South Fork Clearwater River anglers advised that camping is no longer allowed on ITD properties

As anglers make plans to fish the South Fork Clearwater River this year for steelhead, they should be aware of an Idaho law that prohibits camping on certain state-owned property (see Statue below). This law applies to Idaho Transportation Department property (ITD) which includes many of the pull offs along the South Fork Clearwater River. This means if somebody is camping on one of ITD’s pull-outs/right of ways along the South Fork of the Clearwater River (see picture below as an example) they could be cited for an infraction. Fish and Game staff realizes that this is a change from the past and will be making an attempt to educate people on the relatively new law before enforcing it. This regulation is not exclusive to the South Fork Clearwater (Hwy 13 & 14) and includes state-owned properties as defined in the statute below. 

Contact the regional office for more information (208) 799-5010.

Idaho Statutes –Title 67-14 states, “No person shall camp on or in any state-owned or leased property or facility including, but not limited to, the capitol mall, except those that are designated as a recreational camping ground, area or facility. The provisions of this section shall not apply or affect policies, rules, statutes or leases on endowment lands, department of parks and recreation lands or department of fish and game lands. For the purposes of this section, the term "camp" or "camping" means to use as a temporary or permanent place of dwelling, lodging or living accommodation, and which indicia of camping may include, but are not limited to, storing personal belongings, using tents or other temporary structures for storing personal belongings or for sleeping, carrying on cooking activities, laying out bedding or making any fire. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an infraction. Such persons shall be required to remove all their personal property from the state-owned or leased property..”