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Tucked away in a heavily wooded, streamside location at the confluence of Kelly Creek and the North Fork of the Clearwater River in Northwest Idaho, is Kelly Forks Campground. With 14 campground sites, a group area, campground host and a hiking trail going directly up to Flat Mountain from the site, horseback riding trails in the vicinity, swimming and an abundant watchable wildlife, Kelly Forks has a little of everything. Also, for the all the anglers out there, Kelly Forks boasts a Blue Ribbon cutthroat trout stream (catch and release).
Kelly Forks cabin is approximately 45 miles northeast of the community of Pierce, Idaho on the North Fork Ranger District of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest within the Kelly Forks work center compound. The last 35 miles to the cabin from Pierce are mostly single lane, gravel surfaced roadways that may be peppered with large potholes, rocks and/or debris. **Seasonal conditions permitting** , the cabin is also approachable from I90 via Superior MT, with the addition of a high mountain pass that is usually impassible from late Oct to mid-July with 50 miles of gravel/dirt road conditions. To plan your trip accordingly, visitors are strongly advised to consult a map, the forest web site, and seasonal conditions in advance of making reservations as well as prior to travel since there are no services available on the forest.
To approach Kelly Forks cabin from Idaho via US HWY 12 and State HWY 11: Locate French Mountain Road, also known as Forest Service Road 250, on the east side of State HWY 11 (Main St) on the south end of Peirce Idaho (approximately 3/4 of a mile from city center). Travel on FSR 250 for approximately 45 miles (be sure to stay to the right after crossing the North Fork of the Clearwater River at the “Historic Bungalow Ranger Station site”) until you reach the Kelly Forks work center. Enter the compound via the third entrance on the right as signed and stay to the left at the fork before the employee housing complex and follow the road to the cabin at the back of the compound.
**Conditions permitting:** Kelly Forks cabin can be approached from USI90 via Superior MT by locating the River St under pass of USI90. Follow River St to Diamond Match Rd on the south side of USI90, follow Diamond Match Rd southeast past Riverbend where the road curves to the south and becomes FSR 250 (also known as the Trout Creek Road) travel 25 miles to Hoodoo Pass at the Idaho-Montana state line. Continue southwest on FSR 250 for approximately 29 more miles past the FSR 250/FSR 255 junction and thru Black Canyon to the Kelly Forks Work Center, then continue on FSR 250 100’ to the first road on the left entering the compound as signed, and stay to the left at the fork before the employee housing complexes, continue following the road to the cabin at the back of the compound.
***NOTE:** Hoodoo Pass, is a remote mountain pass that rises to 6,000 ft elevation and is typically impassable due to snow from late Oct until mid-July when the pass melts out. Black Canyon typically has spring debris slides that can make FSR 250 between Hoodoo pass and Kelly Forks Work Center impassible until cleared. An alternate route is to take FSR 255 through Deception and then follow it along Kelly Creek back to FSR250.
2 restrooms and water available. Nice spot but the sites are close to each other so a noisy neighbor can be a downer
This is a very subjective review. If you don't mind hours of dirt road driving, no cell coverage, no electricity (unless you bring it), needing to bring out your garbage, but you love fabulous scenery, world class trout fishing (catch and release only), clear skies and fresh air (when the forest is not on fire) you will rate this a 5 as I have. Otherwise, this place is not for you. BTW, with no internet or cell coverage, how did Google know we were there?
