Get out your gear – it’s time to camp
With summer just around the corner, now is a great time to plan for the camping season, so here are five campsites to consider.
Rangers are busy preparing local Forest Service campgrounds for the scheduled May 1 opening. Reservations are not taken for any of these sites; check with the ranger’s office at (208) 765-7223 to ensure the campground is open.
About 2.5 million acres of public lands in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests offer a wide range of outdoor activities, and unique campgrounds lie within.
Camping is a cheap alternative to high-priced vacations requiring airline travel, hotel rooms and dining out. Plus, it’s great for family bonding and a good escape from TVs, video games and the Internet. Gear runs from a basic tent and sleeping bags to fancy RVs. We are lucky to have Forest Service campgrounds in our area at reasonable prices. Private campsites are also offered.
One of the best Web sites on family camping is Pete’s Family Camping Site at http://home.gwi.net/spectrum /camping.html. For a good laugh, be sure the read “10 Steps to Being a Totally Obnoxious Camper.”
“Mokins Bay Campground. This is the only campsite on Hayden Lake. The bad news is its listing on the proposed Forest Service land sale. Comments about the sale will be accepted by he Forest Service, until May 1, by e-mail at SRS_Land_Sales@fs.fed.us
Features: 16 campsites (No. 13 overlooks Hayden Lake), drinking water, toilets, fire pits, horseshoe pitching, fishing and boating.
Fees: $10 per night, $5 for an extra vehicle.
Altitude: 2,300 feet.
Directions: from Interstate 90, go north on U.S. Highway 95 for six miles, turn east on Lancaster Road (turns into East Hayden Lake Road), go 16 miles on the winding road around Hayden Lake to Mokins Bay. Turn east at the “Public Camp” sign and go 200 feet to the campground.
“Beauty Bay Campground. Set in a valley below Caribou Ridge, this site is a great base for local hikes to Mount Coeur d’Alene, Beauty-Carlin Trail and Mineral Ridge.
Features: 20 campsites, drinking water, toilets, fire pits, hiking and Lake Coeur d’Alene access.
Fees: $12 per night and $5 for an extra vehicle.
Altitude: 2,100 feet.
Directions: Take I-90 east to Highway 97 (about 10 miles from downtown Coeur d’Alene). Turn right on Highway 97 (exit 22) for about 2.3 miles, then left on Beauty Creek Road (Forest Road 438) for one mile to the campground.
“Bell Bay Campground. Overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene, this is a great place to enjoy the lake and access the 72-mile Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes bike path.
Features: 26 campsites, drinking water, toilets, fire pits, fishing, biking and hiking. In Harrison there are boat docks, a beach, restaurants, bike rentals, local history, gift shops and lake tours.
Fees: Lower loop: $10 per night and $5 for an extra vehicle. Upper loop: $8 per night and $4 for an extra vehicle.
Altitude: 2,600 feet.
Directions: Take I-90 east to Highway 97 (about 10 miles from downtown Coeur d’Alene). Turn right on 97 (exit 22) and go south for 25 miles. Turn west (three miles west of Harrison) and go three miles to the campground.
“Bumblebee Campground. Situated on the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, this site is ideal for fishing.
Features: 25 campsites, drinking water, toilets, fire pits, fishing and river floating.
Fees: $10 per night and $5 for an extra vehicle.
Altitude: 2,200 feet.
Directions: From Coeur d’Alene, go east on I-90 for approximately 28 miles. Take exit 43 (Kingston), then go east on Forest Road 9 for six miles, then on Forest Road 209 for three miles to the campground.
“Honeysuckle Campground. Just a little higher in the Bitterroot Mountains than Bumblebee, this spot on the Little North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River is another good fishing spot.
Features: Seven campsites, toilets, fire pits, fishing and hiking.
Fees: $10 per night and $5 for an extra vehicle.
Altitude: 2,800 feet.
Directions: from Coeur d’Alene, go east on I-90 to exit 15. Go left under the freeway to Fernan lake Road 268 for 11 miles, and then take Forest Road 612 for 11 miles to the campground.