French Creek Campground

📌 Cascade Area 📍 44.52833,-116.10833 ⛰ 4,876 ft

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.

Amenities

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.

Water

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

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.

Electricity

No.

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.

Handicap Access

The outhouses are all handicap accessible.

RV Dump 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.

Host On-Site

The Camp Host is located in campsite 2.

Phone Service

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

Garbage Services

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

Recreation

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.

Fees & Reservations

Fee Schedule

As of May 2017 these standard campsites cost $15 per night.

Reservations

All of these campsites can be reserved through recreation.gov.

Fees & Res.

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

Getting There

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.

7-Day Forecast

National Weather Service

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