French Creek Campground

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Recreation

Name: French Creek Campground

French Creek Campground is a Boise National Forest Campground set on the west side of Cascade Lake. It is set in a mature forest with plenty of shade and easy access to both the mountains to the west and the lake to the east. This is a natural setting, not trimmed or groomed. We visited French Creek Campground in late May 2011 just before it opened for the year so keep in mind the water level of the lake will not stay as low as the pictures show. Cascade Lake was still filling with spring run-off.

Campsites: There are 21 campsites. 1 through 8 are below the road, while campsites 9 through 21 are above the road. The roads are gravel while the sites are gravel and dirt. Most sites have a large tent square, a picnic table and fire pit. The campsites above the road are much larger than the campsites below the road. There is plenty of room between them. French Creek is small and runs along the lower sites on its way to the lake.

Host on Site: The Camp Host is located in campsite 2.

Water: French Creek Campground has a pressurized water system with faucets scattered throughout the campground.

Garbage Services: Garbage service is available in bear resistant containers. Please use them to avoid an unwelcome visitor during the night.

Electricity Available: No.

Restroom: There are 3 vault style outhouses. There is one on the lower loop and two on the upper loop. The upper loop outhouses were new in 2011.

Handicap Accessible: The outhouses are all handicap accessible.

Firewood: We saw no indications that firewood was available. You will need to plan on providing your own, or you could buy some at the state park campgrounds nearby.

Pets: Pets are allowed but must be kept on a leash.

Picnic Area: There is no picnic area at French Creek Campground.

Fishing: Fishing is available in Cascade Lake for trout, perch, Northern Pikeminnow and both large and small mouth bass from either a boat or the bank.

Boating: Boat access to the lake is provided by a small boat ramp on the lower loop of the campground. When the water is too low to use the boat ramp at French Creek, there is a very nice boat ramp available at Campbell Creek which is a short drive to the south.

Swimming: I am sure people do swim from French Creek's docks but there is no "beach".

Wildlife: Wildlife include elk, deer, black bear, wolves and many small woodland critters as well as birds. We saw two cow elk in a meadow near the campground on our way to the campground.

Additional Camping Opportunities: We have reviewed these nearby campgrounds; Amanita Campground, Big Sage Campground, Blue Heron Campground, Buttercup Campground, Crown Point Campground, Curlew Campground, Huckleberry Campground, Poison Creek Campground, Rainbow Point Campground, Ridgeview Campground, Sage Bluff Campground, Sugarloaf Campground, Van Wyck Campground and West Mountain Campground.

Phone service: There is no pay phone but we had reception on our ATT cell phones.

Nearby Services: For services such as food, gas, batteries, propane and pop, I recommend driving back to Cascade which is straight east across the lake.

RV Dumping Site: There are two RV dump stations nearby. One is at Van Wyck Campground across the lake near Cascade. The other is near West Mountain Campground to the north on the west side of Lake Cascade.

Location/Driving instructions: To find French Creek Campground from Cascade, Idaho, take Lakeshore Drive west to Van Wyck Campground, then south along Cascade Lake to a right turn onto West Mountain Road. Follow this google map to the campground.

Coordinates: 44.52833,-116.10833

Elevation: 4876 Feet

Reviewed Date: May 2011

Fees And Reservations: All of these campsites can be reserved through recreation.gov. As of May 2017 these standard campsites cost $15 per night.

This information is accurate as of the date of the review.