Calamity

Show on map 208-270-0150 OR 541-351-1182

Overview

Calamity Campground is located along the Snake River drainage at the north end of beautiful Palisades Reservoir at an elevation of 5,700 feet, just 55 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Visitors enjoy boating, water skiing, fishing and canoeing.

Recreation

Palisades Reservoir offers excellent boating, water skiing, swimming and canoeing. Lake and shore fishing are very popular here as well, with wild and stocked cutthroat trout as the predominate species. Kokanee salmon, brown and Mackinaw trout can also be found. A boat ramp and large parking area are located on-site.

The Palisades Creek Trail begins nearby, leading hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders to beautiful Upper Palisades Lake and expansive views of Swan Valley.

Facilities

The campground offers several campsites on three loops. All sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Some sites have a few stairs from the parking spur to the site pad.

Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided, but there is no electricity. Firewood is available for purchase from the host. Roads and parking spurs are gravel.

Natural Features

The campground is situated on a hillside above Palisades Reservoir, affording scenic views from many sites. A mixed forest of lodgepole pine, spruce, fir, aspen and maple trees partially shade the campground. Summer wildflowers dot the landscape.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (541) 351-1182.

Nearby Attractions

Big Elk Creek Trail, for hiking, biking and horseback riding, begins at nearby Big Elk Campground and meanders up a beautiful canyon brimming with wildflowers, towering trees and views of the surrounding mountains.

Swan Valley and the Snake River offer more great fishing and boating opportunities, as well as rafting, canoeing and numerous trails for hiking, biking, horseback and ATV riding. Fall Creek Falls is 20 miles away, and the Fall Creek area has hundreds of miles of such trails.

Camp site features

Across 40 camp sites:

Pets allowed: 36 of 40 sites
Longest RV: 50 ft
Largest party: 8 people

Directions

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.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

70 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Kevin W

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

Well managed campsite. The hosts were pleasant.

Justine L

Loop:B

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

Such a beautiful campground! It is so family friendly, safe, and fun. We absolutely loved our stay and can’t wait for many more weekends spent there in the coming years.

Alexander W

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Beautiful area with many hikes nearby, as well as decent proximity to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, WY.

Wade T

Loop:B

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

The campground was quiet and the weather was great. The reservoir was way low but still a lot of fun.

Celine V

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

The campsite is fine, but this is not a quiet recreation area. There are signs saying no motorcycles or ATVS, but there were adults and children using them at all hours. Other campsite users were loud past quiet hours. We didn’t stay for the second night we had reserved.

Bryan W

Loop:A

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

Our third vacation here in the last ten years. First two, the water was full to the top, was able to enjoy swimming near the launch and jet-skiing on the lake. This time, the water was way down, but this created a vast beach area where we drove to the water and set up a day camp. Kids loved it, great jet-skiing as well. Early August is Huckleberry season, great for pancakes in the morning.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve