The best camping in Idaho Panhandle National Forests, ID

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88% (39)

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Stay at a public campground in Idaho Panhandle National Forests

Top-rated campgrounds

The Mad Moose Ranch

98%
(66)
15mi from Idaho Panhandle National Forests · 2 sites · RVs · ID
Only 8 minutes from famous Silverwood theme park! This 20-acre location is close and private. 2 RV sites with full hookups and room for a tent at each site (maximum 6 campers per site per night, additional $10.00 per camper per night over 6). Our quiet property backs up to Idaho's pristine Farragut State Park, with fishing, swimming and boating, at Lake Pend Oreille only 6 minutes away! In the Fall, make this destination your hunting quarters. Close to state lands and plentiful elk and deer! For your safety and enjoyment, the maximum campers to one site are 6 (EXCEPTIONS UP TO 8 WITH ADDITONAL FEE). Additional persons will be an extra charge of $10.00 per person per night. One vehicle with RV/trailer per site. Each additional vehicle will be $10.00 per night. Quiet hours are 10p.m. to 8a.m. Porta potty service discontinued October 1 for the season. The Mad Moose Ranch is closed for the season from October 15, 2025 and reopens for the 2026 season May 15 2026.
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$65
 / night

Five Acre Woods

98%
(23)
17mi from Idaho Panhandle National Forests · 2 sites · Tents · Athol, ID
Just ten minutes from Silverwood Theme Park and five minutes from beautiful Farragut State Park! Five Acre Woods Campground is nestled deep in the vast pines on the back half of our property. Enjoy a peaceful stay while still being close to it all. Looking to do some hiking? We are loaded with nearby alpine lakes, peaks, and more trails to suit your needs and adventure cravings. Danny has hiked the majority of them in the area and is always up to help plan and recommend local hikes. Furthermore, we are nearby and centralized to many must-see places. As stated, Silverwood Theme Park and Farragut State Park (including their gun range) are all located ten minutes or less from our property. Other places to see include Bayview, Idaho and Sandpoint, Idaho - both situated on beautiful Lake Pend Oreille. Things to note: -Your site will be fully stocked to meet your tent camping needs! This includes a picnic table, a smokeless fire pit, fire starting materials, and a pad or pads to accommodate your tent(s). -Nicely sized firewood bundles will be available for purchase. -Our campground has a fully functioning outhouse that we take great pride in maintaining to ensure cleanliness and a pleasant experience. It may just be the biggest outhouse you’ve ever seen! -At this time, our campground is off-grid but we do intend to bring water and power to it with time. Upon request and availability, we may be able to assist you with water needs via a garden hose. Your site will have a large six gallon container of non-potable water to be used in the case of a fire emergency (if safe to do so). -Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on a leash. Please pick up after your pet. -Tessa and Danny were both born and raised in Northern Idaho. If you have questions or need suggestions on anything at all feel free to ask! -We live in an area of five acre lots. You can expect to hear the occasional, friendly neighborhood noise. As of May 2025 Five Acre Woods is officially open. Please let us know if you have any questions prior-to or after booking and we'd be happy to answer them. We're so excited for you to book with us!
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$32
 / night

7B Cabin

100%
(63)
17mi from Idaho Panhandle National Forests · 2 sites · Lodging · Athol, ID
Come nurture your soul at our off-grid cabin OR our grid tied cabin with modern conveniences. Surrounded by majestic conifers, you will find yourself in a forest paradise. Make time for bird watching, star gazing and watching wildlife enjoying their natural habitat. The cabins are both situated in a very private setting opposite our main house on our 32 acre property. We are conveniently located off Hwy 95, 7 miles north of Athol, ID. Spend your days exploring nearby Farragut State Park (7 miles), Round Lake State Park (15 miles), Sandpoint (20 miles), Coeur d’Alene (30 miles), or Silverwood Theme Park (9 miles). There are multiple dining options from breakfast to dinner within 7-10 miles. We have kayaks available upon request as there are multiple small lakes (Kelso and Granite Lake) less than 5 miles away. We are generally available and on-site 24/7 for any issues, questions and or problems that may need solved. In the case you forget anything at all……we can find it, fix it or provide it. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Some exceptions could be accommodated for additional tent campers in the same group on a case by case basis. Please reach out if you have a special circumstance. If you see dates that you want that are blocked out feel free to get in touch, we block out some dates for us to go camping but have no problem opening them up. *NO LATE ARRIVALS AFTER 8:30 PM , YOU WILL BE REFUNDED 100% AT 9PM **THERE IS A HOUSE BEING BUILT ACROSS THE ROAD FROM US, IT CAN BE LOUD DURING WEEK DAYS, HOPEFULLY COMPLETED BY SEPT 2025** **Heading into fire season JUNE 2025....NO FIRES OR SPARKLERS OR FIREWORKS OF ANY KIND****
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$80
 / night

Paradise on Mirror Lake

99%
(745)
18mi from Idaho Panhandle National Forests · 17 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Sagle, ID
>>> Voted #1 Campground in Idaho 2022, 2024 & 2025 (Hipcamp Awards) <<< Like a postcard photograph, Bigfoot Campout sits perched over Mirror Lake on one end of a mountain bowl. Campers will have gorgeous views and sunsets over the lake. Fishing, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, hiking and wildlife watching abound. The campsite is off-the-beaten path so you'll be away from the crowds, yet the site is still close to other area attractions like Lake Pend Oreille (10 min. drive), charming downtown Sandpoint (15 min. drive) and Silverwood Theme Park (30 min. drive). The beauty and allure of Mirror Lake led to it being featured in two Hollywood movies -- Dante's Peak (1997) and Mel (1998). The lake itself is excellent for fishing, and stocked with Kokanee, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Cutthroat Trout. The stocking is typically scheduled for the first week of June each year, so if you are an angler, it's best to come after June 7th for the best fishing. Paying homage to the Bigfoot legend in northern Idaho, the theme of this campground is all things Sasquatch! Can you find all 9 Sasquatch hiding throughout the campground? Swimming in nearby Talache Landing (a.k.a. Talache Beach) on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille is an absolute must-do. The views are absolutely stunning and the water is crystal clear -- and quite refreshing on a hot day. Fishing is best done in a canoe or small boat which can be put in at our campground dock (free) or at the nearby public boat ramp ($5 fee). When selecting your campsite, please take note of the following: Best lake views: Sites A, C and D. (Sites 1, 2, 3, E and F have partially obstructed lake views due to trees.) Easiest RV access: Site B. It's a pull-through site. Most private: Sites A, B, 1, 2 and 3, or Sites C/D or E/F, when booked in pairs. (Do not book C/D or E/F for complete privacy unless you book them in pairs.) Most shade: Sites A, E and F. Sunniest: Sites B, C and D. Electric access: Sites B, C and D. (C/D share a power pedestal.) Nearest to a Port-a-Potty: Sites A, D and E. Nearest to lake: Site A. Best for large parties: Book Sites C/D together for larger RV camping parties, or book Sites E/F together for moderate-sized tent camping parties.
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$35
 / night

Beaver Bay

98%
(103)
20mi from Idaho Panhandle National Forests · 1 site · Tent, RV · Athol, ID
Looking for a quiet place to rest and recharge? We have the perfect spot for you! This property fronts Kelso Lake, which is a motorboat free 55 acre lake located half way between Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, just a 15 minute drive to Silverwood Theme Park. This is the ideal spot to spend time kayaking, catching up around the campfire, fishing, and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. If you keep your eyes peeled you may see blue heron’s, bald eagles, and if your quiet the beaver may swim past and say hello! This property is a half acre at the edge of the Kelso Lake community. This property is ideally located less than a 20 min drive to Farragut State Park, Lake Pend Oreille, Bayview, and Silverwood Theme Park. If you are trailer camping you will have to back in from the public roadway up an incline to access the spot. If you aren't comfortable backing your trailer in this spot might not be for you. We also welcome tent and van campers! There is a fire ring, a picnic table, tiki bar, decks, chairs, and an outhouse. There is a trail down to the dock where you can launch kayaks, paddle boards or canoes. New this season, 4 kayaks included with your stay!! The property is situated on the end of the lake with lily pads and beaver dens…. its beautiful but not the best swimming spot! If you want to take a dip in the lake the public boat launch is less than a half mile down the road! If you have an electric boat motor you are more than welcome to use it but no motor boats are allowed on this lake. If this sounds like the perfect get away for you, we cannot wait to host!
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$72
 / night

The Woods in Sagle

100%
(60)
20mi from Idaho Panhandle National Forests · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Sagle, ID
Our property in Sagle has two separate sites but also close enough to be used as a group campsite. Each has a fire pit and picnic table. There is a porta-potty very close with a sink water disposal and garbage can. Please note there is potable water in the property but not at the sites. These are dry sites without potable water, electricity, sewer hookups or dump. Firewood is available at an additional low cost. ** We Can accommodate a 21' trailer max ** There are other traditional vacation rentals on the property including your hosts home. We are surrounded by tall trees where it is very quiet with the exception of many bird, the distant call of the trains as well as our resident owls. You will find a Lake Pend Oreille is 15 minutes away, Sandpoint is about 10 minutes away with a wonderful swimming beach and Silverwood Theme Park is about 20 minutes. There is lots to do here from fishing and hunting to boating and skiing. Come visit soon!
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$30
 / night

Water Front RV Sites With Dock

91%
(11)
21mi from Idaho Panhandle National Forests · 2 sites · RVs · Sagle, ID
Scenic RV Sites with Full Hookups on Lake Pend Oreille! Enjoy the beauty of North Idaho at one of our two back-in RV sites, each equipped with full hookups including 50-amp power, water, and sewer. Nestled on a quiet private road, these sites offer a peaceful setting with beautiful views of Lake Pend Oreille. Perfect for boaters, both sites include water access and a shared floating dock—ideal for launching your boat, relaxing in the sun, or enjoying lunch by the water. Maximum length for motorhomes ONLY 38' Utilizing the boat slip is an extra cost. The sites are located on a vacant lot next to our private cabin, and there is one neighboring RV on a separate lot nearby. Come experience lakeside living and the tranquility of the great outdoors. Other things to do: 20 minutes from Downtown Sandpoint – Charming small town with local shops, restaurants, breweries, and art galleries Fishing & Boating – Excellent lake fishing for bass, trout, and kokanee; bring your gear or rent nearby Wildlife Watching – Bald eagles, deer, osprey, and even moose are often spotted Huckleberry Picking (seasonal) – A fun North Idaho tradition!
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$59
 / night

Phoenix Rising Ranch

96%
(67)
23mi from Idaho Panhandle National Forests · 5 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Priest River, ID
This is a very private and quiet place, more of a sanctuary and not a party place. The only thing you hear is nature, a breeze through the pine trees, the birds, and the creek. This property was and is an organic permaculture farm in the forest. There are two orchards and an organic garden. The water is from a spring. The La Luna cabin is no longer off grid, but if the power does go out, it's a great place to be.. Hot Showers at my cabins are private and outdoors. There's nothing more wonderful than a hot spring-fed shower. The toilets are composting. (No water is wasted here)! Two of the cabins were built from the trees on the property by the first family that lived here in the earlier 1900s. The Birds Nest cabin was originally a tool shed that needed a LOT of Love to be in the condition that it is today. It does have power, running water and wi-fi. There is the option to take an acrylic painting class, banjo, guitar or fiddle lessons, paddleboard lessons, and have a real old-timey campfire with a glass of wine or two with live music performed by our famous Fiddlin Red on the fiddle, banjo, and guitar. Your experience here may change your life forever! We haven't added all the experiential options yet, so if there is something you are interested in please inquire. Every year we make it more and more magical and interesting. It's four miles up a county-maintained dirt road and one mile to a non-motorized lake. I can't see my neighbors, but they are awesome artists and musicians and some of them are off the grid! If you're bringing a pet, they must be on a leash and be quiet pets. If you are bringing a child they also need to be quiet and respectful. I want to keep my neighbors and my other guests happy with a peaceful atmosphere. Thank you!
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$60
 / night

Maverick Mountain Home

99%
(72)
23mi from Idaho Panhandle National Forests · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Hope, ID
Maverick Mountain Home is perched on a mountainside several hundred feet above picturesque Trestle Creek, a protected Kokanee Salmon and Bull Trout spawning habitat, two short but gorgeous miles up the road from Lake Pend Oreille. Our property is hidden within an epic cedar, fir and pine forest, bracketed by the Kaniksu National Forest to the east and conservation land to the west. SPRING/SUMMER/FALL: Spend the afternoon at the Trestle Creek on the eastern shore of Lake Pend Oreille, only two miles down the road (just off Highway 200), where you can launch your boat, swim at the beach, or paddle along the shore in your kayak or SUP. Or, take an adventurous backcountry drive up Trestle Creek Road into the mountains of the Kaniksu National Forest where you can check out Lunch Peak Lookout, hike miles of pristine trails to one of the three nearby mountain lakes, explore several waterfalls, or drive the entire 35 mile backcountry loop down to the town of Clark Fork. If quiet rest is what you seek, find a secluded spot next to one of creeks where you can hang a hammock and listen for that still small voice. Or read a book until the peaceful whispers of flowing water and breeze through the trees lulls you to sleep. You'll be in for a special treat if you book your site during the annual Kokanee Salmon spawning season! The salmon run usually starts during the last week in August or first week in September and lasts through late September. There are a multitude of viewing locations along Trestle Creek to witness this yearly miracle and snap some amazing photos! WINTER: Bring your snow machines and take advantage of sled in/sled out access from your campsite to the Trestle Creek loop system, boasting spectacular backcountry terrain with 50+ miles of groomed trails and hundreds of thousands of off-trail acres to explore! On-site trailer parking adjacent to the road is available. If skiing is your thing, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort is an easy (and gorgeous) 45 minute commute. Don't tell anyone, but Schweitzer Mountain is an absolute gem of a ski resort with 2,900 acres of gorgeous skiing terrain (and epic views) for all ages and skill levels. Our family spends a good bit of time skiing here. Winter Driveway Access: a 4-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicle is required to climb our driveway during winter conditions. OUR STORY: We (Tim and Molly) spent 14 years raising our young family in the desert heat of north Phoenix. Every summer we went dispersed camping as many weekends as possible with our four (now five) children in the backcountry mountain ranges of northern Arizona. We watched our family grow stronger together and sibling relationships flourish as the mental and emotional grime of the city grind was slowly washed from our souls during idle morning hangouts, afternoon hiking adventures and evening stories and laughs around the campfire. We had a particularly amazing mountaintop experience in 2014 backcountry camping over Labor Day Weekend where we felt a strong calling to share with others the blessings we were experiencing. Our hearts were impressed with a desire to host a place in the "wilderness" where people and families could escape and unwind from the noise and pace of city life for a few days and maybe even have a mountaintop experience of their own. After several years of waiting for the right timing, we started exploring and found this place in January 2019. By April we had sold our home in Phoenix and moved our family 2,000 miles north to this 27 acre property on a mountain of Hope. We named it Maverick Mountain Home, which captures our love of the wilderness, our mission to care for the lost, and our desire to be unbranded by the world. Upon landing here we immediately got to work preparing. We've spent the last five years working on hundreds of different projects, including: rehabilitating our driveway, beginning a long-term whole-house remodel, building a chicken coop, maintaining our driveway, fencing in a new orchard, chicken yard, and pig yard, planting trees, replacing a spring house, maintaining our driveway, installing underground infrastructure for future guest facilities, clearing trails, milling lumber, and maintaining our driveway. In 2024 we dedicated a good portion of April and May to preparing our first HipCamp site, Living Water, which went live on our wedding anniversary at the end of May. We added our second site, Boondock Butte in July with plans for several more sites in coming years. Since the first booking on our opening weekend we've watched as that line from "Field of Dreams" came true in our "backyard" - we built it and they started coming. Welcome to Maverick Mountain Home, Intrepid Camper! It is a huge blessing for us to share this amazing place with you.
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$40
 / night

The best camping in Idaho Panhandle National Forests, ID guide

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It doesn’t get much prettier than the Idaho panhandle. Situated between Big Sky Country of Montana and the vibrant evergreen fields of Washington (which seriously look Photoshopped to the naked eye), this forest holds more than half the state’s surface waters, and wilderness vibes are guaranteed by the deer, elk, bear, caribou, and wolf populations who call this spot home. Moist maritime air comes in from the Pacific coast, and historic cabins dot the landscape. Near Spokane and the border can get busy on the weekends, but with this much acreage you can always find seclusion here. Make sure to check out at least a portion of the bikeable and walkable Hiawatha Trail—weaving 15 miles through tunnels and across high steel trestles in the Bitterroot Mountains, it’s been called one of the most scenic stretches of railroad in the country.

88%
39 ratings · 4 reviews

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