Big Springs Grp. Area - Island Park

Location

BIG SPRING AVE
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Policies

Check-in

2:00 PM

Check-out

12:00 PM

Max stay

14 nights

Campfires

Allowed (per listing)

About

Perched at roughly 6,300 feet in Island Park, Idaho, the Big Springs Group Area sits about 22 miles south of West Yellowstone along Highway 20, a short hop east of Macks Inn on Big Springs Loop Road. The site occupies a single accessible group campsite that can accommodate up to 40 people and is set in a clearing ringed by lodgepole pine, with grasses and summer wildflowers threading the site. Big Springs itself is the headwater of the Henry's Fork and one of the largest springs in the country; the river flowing out is world-class for fly fishing (rainbow and brook trout) and also supports tubing, canoeing, kayaking and rafting. You can launch onto the Big Springs National Recreation Water Trail directly from the campground for a scenic 4.5-mile float that typically takes about three hours and ends at Macks Inn, where wildlife sightings moose, bald eagles, and Sandhill cranes among them are common along the way. The historic John Sack Cabin is close by for a bit of local history, and miles of Island Park trails, including connections to longer routes such as the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and portions of the Nez Perce Trail, make this a good base for hiking, biking, horseback riding and ATV use. The group site is equipped with practical, accessible amenities: picnic tables, tent pads, a campfire circle and grill, accessible vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection; 30-amp electrical service is available for a fee and firewood can be purchased from the host. Roads and parking spurs are gravel, and the single site is configured to serve both RVs and tent groups rather than individual sites, so parties should plan accordingly when organizing gear and vehicles. Beyond the immediate campground, Macks Inn (4.5 miles away) provides boat rentals, rafting shuttles, fuel, groceries and coin showers/laundry, while Island Park Reservoir, Henry's Lake and numerous smaller waters offer more boating and fishing opportunities; Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are also within a reasonable drive. The broader Caribou-Targhee National Forest supports a wide range of recreation biking, boating, camping, overnight cabin stays, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, OHV use, picnicking, swimming, wildlife viewing and winter sports and for specifics on fees, reservations and seasonal availability you should check current Forest Service information before you go.