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The information below is provides a summary of camping
facilities in the Priest Lake area and outlines the state and
federal procedures for their respective campsite reservations.
More detailed information for the developed campgrounds on the
west side of Priest Lake is available at the USFS web site (www.reserveUSA.com)
and at the Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation web site
(www.idahoparks.org) for the east side campgrounds.
 A wide variety of camping options await
the visitor to Priest Lake. Approximately 435 developed RV/camping sites
and an additional 83 camping only sites are available in the immediate
Priest Lake area. Of these, over 400 are managed by either the USFS Priest
Lake Ranger District or Priest Lake State Park. Included are nearly 70
USFS campsites located on the Priest Lake islands. These are obviously
accessible only by boat and offer a unique camping experience. All developed
public campgrounds except one (Priest Lake State Park-Dickensheet Unit)
are located on the shoreline of either Priest Lake or Upper Priest Lake.
Most have a beach and swimming area. There are four campgrounds on the
shore of Upper Priest Lake. These are accessible only via hiking trail
or watercraft. The Priest Lake Ranger District also manages numerous less
developed, dispersed campsites throughout the forested lands to the west
and north of Priest Lake.
RVs (motor homes, campers & trailers) are welcome at the public campgrounds;
however, RV hook-ups are available only at the Indian Creek Unit of Priest
Lake State Park (Indian Creek & White Pine Campgrounds). Full and partial
RV hook-ups are also available at many of the private RV/Camping parks.
See the RV Section of the Lodging page for particulars.
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DICKENSHEET UNIT
(Map #1): On Priest River, one mile off State Hwy 57 on Dickensheet Road.
- 11 campsites (no hook-ups or drinking water).
- $12 per night; $5 for extra vehicle fee.
- Vault toilets, tables & fire
grills at each site.
- Canoe/raft/kayak launching site.
- Not recommended for large RVs.
INDIAN
CREEK UNIT (Map #2): On Indian Creek Bay, approxmately
12 miles north of Coolin.
- Two campgrounds in the unit
(Indian Creek & White
Pine) plus five Camper Cabins.
- Indian Creek Campground: 42 campsites and
five Camper Cabins (11 full hook-up sites @ $22 per
night; 11 partial hook-up sites @ $20 per night; and 20
no hook-up sites @ $16 per night. The five camper cabins
are $45 per night)
- White Pine Campground: 51 partial hook-up,
gravel pad campsites; $20 per night year around.
- Other charges: $5 per night for extra vehicle;
$4 motor vehicle use fee; $5 per day boat dock moorage
fee / $8 if sleeping on boat.
- Facilities include showers,
flush toilets (vault toilets in winter), boat ramp & docks, picnic
area & shelter, dump station, beach and swimming area,
hiking trails, park store, and a table & campfire grill
at each site.
- Excellent recreational activities program
during summer season.
- Open year-round, but no water during
winter season; cross-country ski trails and access to Priest
Lake snowmobile trail system.
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LIONHEAD UNIT (Map #3): On
Mosquito & Squaw Bays, approximately 23 miles north of
Coolin.
- 47 no hook-up sites @ $12 per night & $5
nightly charge for extra vehicle.
- Tent camping oriented; 6 short pull-through
sites; remainder are car-length spurs with actual campsite
within short walking distance.
- $4 day use fee.
- Facilities include vault toilets, large
beach, boat ramp & docks, central drinking water faucets,
hiking trails, easy boat access to Thorofare & Upper Priest
Lake, free access to shower at Indian Creek, and table & campfire
grill at each site.
- Site of the Nell Shipman movie studio during
the 1920s.
- Lionhead Group Camp facility located at
south end of Lionhead Unit; rustic cabin w/ kitchen sleeps
eight; also nine RV hook-up sites. Minimum 2-day stay; maximum
of 50 people and 18 vehicles. $200 per night plus $6 per RV
hook-up used.
- Lionhead Unit is closed during the winter
season.
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Reservations for individual campsites
at the Indian Creek Unit and the Group Camp facility (Lion Head
Group Camp)
at the Lionhead Unit are accepted up to eleven months prior to
your planned arrival date. Reservations can be made via telephone
1-866-634-3246 or on-line at www.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov.
A $10 non-refundable reservation fee and the first night's camping
fee are collected at the time the reservation is made. A $25
non-refundable reservation fee will be charged for the group
camp. Payment may be made by credit card (Visa or MasterCard).
Campsite reservations fill very rapidly each year; submit your
request early. The other Priest Lake State Park campgrounds at
Lionhead and Dickensheet Units are operated on a first-come,
first-serve basis. The length of stay is limited to 15 days in
any 30-day period for all campgrounds in the Priest Lake State
Park system. Additional information on Priest Lake State Park
can be found at the web site www.idahoparks.org.
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| Priest Lake Ranger District |
| General Information |
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There are
five USFS maintained shoreline campgrounds on the west side of
Priest Lake: Outlet, Osprey, Luby Bay, Reeder Bay, and Beaver
Creek. All of these campgrounds have either flush or vault toilets,
picnic tables, fire rings, grills, garbage receptacles, a 14-day
stay limit and a fee. An additional fee is charged for an extra
vehicle. Dogs must be on leash at all times and dogs are not
allowed on beach areas. Camp hosts are provided at most campgrounds.
All campgrounds are open from May 15 through the end of September
- weather permitting. Reeder Bay Campground remains open through
hunting season, although the water is turned off in September.
The USFS also maintains four developed campgrounds along the shoreline
of Upper Priest Lake. They are accessed only via hiking or watercraft and
are PACK-IT-IN PACK-IT-OUT campgrounds.
Another USFS offering is the unique experience of camping on Priest Lake
islands. Three of the seven islands are open for camping and each offers
a different experience. Because of their small size and fragile nature,
camping is prohibited on Papoose, and both East and West Twin Islands.
There are no camping facilities on Eightmile Island and it is used primarily
as a day use area. Each island campground is located on beachfront property.
Porta-potties are required at all island sites that do not have vault toilets.
This requirement is waived if you have a self-contained, operational toilet
facility aboard your boat. A free SCAT machine is located at the Kalispell
boat launch (Map #9) to dispose of waste. The islands are all PACK-IT-IN
PACK-IT-OUT sites and burning of garbage is strictly prohibited. Island
camping is a special experience and it is every camper's responsibility
to exercise great care in the preservation of the natural island environment
for the enjoyment of future generations. You can expect periodic visits
from the Island Ranger. The ranger is responsible for collecting fees and
ensuring campers understand and comply with campground regulations. |
| Priest Lake Campgrounds Information |
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OUTLET
CAMPGROUND (Map #4): On Outlet Bay immediately north
of the outlet of Priest Lake into Priest River.
- 28 campsites; all sites first-come, first-serve.
- Small swimming beach.
- Extra vehicle charge.
OSPREY CAMPGROUND (Map #5): On west shore
along Lower Lakeshore Road about one mile north of Outlet
Campground.
- 18 campsites; all sites first-come, first-served.
- Situated in woods near the lake; no beach.
- Extra vehicle charge.
UPPER & LOWER LUBY BAY (Map #6 & #7): On Luby Bay just north of Hill's Resort. Largest USFS PL
District campground.
- 54 campsites; 60% of sites reserveable.
- Beach & swimming area,
amphitheater, RV dump station, and day use area (Map #8)
at campground.
- Historical museum, marina and public boat
launch close-by
- Extra vehicle charge.
REEDER BAY CAMPGROUND (Map #11): On Reeder
Bay approximately two miles from Nordman on Reeder Bay
Road.
- 24 campsites: 60% of sites reserveable.
- Beach & swimming area
and free day use area at Ledgewood Picnic Area (Map #12)
- Full service resorts with boat launch within
1/2 mile.
- Extra vehicle charge.
BEAVER CREEK CAMPGROUND & GROUP CAMPSITE (Map
#13): On Tule Bay with portage access to the Thorofare.
Twelve miles north of Nordaman on Reeder Bay Road.
- 41 campsites plus a group site (up to 30
people).
- 60% of campsites reserveable; group site
by reservation only.
- Beach & swimming area, portage area
for canoes & kayaks to Thorofare, trailhead for trails
to Upper Priest Lake Plowboy & Navigation campgrounds.
- Extra vehicle charge.
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| Island Campgrounds Information |
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KALISPELL
ISLAND (Map #10): Largest Priest Lake island located
near west shore approximately seven miles from the south
end of the lake.
- Receives heaviest use of all islands.
- 35 developed campsites scattered around
the island at 12 separate locations; first-come, first-served.
- Vault toilets at 6 sites;
porta-potties required at other sites (West Shores, Selkirk,
Shady, Peninsula, & Cottonwood).
- All sites have tables, fire rings, and privacy
screens; no drinking water; PACK-IT-IN PACK-IT-OUT.
- Large beach areas.
- Volunteer campground hosts in summer.
- Two day use areas (Sandy
Point & Kalispell
Vista).
BARTOO ISLAND (Map #10): Located mid-lake
approximately six miles from the south end of the lake.
- 25 developed campsites at 6 locations; first-come,
first-served.
- Vault toilets at Sunshine Campsite and Lone
Pine day use area; porta-potties required at all other
sites.
- All sites have tables, fire rings, and privacy
screens; no drinking water; PACK-IT-IN PACK-IT-OUT.
- Large beach areas
- Volunteer campground hosts in summer.
- Two day use areas (West
Sunshine & Lone
Pine)
FOURMILE ISLAND: Smaller island located along
east shoreline about four miles from the south end of the
lake.
- One developed campsite on the northwest
point of the island; first-come, first-served.
- No toilet on site; porta-potty required.
- Site has table and fire ring; PACK-IT-IN
PACK-IT-OUT.
- Smaller beach area; heavy boat traffic close-by
during summer season summer.
EIGHTMILE ISLAND: Larger island located along
east shoreline approximately eight miles from the south
end of the lake.
- No developed campsites on the island; primarily
a day use area.
- No facilities; PACK-IT-IN PACK-IT-OUT
- Beach area; heavy boat traffic close-by
during summer season.
- No fee area
- Vinther-Nelson
Cabin Historical Site located on Eightmile
Island; day use activities are prohibited at this historical
site.
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| Upper Priest Lake Campground Information |
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GEISINGERS
CAMPGROUND (Map #15): Two campsites at the mouth
of Upper Priest Lake where it empties into the Thorofare
- on east shore. Heavy close-in boat traffic during summer.
PLOWBOY CAMPGROUND (Map #16): Four campsites on the southwest
shore
of Upper Priest Lake.
TRAPPER CREEK CAMPGROUND (Map #17): Five campsites on the northeast
shore of Upper Priest Lake.
NAVIGATION CAMPGROUND (Map #18): Four campsites on the northwest
shore of Upper Priest Lake.
All Upper Priest Lake campgrounds share the characteristics indicated below:
- No drinking water.
- Vault toilets; fire rings; PACK-IT-IN PACK-IT-OUT.
- No fee; first-come, first-served.
- Beach area.
- Accessible only via watercraft or hiking.
BOTTLE BAY CAMPGROUND: Although this campground
is located on Bottle Bay on Priest Lake, it shares the same
characteristics as the Upper Priest Lake campgrounds. It
has seven campsites and is located on the northwestern shore
of Priest Lake, approximately 2-1/2 miles from the northern
end of the lake.
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| Dispersed Campgrounds Information |
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The Priest Lake Ranger District has designated
numerous dispersed camping sites generally to the west and northwest
of Priest Lake. These sites are undeveloped and have few, if
any, amenities. A dispersed camping area map is available at
the Priest Lake Ranger Station. The following points apply to
all dispersed camping sites.
- Camping at the same site is limited
to 14 consecutive days during any one-month period.
- All sites are PACK-IT-IN PACK-IT-OUT
no trace camping.
- No drinking water available; boil
all water from streams for at least 10 minutes.
- Be aware of bear safety
STAGGER INN
CAMPGROUND (Map #14): Although this campground is not designated
as a dispersed
campsite per
se, it is located in the same area as other designated dispersed
sites. Stagger Inn Campground is located at the Roosevelt Grove
of Ancient Cedars, 12 miles north of Nordman.
- 4 developed campsites; first-come,
first-served.
- Vault toilets.
- All sites have tables; fire pits;
no drinking water.
- No fee for camping; 14-day limit.
- Granite Falls and hiking trailheads
nearby.
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Sixty percent of the individual
campsites at Reeder Bay, Upper & Lower Luby Bay and Beaver
Creek, as well as the Beaver Creek Group Site, can be reserved
through
the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS). Access to
NRRS is available through the Internet at www.reserveUSA.com; via toll free
telephone at (877) 444-6777 / TDD (877) 833-6777; or international
telephone (518) 885-3639. The web site also provides detailed
information on the campground and a campground map with specific
campsite locations. This is the only means by which you can reserve
a campsite.
Through the NRRS, reservations for USFS and Corps Of Engineer recreational
campsites, cabins, federal wilderness area activities, etc. can be made
on a nation-wide basis. The NRRS telephonic reservation center is operational
6 am-6pm (PST) Mon-Fri and 8 am-4pm (PST) on weekends. Reservations via
the NRRS Internet web site can be made at any time.
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