Nothing beats the thrill of scoring a last-minute campground reservation. Forget driving around scouting for potential spots Friday night after a long drive and an even longer workday. We’ve all been there before. Knowing your site is there waiting for you is a burden lifted off your shoulders. If you’re in the Boise area and looking for a last-minute campground on Lake Cascade, shoot a look at French Creek Campground, in Cascade, Idaho.
What is There to Do Nearby?
Deep down, I have to admit to myself I don’t enjoy camping for the sake of camping. I enjoy camping because it puts me close to activities I love the most. French Creek is an activity playground. You come here for hiking, kayaking, fishing, and bird watching.
You can launch a non-motorized boat directly from the campground. It looks like there used to be a dock here, but that it’s long gone. Many people get here and are disappointed by that, but you can still walk straight into the shallow water and set off on your paddleboard.
If hiking is more your style or you can’t swim, I would recommend the Crown Point trail. Crown Point is an easy hike that people of all ages and endurance can do. Go as far as you’d like (although it becomes private property after about 3 miles). The views are good the entire way. If you go far enough from the trailhead, you’ll be rewarded with some solitude around a busy recreation area. Find a secluded beach and relax for the rest of the day.
Take a look at our trail guide for Crown Point for more information on this hike.
Camping at French Creek Campground
Rates and Prices
Each site at french creek will run you $15/night.
Campsites
French Creek has 21 campsites available. 1-8 are right on the lake, and the rest are on the other side of the road. There are lots of spots suited for trailers, which fill up fast, but there are three or four car camping sites that rarely seem to be taken. Unfortunately, those campsites are close to the road, and you may have to deal with headlights from the road all throughout the night as we did. Seriously people, where were you all going at 2 am?
Each site has a high-walled firepit and grate, which is excellent for cooking but poor at keeping you warm around the nightly campfire. The iron sides of the pit keep most of the direct heat all to themselves. Bring that extra jacket!
A picnic table is also installed at each site. Ours was on top of an anthill, so we couldn’t use it without insects crawling all over the food. But that’s the beauty of camping in nature; improvise, adapt, overcome. Always good to bring a small camping table for cooking, food prep, beer holding, etc…
Reservations
French Creek Campground reservations can be made at Recreation.gov.
Final Review
French Creek is designed for extended stays in trailers. A trailer blocks the sounds and lights from the nightly parade of vehicles. We witnessed every tent camper leave a day or two early (including us), citing sleep deprivation. That being said, the campsites’ view and the easy access for launching paddle rafts are hard to beat anywhere on Lake Cascade. So if you own a trailer, are a hardcore sleeper, or can sleep with earplugs and eyes masks, this campground is an absolute delight and one of the best in the area.
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.
I will have to give it a try next year in my truck camper if the border is open then, I am in Alberta Canada.