Big Roaring River Lake Campground
1Heads up1 fire 24 mi away
This is how it should work.
- Right now
- Nobody has saidNo season, no closure, no bookings to read
The place
the agency’s own description · what’s there
In the agency’s own words
Overview: Set within the beautiful Trinity Recreation area, the Big Roaring River Lake Campground has12 campsites in a dense lodgepole forest on the river. The Trailhead to the north follows the Upper Roaring River and the Trailhead to the south accesses the William H. Pogue National Recreation Trail and the Lava Mountain Trail. Both trails are open to two-wheeled ATVs, horses, bikes, and people. The Lava Mountain Trail itself passes three lovely lakes on its way south to Lava Mountain. Fishing in the river or in Big Roaring River Lake for rainbow trout. Hand-carry boat launch for canoes and other small craft. Keep reading
Several Campgrounds in there area offer a quiet retreat in a beautiful high alpine landscape. The Trinity Recreation area has a limited season due to late snow melt, but campgrounds they are accessible by car. Natural Features: Campgrounds are located in a dense lodgepole pine forest close to the East Fork Roaring River at an elevation of 7,900 feet. They're nestled among four subalpine lakes: Big Roaring River Lake, Little Roaring River Lake, Big Trinity Lake and Little Trinity Lake. The peaks of the Boise Mountains surround the cabins, and Trinity Mountain, the tallest in the range at 9,700 feet, is just to the south. Snow can make this area inaccessible until early July, but soon afterward, the land is blanketed by colorful summer wildflowers. This area is a haven for elk and deer, but wildlife watchers may also spot an occasional black bear. Recreation: Hikers can access the 4-mile Rainbow Basin Trail System from Big Trinity Lake. The William H. Pogue National Recreation Trail and Lava Mountain Trail are for off-road vehicle enthusiasts, mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders. Both of these trails can be accessed near Big Roaring River Lake. The Little Roaring River Trail at Little Roaring River Lake is also open to mountain bike, off-road vehicles and hiking. Click here for an Idaho OHV Safety Message. Anglers can fish in any of the nearby lakes for rainbow and cutthroat trout. The lakes are also ideal for exploring by canoe or kayak. Nearby Attractions: The summit of Trinity Mountain is the highest drivable point in Idaho, although the road may be blocked by snow until early July. A short, steep hike takes visitors to the lookout tower for panoramic views of several subalpine lakes and other mountains in the Boise Range.
Facilities
- Boat ramp
- Yes
Around the campground
- On the water
- Lake, River
- Auto Touring
- Biking
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Wildlife viewing
Nothing to book, just show up
One of 1,623 federal campgrounds where the site still goes to whoever pulls in first. Get there before noon on a summer weekend.
recreation.gov publishes no availability for a campground you can’t reserve, so there’s no thirty-night reading to draw here. The season bar above is what the agency does publish.
Every line of the receipt · 3
What you actually pay
How we know this receipt · 4
rules read Sep 7, 2026 · record Aug 23, 2026 · How we know all this
Getting there
the map and the coordinate
Where it is
Big Trinity CabinBoise National Forest · 0.7 mi
Elks Flat CampgroundBoise National Forest · 9.4 mi
Dog Creek (ID)Boise National Forest · 9.4 miIce Springs CampgroundBoise National Forest · 9.8 miTroutdale CampgroundBoise National Forest · 11 miNinemeyer CampgroundBoise National Forest · 11 miThe weather
the next four days
Next four days, and the thirty-year normal
Forecast
NWS forecast for Idaho City, ID
The land, and who answers for it
what threatens it · who answers for it
What threatens this place
You’re camping on ground somebody wants. We track the threats and the comment deadlines.
Who answers for this land

Big Roaring River Lake Campground is in Idaho’s 2nd congressional district. Its representative, Mike Simpson (R), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: F. See every public-lands vote →