Paving planned at 'The Mudhole'

PRIEST RIVER — The Priest River Recreation Area “The Mudhole” is being repaved thanks to funding through the Federal Lands Transportation Program via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials at Albeni Falls Dam.

The paving project includes removal and replacement of the road base as well as laying new asphalt and repainting parking stripes. Several large trees that had severely compromised the previous road due to root damage were also removed by a local contractor, a press release said.

Construction is slated to start in April and is expected to continue through mid-July, delaying opening of the recreation area from its historical opening date of the third weekend in May. 

The closure includes the campground, day use area, swim beach and boat ramp. During the closure, Corps staff is taking opportunity to refurbish several campsites to better address accessibility and accommodate today’s modern recreationalist.

“While we're disappointed this delayed opening is going to impact community members who enjoy camping, swimming and launching watercraft from the Mudhole, we’re also very excited to address a need at the recreation area that has been identified for several decades and frankly was becoming a safety hazard due to the deterioration in the pavement” said Taylor Johnson, Albeni Falls Dam chief of Natural Resources. “We ask the public to be patient during this maintenance project and consider visiting one of our several other recreation areas on the Pend Oreille River in the interim until we can reopen in mid-July.”

The 2024 recreation season will begin May 11 with the opening of Riley Creek Recreation Area. Albeni Cove and Springy Point Recreation Areas will open for the season May 18. Trestle Creek Recreation Area opened April 1.

The Corps is still soliciting volunteer camp hosts for the season. 

Info:www.volunteer.gov 

Campsites at Albeni Cove, Priest River, Riley Creek and Springy Point recreation areas are available by reservation only, online or by phone, at www.recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777.