0.7 mi)
- Sharp right onto Forest Rd 241Destination will be on the left(0.1 mi)
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.
Other Mountain Bike Trails, Swimming Holes, Hiking Trails, Canoeing Areas, and Kayaking Areas Nearby
Sheep Creek Trail
Irwin, Idaho
3.0 miles NEThe Sheep Creek Trail is a long, demanding backcountry route in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest above Irwin, Idaho, in the rugged Snake River Range east of Idaho Falls. Most often tackled as the...
Hike, Mountain Bike
Sheep Creek/little Elk Connection
Irwin, Idaho
3.4 miles EA rigorous climb to a plateau followed by a smooth singletrack descent through a canyon full of moose, with a shuttle option for downhill laps on the Little Elk Creek side.
Mountain Bike 3.9 mi
Little Elk Creek Trail
Irwin, Idaho
3.4 miles EThe Little Elk Creek Trail is a demanding, lightly traveled route in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest above Irwin, Idaho, climbing into the Snake River Range in a corner of eastern Idaho better...
Backpack, Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike 6.6-6.8 mi
Bear Creek Hot Springs
Irwin, Idaho
3.7 miles STrek ~13 miles up a creek canyon near Palisades Reservoir to a secluded natural hot spring — gentle most of the way, with one rewarding final climb.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Hot Springs, Mountain Bike
Hunts Corral
Irwin, Idaho
4.8 miles NA non-motorized trail near Irwin for quiet backcountry use — human-powered travel only on this Idaho route.
Mountain Bike 2.8-4.1 mi
Palisades Creek Trail / Lakes and Waterfall Canyon
Irwin, Idaho
4.9 miles NSpectacular mountain views, two landslide-formed alpine lakes, and mountain goat sightings — all within a 4-to-6-mile hike in the Swan Valley wilderness.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike 6.9 mi
Big Elk Creek
Irwin, Idaho
4.9 miles EA versatile campground on a small dammed lake with fishing, kayaking, hiking and backpacking into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, and stunning fall Aspen and Douglas-Fir colors on the Big Elk Creek Trail.
Backpack, Camp, Canoe, Hike, Horseback, Kayak 23.8 mi
Big Elk Creek Trail
Irwin, Idaho
5.1 miles EA non-motorized mountain bike trail along Big Elk Creek near Irwin, Idaho — open to MTB riders on BLM-adjacent forest land.
Mountain Bike
Red Ridge Trail
Swan Valley, Idaho
6.1 miles NWA designated OHV trail near Swan Valley in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest — ideal for off-highway vehicle adventures in the Idaho backcountry.
Mountain Bike
Long Gulch/Indian Trail
Swan Valley, Idaho
6.1 miles NWA multi-use trail near Swan Valley open to OHVs (under 50 inches wide), mountain biking, horses, and hiking along Long Gulch and the historic Indian Trail corridor.
Mountain Bike
Palisades Hot springs
Swan Valley, Idaho
7.4 miles SEPalisades Hot Springs is a wild lakeshore soak where geothermal water seeps into Idaho's Palisades Reservoir — dig your own hot tub in the sand.
Hot Springs, Swim
Flat Iron Trail
Swan Valley, Idaho
7.7 miles NWAn OHV trail in Swan Valley, Idaho — a motorized off-highway vehicle route through the national forest.
Mountain Bike
Indian Creek Campground (Palisades)
Irwin, Idaho
8.8 miles SEA picturesque reservoir nestled between the Snake River and Caribou ranges, just 25 miles from Jackson Hole — a beautiful drive and a wildlife-rich fishing base.
Camp, Hike, Horseback, Swim
North/South Rainey Creek Trails
Irwin, Idaho
10.1 miles NA motorcycle trail through the North/South Rainey Creek area near Irwin, Idaho — suited for motorized trail riding.
Mountain Bike
South Fork Bear Creek Trail
Wayan, Idaho
11.3 miles SWAn OHV trail in Wayan for off-highway vehicle riders in the Idaho backcountry.
Mountain Bike
Fall Creek Falls
Swan Valley, Idaho
11.4 miles NWA shaded Snake River campground near Swan Valley with abundant wildlife, great trout fishing, and Fall Creek Falls a quarter-mile away.
Camp, Cave, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Echo/Indian Creek Trail
Swan Valley, Idaho
11.7 miles NWAn OHV trail through the Swan Valley area of Idaho — a rugged option in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest for off-highway vehicle enthusiasts.
Mountain Bike
Echo Canyon aka Fall Creek
Ririe, Idaho
12.0 miles NWTrail goes to the top of Deadhorse Ridge for some amazing views. Double-track, single-track, and gravel road. Length: 15 miles
Mountain Bike
South Fork Fall Creek Trail
Swan Valley, Idaho
12.7 miles WAn OHV trail on the South Fork Fall Creek near Swan Valley, Idaho — open for off-highway vehicle use.
Mountain Bike
Sheep Driveway
Irwin, Idaho
14.0 miles NA multi-use trail near Irwin, Idaho, open to OHVs, mountain bikes, day hikers, and horse riders alike.
Mountain BikeNearby Campsites
Bear Creek Hot Springs
Irwin, Idaho
3.7 miles STrek ~13 miles up a creek canyon near Palisades Reservoir to a secluded natural hot spring — gentle most of the way, with one rewarding final climb.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Hot Springs, Mountain Bike 2.8-4.1 mi
Palisades Creek Trail / Lakes and Waterfall Canyon
Irwin, Idaho
4.9 miles NSpectacular mountain views, two landslide-formed alpine lakes, and mountain goat sightings — all within a 4-to-6-mile hike in the Swan Valley wilderness.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike
Big Elk Campground
Irwin, Idaho
4.9 miles EA versatile campground near Palisade Reservoir with fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and kayaking — plus a small secluded lake on the drive in that's perfect for a quiet afternoon.
Camp 6.9 mi
Big Elk Creek
Irwin, Idaho
4.9 miles EA versatile campground on a small dammed lake with fishing, kayaking, hiking and backpacking into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, and stunning fall Aspen and Douglas-Fir colors on the Big Elk Creek Trail.
Backpack, Camp, Canoe, Hike, Horseback, Kayak
Indian Creek Campground (Palisades)
Irwin, Idaho
8.8 miles SEA picturesque reservoir nestled between the Snake River and Caribou ranges, just 25 miles from Jackson Hole — a beautiful drive and a wildlife-rich fishing base.
Camp, Hike, Horseback, Swim
Falls Campground
Victor, Idaho
10.4 miles NWA Snake River campground near Swan Valley with cottonwood shade, abundant wildlife — eagles, osprey, moose, and deer — and Fall Creek Falls just a quarter mile away; Palisades Reservoir is 20 miles out.
Camp
Fall Creek Falls
Swan Valley, Idaho
11.4 miles NWA shaded Snake River campground near Swan Valley with abundant wildlife, great trout fishing, and Fall Creek Falls a quarter-mile away.
Camp, Cave, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Alpine Campground
Alpine, Wyoming
12.5 miles SEA lodgepole-pine campground two miles west of Alpine near the south end of Palisades Reservoir, with boating, waterskiing, swimming, and canoeing plus excellent fishing for cutthroat, brown trout, kokanee salmon, and mackinaw.
Camp
Pine Creek Campground
Victor, Idaho
16.9 miles NThe Pine Creek Campground has 10 single units and has restrooms.
Camp
Mike Harris Campground
Victor, Idaho
17.4 miles NEA scenic mountain campground at 6,200 feet along Teton Pass just 5 miles from Victor, Idaho — a peaceful base for fishing, trail exploring, and sightseeing in the Teton region.
Camp
Darby Canyon Camping
Alta, Wyoming
25.8 miles NDispersed campsites with fire lays in scenic Darby Canyon — no official campground, just established spots in Wyoming wilderness. Leave No Trace and use existing rings only.
Camp
Bailey Lake
Jackson, Wyoming
26.3 miles SENamed by Congressional action in 1967 for prominent jurist Robert D. Bailey Sr., this reservoir on the Guyandotte River in West Virginia was dedicated in August 1980.
Camp, Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike
Wolf Flats Recreation Area
Ririe, Idaho
27.3 miles NWWolf Flats Recreation Area is a free, undeveloped camping area strung along the South Fork of the Snake River in the canyon country east of Idaho Falls, and it's a longtime favorite of eastern Idaho...
Camp
Moody Meadows
Driggs, Idaho
27.4 miles NWGood place for kids, they can ride bikes in the meadow, play in the stream, and camping is off of the road. Hiking, motorbiking, and horseback riding trails are abundant in the area.
Camp
Table Rock Campground
Ririe, Idaho
28.1 miles NWA campground in Caribou-Targhee National Forest — part of a 3-million-acre stretch from Montana to the Utah and Wyoming borders — with access to the Curlew National Grassland.
Camp 1.3-4.3 mi
Phelps Lake
Jackson, Wyoming
30.2 miles NEA 5.5-mile loop around beautiful Phelps Lake with mountain scenery, majestic blue water, several Teton waterfalls, and lakeside campsites — plus a popular cliff jumping rock along the trail.
Backpack, Camp, Dive, Hike, Swim
Kelly Island Campground
Ririe, Idaho
30.4 miles NWA BLM campground with 14 family sites and 1 group site for RVs or tents, open May through September — vault toilets, pets welcome, and rates from $5–$20 per night.
Camp
Paramount Wall / Blanche Rock
Ririe, Idaho
30.8 miles NWA sport climbing wall above the road near Ririe with great exposure, afternoon shade, and well-loved 5.9–5.10 lines — most routes work with a 50-meter rope, established by Chuck Oddette and crew.
Camp, Horseback, Rock Climb
Big Hole Dispersed Campsites
Ririe, Idaho
30.9 miles NWA network of dispersed campsites with fire rings in the Big Hole mountains above Kelly Canyon — first come, first served, no reservations, and Leave No Trace principles are essential.
Camp 0.5-3.5 mi
Webster's Dam
Ririe, Idaho
32.0 miles NWAn abandoned dam in Moody Creek canyon where sediment split the stream into two beautiful 15-foot waterfalls — stunning in spring runoff and blazing with fall colors.
Camp, Hike, Mountain Bike