Campground Camping

Campground Camping Areas

• Big Creek Campground
• Coeur d'Alene River Area

  Recreation opportunities in the Coeur d'Alene River area (Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District) of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests are as diverse as the landscape. From camping on beautiful Hayden and Coeur d'Alene Lakes to wandering by foot, horse, mountain bike, motorcycle, ATV, or snowmobile through backcountry areas on our hundreds of miles of trails, we offer something for everyone. Our rental cabins, Little Guard Lookout perched high on a mountain peak with unlimited vistas and historic Magee Ranger Station nestled beside a stream, allow you to experience rustic Forest Service living at its best.

• Beauty Creek Campground
• Bell Bay Campground
• Big Hank Campground
• Bumblebee Campground
• Devil's Elbow Campground
• Honeysuckle Campground
• Kit Price Campground
• Mokins Bay Campground
• Lower Kootenai River Area

  The Lower Kootenai River Area (Bonners Ferry District) is bordered by the Purcell and Cabinet Ranges and the Montana Line on the east, the rugged Selkirk Range on the west, and the Canadian border to the north. The Kootenai River meanders north and west through the District, and the Moyie River joins it from the north.

  Peaks are moderate in elevation (6000 - 7000 ft.) but are rugged due to heavy glaciation. They are renowned for their mountaineering challenge.

  There are many spectacular lakes, both low elevation lakes with easy access and high elevation, subalpine lakes, accessed only by trail or 'bushwhacking'.

  National Forest lands offer a full range of year-round recreational opportunities. Emphasis tends to be placed on backcountry, non-developed, semi-primitive recreation, yet urban activities such as auto touring, white water rafting, and car camping are common as well.

  More than 360 miles of summer use trail are open and usable on the District. Approximately 60 miles of that are open to motorized use; the remainder is suitable for stock use, hiking, and camping. Miles of gated road offer additional routes for mountain bikers, berry pickers, and hunters.

  Dispersed car camping is common throughout the District. Four campgrounds provide developed recreation opportunities in addition to several picnic and camping areas and interpretive sites.

  The District provides two lookouts and one cabin for rental to the public. Cold water and ice fishing are popular as are white water rafting, canoeing, and swimming. Berry and mushroom picking and Christmas tree cutting are seasonally popular.

  Winter provides thousands of acres for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Groomed routes vary from year to year.

• Copper Creek Campground
• Meadow Creek Campground
• Robinson Lake Campground
• Smith Lake Campground
• Snyder Guard Station
• Pend Oreille Lake Area

  The Kalispel, Kutenai and other native peoples were the first inhabitants of this area. They lived along the waterways and utilized the area's abundant natural resources for survival. The Pend Oreille Lake area is famous for having recreational activities for every season. Some of our Forest opportunities range from, camping, fishing, hunting, berry picking, trail hikes, nature walks, horseback riding, bike riding, ATV/OHV trails, skiing.

• Green Bay Campground
• Sam Owen Campground
• Whiskey Rock Bay Campground
• Priest Lake Area

  Priest Lake was originally called Roothaan Lake by Father Desmet in 1846 in honor of his Jesuit Superior in Rome. One of the prominent peaks in the Selkirk Range still bears the name Roothaan. In 1865, Captain John Mullan designated this same lake as Kaniksu Lake on one of his maps. It is believed that "Kaniksu" was the Indian name of Black Robe, although this has never been authenticated. The name was gradually changed in the early 1900's from Kaniksu Lake to its present name of Priest Lake, which refers to the early-day Jesuit missionary priests who had established a base camp at Kalispell Bay in the 1840's. The lake is one of three largest and most beautiful lakes in the Idaho Panhandle, and a very popular recreation attraction. The world's largest Makinaw trout was caught here in 1963. Dolly Varden, Cutthroat, and Kokanee are also caught in the lake. It is now illegal to fish for Dolly Varden and they are to be returned to the lake when caught.
  
  Upper Priest Lake is part of the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. There were five small parcels of private land totaling about 420 acres on Upper Priest Lake. The Forest Service purchased these tracts in 1967 with the assistance of Nature Conservancy. The entire shoreline of Upper Priest Lake is now in either the State of Idaho or Federal ownership, and is administered as a scenic area.
  
  Upper Priest River, which flows into Upper Priest Lake, is one of the rivers to be studied for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers system along with the lower Priest River which was famous in the early days as a log-drive stream. The first recorded drive was in 1901 and the last in 1949. The greatest drive took place in 1931 when 50,000 cedar poles and 125,000,000 board feet or logs were herded down the river by the "river pigs".

• Bartoo Island Group Site/Campgrounds
• Beaver Creek Campground
• Geisinger Campground
• Kalispell Island Group Site and other Campgrounds
• Luby Bay Campground
• Navigation Campground
• Osprey Campground
• Outlet at Priest Lake Campground
• Plowboy Campground
• Reeder Bay Campground
• Trapper Creek Campground
• St. Joe River Area

  The St. Joe River area of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests includes most of what was originally established as the St. Joe National Forest and is now our St. Joe Ranger District.

  This is an area of blue-ribbon cutthroat trout streams, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and extensive roadless and primitive areas. We offer miles of trails for hikers, backcountry horse users, mountain bikers, and ATV riders. The St. Joe is nationally recognized for its' elk herds.

  Many of our campgrounds are located adjacent to the beautiful Wild & Scenic St. Joe River. Our Route of the Hiawatha rails-to-trails mountain biking route winds across trestles and through tunnels. Visit Marble Creek and view artifacts of early 20th century logging. Spend some time at one of our backcountry cabins or lookouts, or simply spend a day driving the St. Joe River road taking in the beauty of our rivers, mountains, vegetation, and wildlife.

• Big Creek Trails

  This area is bounded by private lands on the west, Coeur d’Alene Divide on the north, Cemetery Ridge Road on the east and the St. Joe River on the south. It provides an example of multiple-use recreation. It is enjoyed by hikers, stock users, motorcyclists and ATV riders. Elevations range from 2400 feet to over 6000 feet with over six prominent peaks. The topography is steep and dissected. The area is one of the closest and earliest places to open up and lose its snow for people to recreate. Many people plan their Memorial Day weekends here. The 1910 Fire consumed nearly the entire area. The vegetation is a mosaic of extensive brush fields, remnant stands of older trees and 100-year-old lodgepole pine stands. The Big Creek area was railroad logged following the 1910 Fire but evidence of this is essentially unnoticeable. Developments include cabins, lookout remnants and signs of mining activity. Big game hunting is very popular here and Big Creek supports important fisheries.

  Coeur d'Alene Divide Trail #8

  St. Joe Divide Trail #16

  Big Creek Trail #44 - Cleared Summer 2017

  East Fork Big Creek Trail #56 - Cleared Summer 2017

  Bronson Meadows Trail #155 - Cleared Summer 2017

  Prince Peak Trail #159 - Cleared Summer 2017

  Daugherty Hill Trail #252 - Cleared Summer 2017

  Lemonade Peak Trail #555 - Cleared Summer 2017

  Pierce Ridge Trail #563 - Cleared Summer 2017

  Cabin Ridge Trail #565

  Elsie Peak Trail #568 - Cleared Summer 2017

  Ames Ridge Trail #570 - Cleared Summer 2017

  Mowat Creek Trail #759

• Camp 3 Campground
• Cedar Creek Campground
• Conrad Crossing Campground
• Emerald Creek Campground
• Fly Flat Campground
• Line Creek Stock Camp
• Mammoth Springs Campground
• Packsaddle Campground
• Shadowy St. Joe Campground
• Spruce Tree Campground
• St. Joe Wild & Scenic River
• Telichpah Campground
• Tin Can Flat Campground
• Turner Flat Campground