POCATELLO, ID—Southeast Idaho may be flooding with cold and rainy weather, but hardy campers are still looking to enjoy the outdoors on the public lands. “Calls have been ‘pouring’ in with people wondering whether campgrounds are open,” said Chuck Patterson, outdoor recreation planner for the BLM Pocatello Field Office (PFO). “The answer is yes they are.” He cautioned that accessing campgrounds could be problematic because of poor road conditions or local road closures. 

 

Patterson said that the BLM only closes campgrounds when safety hazards exist at the site, but he encouraged campers to check road conditions on the route to the campground with county officials before setting out. The PFO manages campgrounds at Hawkins Reservoir, Blackfoot Reservoir, Maple Grove, Heart Mountain Springs, Redpoint, Goodenough Creek, Sagehen, Cutthroat, Graves Creek, Morgan’s Bridge, and Trail Creek Bridge.

 

Other callers want to reserve a campsite at a BLM campground but are unable to find the campground on the recreation.gov website. The BLM does not offer camping reservations online, explained Patterson; BLM campsites are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.  

 

“Since this is the case, it is illegal and unethical to hold a site in a developed campground or recreation area by placing personal items at the site during the week to secure the site for the weekend,” Patterson said. “If items are left unattended in the campground or recreation area for more than 24 hours, they are subject to disposal.” 

 

In addition, recreation use fees are in effect from May 15-September 30 at Maple Grove, Redpoint and Blackfoot Reservoir campgrounds. Fees are posted at the self-pay stations in each campground. Because people can still access campsites, restrooms, boat ramps, boat trailer parking areas, and parking lots, fees are not waived when docks are underwater or on dry ground. For more information, please contact the PFO at 208-478-6340.