About Big Eddy Campground
Big Eddy Campground is located approximately 15 miles north of Banks, Idaho, just off Highway 55 at an elevation of 4,000 feet. The North Fork Payette River flows next to the highway, where whitewater rafting and kayaking are popular activities. Big Eddy used to be a water stop for the old steam engines. The foundation of the old water tower can still be seen across the river. Big Eddy Campground is one of 4 campgrounds that lie along State Highway 55, on the North Fork of the Payette River between Banks and Smiths Ferry. **Natural Features:** The campground is situated is a scenic canyon just above Highway 55. The mountains are forested with a mix of Ponderosa and lodgepole pines and shade is plentiful within most of the campground. Summer days are warm, reaching 80-90 degrees; nights are cooler. **Recreation:** The North Fork Payette River is a very popular location for whitewater…
- Season: Mid-May – End of September
- Managed by: USFS - Boise National Forest
- Where: 6 mi south of Smiths Ferry, ID · 44.22049, -116.10679
Things to do:
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Jun–Sep (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Nov–Apr.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Trails near camp
| Trail | Open to | From camp | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Fork Ridge | ATV road | 0.5 mi | 6.8 mi |
| Spur 643Q | ATV road | 1.1 mi | 6.7 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
Verizon 5G · AT&T 4G · T-Mobile 5G
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way shows rich detail, horizon to horizon.
Class 2 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Dump station: 20.2 mi
Nearest of each within 25 miles, straight-line.