Flat Rock Campground

Signs and Info

Campsites

Name: Flat Rock Campground

Flat Rock Campground is located 2 miles up the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River. Recreation at the campground itself is limited, but it is centrally located to many attractions. The Yankee Fork runs through a deep valley here as it approaches the main Salmon River. The surrounding mountains are all forested and are generally very steep and rocky. This is gold country so you will find ghost towns and other evidence of mining throughout this area.

Campsites: There are 9 tent / RV camping sites. The first 6 sites are in the first loop, and numbers 7,8 and 9 are in the second loop. We failed to take a picture in the second loop. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring with an attached grill. The road and driveways are gravel. Most of the sites have mature trees providing at least partial shade. Camp sites 4, 5 and 6 are my favorites.

Host on Site: No.

Water: Potable water is available from a hand-pump equipped well. I did not taste the water.

Garbage Services: No garbage service offered here. You will need to pack yours out with you.

Electricity Available: No.

Restroom: As with most of the campgrounds in this area, there is a vault style outhouse which appeared clean and well kept.

Handicap Accessible: Only the toilets are handicap accessible.

Firewood: You will need to gather your own firewood.

Pets: Pets must be kept on a leash.

Picnic Area: There is no picnic area here.

Recreation: The recreation activities available here include camping, fishing, hunting, trail riding (both bikes and horses), photography, rafting and kayaking in the main Salmon River as well as sight seeing. We toured the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge and the city of Custer. We would enjoy visiting both again. The Sunbeam Dam and Bathhouse were also interesting. Be careful about panning for gold as the claims are still mostly owned by the JR Simplot Co. as I understand it.

Fishing: The Yankee Fork of the Salmon River is open for trout fishing year around on a catch and release basis. From Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30, you may keep 6 trout per day but no harvest of cutthroat trout. Check the regulations at our fishing info page.

Boating: There are no boating facilities here at Flat Rock Campground, but rafting and kayaking are very popular on the main Salmon River from Stanley to Clayton, Idaho.

Swimming: No swimming here, but the river calms down by the time you get to Pole Flat Campground and one could certainly find a swimming hole there.

Wildlife: Deer, elk and bear abound here. Wolves have surely spread into this area. Mountain goat and mountain lion live here but they make themselves scarce.

Additional Camping Opportunities: We have reviewed these nearby campgrounds; Blind Creek Campground, Pole Flat Campground, Custer Campground and Eightmile Campground. According to the map, there is another campground at Bonanza. There are free primitive sites available as you get further upstream.

Phone service: There is no phone service here. Stanley, Idaho, has both cell reception and a pay phone or two.

Nearby Services: From Flat Rock Campground, I would drive the 15 miles to Stanley for any camping supplies you may run low on such as gas, propane, food, ice or pop. One could also drive East on Hwy 75 where there is a gas station and store just a little ways past Clayton, Idaho.

RV Dumping Site: There is a RV dumping station just south of Stanley.

Location/Driving instructions: Flat Rock Campground is 15 miles NE of Stanley, Idaho. Take Hwy 75 NE toward Challis for 13 miles to Yankee Fork Road. It is a left turn onto Yankee Fork Road, then a 2.0 miles ride to the campground which will be on your right.

Coordinates: 44.290261,-114.718308

Elevation: 6109 Feet

Reviewed Date: July 2010

Fees And Reservations: Flat Rock Campground is not reservable, first come first serve. We visited in the middle of the week in July and found only two sites occupied. The daily fee is $10.00 per site as of May 2017.

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