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Overview: Bad Bear Picnic Area and Campground are located 48 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho, in a scenic Ponderosa pine forest along Highway 21 at an elevation of 5,100 feet. Wildlife and summer wildflowers are abundant. Historic Idaho City is just 11 miles south. Mores Creek runs adjacent to the site, offering whitefish and rainbow trout fishing. The Picnic area is just across Highway 21 from the Campground. There are picnic tables and a vault toilet. The site is in an open area with shade. Parking spurs are paved. Due to its proximity to the highway, some noise from passing traffic is to be expected. Highway 21, also known as the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway, snakes along Mores Creek to Mores Creek Summit, Gold Fork, and Banner Ridge with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and forest. Numerous trail opportunities are in the area, offering hiking, biking, horseback riding, and ATVing. In winter, the area becomes a playground for backcountry skiers and snowmobilers.
From Idaho City, Idaho, travel north along State Highway 21 approximately 10 miles. The Bad Bear Picnic area is on the east side of the road, just across State Highway 21, from the Bad Bear Campground.
If you don't mind occasional traffic this is a great place to camp in. It is right across river with clean toilets. We camped in Site#4 and it has perfect location.
This place is unbelievably beautiful I sat down by the river with my friend and we cooked up some sausages and pickles and it was just a wonderful place for a break if I had a fishing license I would have thrown in water and maybe caught a trout lots of birds flying around it was just a gorgeous place go see it I give it a 10
Great spot to camp, awesome roads to get there. Primitive toilet but nice building and clean. Fire pit with grill, and picnic table.
It's small. Only small trailers can use. Perfect during week. No real hiking trails in campground area.
Sites are well maintained. Bathrooms were immaculately clean without odors. Water pump easily accessible. Access to creek right from camp site, (#3). Love Bad Bear. Easy camp with family. Hint: site #3 is a double site which explains the higher cost.
