USFSSalmon-Challis National Forest · Idaho

Pole Flat Campground

This campground is away from the main road and up the hill overlooking the river and the dredge ponds.

Sites0all reservable

Elev.6,142ft

Comf.Jun-Sep4 months

Max rigtents

Electricnonesites

From Boise3h49real road time

The honest read

Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 6,142 ft, Pole Flat Campground has a 4-month comfortable window (Jun-Sep). Winter nights average around 13°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER

Reads strongest on cool nights and quiet. Softest on quiet.

Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.

When to go

02 · CLIMATE

avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Jul

Jun-Sep

Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.

86%

Of summer weekend-days are dry.

Jun 20

Last spring frost; first fall frost Sep 20.

47°F

Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS

Boise

149 mi

3h49

Idaho Falls

191 mi

4h07

Coeur d'Alene

409 mi

8h36

By drive time

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 2.4 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Trail segments

Water & Access

Lake / river access

yes

To nearest major road

2.4 mi

Method

We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.

Check availability on Recreation.gov →