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BLM Camping

Jump Creek

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.

Jump Creek in southwestern Idaho is a scenic location where you can hike, swim, and picnic. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the federal agency tasked with maintaining Jump Creek. It manages roughly one in every 10 acres of land in the United States. You can find BLM-managed sites near Jump Creek by searching "BLM camping near me."

Jump Creek is a hidden loop trail reached by a short trek through a publicly owned path on private property. It's dotted with caves, rivers, streams, and at the end of it all, a breathtaking hidden waterfall that is the locale's trademark. The loop will take you through a geographically diverse canyon with lots of interesting flora and fauna, some of which are unique to the region's diverse riparian systems. Jump Creek has many open spaces riddled with dunes and bumps, making the location popular for off-roading as well. If you want to visit some national parks while on your vacation to Jump Creek, the nearest ones are Grand Teton National Park, six hours and 45 minutes northeast of Jump Creek in Wyoming, and Crater Lake National Park, six hours and 47 minutes southwest of Jump Creek in Oregon.

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

Jump Creek Falls Trail

A scenic trail ending with Jump Creek's iconic waterfall, it is popular for hiking, running, and biking. An easy route that is good for families with children, the trail is short and mostly flat. Near the end of the otherwise simple trail is a shallow creek. Jump Creek has a mild and pleasant climate at all times save for the winter, so crossing its creek then will be more challenging.

Length: 0.6 miles

Intensity: Easy

Jump Creek Trail

This is the more difficult second half of the trail. Its path follows a sidehill through the vegetation-dense Poison Creek Grade Road all the way until the Poison Creek waterfall. Navigating this section requires stamina, preparation, and canyoneering skills.

Length: 5 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Sands Basin Loop Trail

This is a challenging path that will take multiple days to complete on foot. The area is the origin of Jump Creek's waterfall and features an enormous canyon with an interior lined with breathtaking, colorful rocks that require stamina and experience to navigate. Strewn about the trail are natural ramps and steep inclines that are suitable for biking.

Length: 56.4 miles

Intensity: Hard

Jump Creek Top Falls Trail Loop

This trail can be navigated in either direction and requires traversing a somewhat-difficult incline to reach the top of the waterfall. It features a maximum elevation of 643 feet. This gives the trail many beautiful vistas to enjoy while using its broad paths for running, hiking, and biking.

Length: 1.9 miles

Intensity: Hard

Wildlife Viewing

Large birds of prey, like the red-tailed hawk, are some of the impressive creatures found in Jump Creek. Pygmy rabbits and coyotes are common examples of land-dwelling animals in the area. Raccoons, deer and elk, and owls also live in Jump Creek.

Picnicking

Many picnic areas are scattered throughout the beginner-friendly entrance to the larger trail at Jump Creek. The marquee picnic site is located at the top of the Jump Creek Falls Trail. It's a challenging destination to reach that provides an incredible view.

Fishing and Boating

Swimming is permitted at the basin of the Jump Creek Falls Trail. Likewise, guests can enjoy refreshing swims in any of the campground's many waterfall basins of differing sizes. You can go fishing at the Big Pass Reservoir, which is 25 minutes southeast of Jump Creek. Some of the fish you may catch here include trout, bass, salmon, crappie, and sturgeon. Twenty minutes northeast of Jump Creek is Marsing Island Park, where you can fish for trout in Marsing Pond.

Climbing

The deeper trails in Jump Creek will require canyoneering skills like rappelling, sliding, climbing, and vaulting. If you're an experienced climber, then the interior of Jump Creek's vast canyon will offer many exciting rock-climbing challenges. Intermediate climbing challenges begin roughly seven miles into the trail.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

Bureau of Land Management campgrounds does not provide amenities besides vault toilets and drinking water if that. So if you want to go RV camping somewhere less primitive, there are some developed near Jump Creek. River Haven RV Park, 20 minutes northeast of Jump Creek, is situated along the bank of the Snake River. It features pull-through sites, 15-/20-/30-/50-amp electrical hookups, a shower house, and laundry facilities. Also 20 minutes to the north is the Snake River RV Resort. It provides long pull-through sites with full hookups. There also is free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, showers, a boat ramp and dock, and a horseshoe pit.

Free Camping

Bureau of Land Management free camping is available in Jump Creek. Ample BLM RV camping is available at the Jump Creek Recreation Center. It is the first structure you will see in the otherwise remote area. A fee is charged for access to the gate-protected RV lot. Free boondocking is available outside the property and is permitted at Jump Creek.

Jump Creek can fill up quickly during the spring and summer months. If the RV park at the recreation center is full, you can stay at the Succor Creek State Natural Area, which is an hour and five minutes southwest of Jump Creek in Oregon. There are 18 primitive sites and a vault toilet, but there is no water available. Also, in Oregon, about an hour and a half southwest of Jump Creek is the Leslie Gulch Area of Environmental Concern. Here, you can camp at the Slocum Creek Campground for a maximum of 14 days. Toilets are available, but drinking water isn't.

RV Rentals Near Jump Creek Plan your next adventure

Credit: Vanna Mae, @vannamaeart

Planning your Jump Creek BLM trip

Packing smart is crucial for a successful camping trip. Essential tools include lanterns, portable phone chargers and batteries, fire-starting equipment, and refillable, insulated thermoses. The weather in Jump Creek is typically agreeable. That said, it's still useful to be informed of the area's weather forecast for the upcoming weeks. Jump Creek is the nicest and sees the most flow to its waterfall in the spring.

Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.

Leave No Trace

The BLM's primary purpose is to preserve the long-term health and beauty of Jump Creek. Human garbage, waste, and negligence are some of the largest factors negatively impacting the environment. Do not toss your trash in water sources. View nature from a respectful distance, and refrain from feeding animals. Put out any cooking or camping fires, and remove/destroy any flammable remnants. Pack up camp supplies and personal belongings thoroughly, and try to leave the BLM site cleaner than you found it.

Jump Creek Location

Jump Creek is Southwest of Marsing, Idaho. The fastest route from Boise follows Interstate 84 through to Exit 33A. Follow the highway through Marsing until US-95. Continue for another mile until you hit an intersection. From here, turn left onto Jump Creek Road. The rest of the trip is through a public road on private property. Please be respectful of this when passing through.

Ready to visit Jump Creek? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day of exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice, soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here's a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.

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