Camping season on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests begins

Coeur d’Alene – It is camping season on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests and the Forest Service would like to inform the public of operational changes, campground opening dates, and a few tips for a fun and safe camping season. Concessionaire-operated campgrounds on the Forest are now managed by Scenic Canyons Recreational Services, Inc. (SCRS). Most concessionaire-operated campgrounds will open May 17, 2019 with reduced services on a first-come, first-served basis until the official opening date for reservations on May 24, 2019. For more information, please contact SCRS at (435) 265-6746 or visit: www.sceniccanyons.com.

Concessionaire-operated campgrounds that are open May 17- May 23, on a first-come, first-served basis include:

- Priest Lake Ranger District: Osprey and Outlet Bay campgrounds

- Sandpoint Ranger District: Sam Owen Sam Owen Campground

- Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District: Bumblebee, Devil’s Elbow, Mokins Bay and Beauty Creek.

Starting May 24, all the remaining concessionaire-operated campgrounds are scheduled to open. These campgrounds can be reserved at www.recreation.gov and, in addition to the campgrounds listed above, include:

- Priest Lake Ranger District: Beaver Creek, Reeder Bay and Luby Bay

- Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District: Bell Bay, Honeysuckle, Big Hank, and Berlin Flats. Please note that Kit Price Campground is closed for hazard tree removal.

While several Forest Service-operated campgrounds are open now, most will open on May 24, in time for the Memorial Day weekend. These campgrounds do not have a reservation system and include boat-in sites on the Priest Lake Ranger District and Lake Pend Oreille sites on the Sandpoint Ranger District, St. Joe Ranger District campgrounds along the St. Joe River Corridor, and campgrounds on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District. Please note that many of these developed recreation sites have increased the fees since last season. These fees are used for daily maintenance and improvements at the sites in which they were collected. Keep a look out for “your fees at work” on future improvement projects.

Visitors are always encouraged to be aware of their surroundings when recreating in the forest, especially when selecting a campsite. Hazardous trees are not always apparent, and are especially hazardous when the wind is blowing. For more information on hazardous trees, download the IPNF Hazard Tree Safety Flyer. Visitors are asked to watch out for wildlife and provide them plenty of space. Food should be stored food in hard-sided vehicles or bear-proof containers. Proper food storage is required if you are recreating on National Forest System lands north of the Clark Fork, Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River. Be very careful with fire. Be sure to pack a shovel and a bucket for extinguishing your campfire. Never leave your campfire unattended, and before leaving your campsite, douse the fire with water, stir, and check your campfire for heat with your bare hand. ALL fires must be DEAD OUT when left unattended and before leaving the site.

For more information about recreating on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, please contact a local ranger station or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/ipnf/.