Outlet at Priest Lake Campground

Photo of one of Outlet's shady sites, complete with a picnic table and cooking grill. Outlet campground is located on the southwest shore of Priest Lake near the headwaters of Priest River. Campers come to Outlet for sunshine, fishing, boating, kayaking, and the breathtaking views of the rugged Selkirk Mountains of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

Natural Features: Outlet campground is situated at an elevation of 2,500 feet on Priest Lake. The lake is one of three largest and most beautiful lakes in the Idaho Panhandle, and reaches 300 feet in depth and covers 25,000 acres. The world's largest Mackinaw trout was caught here in 1963. Upper Priest Lake is part of the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. The entire shoreline of Upper Priest Lake is either the State of Idaho or federal ownership, and is administered as a scenic area. While visiting Priest Lake, watch for moose, black bear, wolves, deer, elk, and eagles, among others.

Recreation: Visitors enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and power boating on Priest Lake and up the 2.5 mile thorofare that leads to the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. The upper lake cannot be accessed by car. Fishing, swimming, bird and wildlife viewing are popular activities, as well. Beach Trail #48 runs through Outlet campground and stretches northward along an 8-mile scenic part of Priest Lake. Motorcycle enthusiasts will find authorized trails like the Peewee Trail, Steep Creek Trail, and John Wayne Trail. Hike the Chipmunk Rapids Trail that traverses along the Kaniksu Marsh, Priest River, and Chipmunk Rapids.

Facilities: Outlet campground has three loops, two upper view sections and one lower lake-side section. Roadways and parking spurs are fully paved. There are RV and tent sites (two of which are walk-in tent sites). Campsites vary from very large, capable of parking an RV and a boat trailer, to small, camper size, with lake side and lake view sites. Some of the sites are heavily wooded, while some are found in opened areas. Campground amenities include swimming beach, water hydrants and accessible flush toilets. Garbage service is available in “bear proof” cans.

At a Glance

Current Conditions:	Refer to Recreation.gov for latest updates. Scenic Canyons Recreational Services, Inc. (435) 245-6521
Reservations:	Reservations can be made by visiting Recreation.gov.
Open Season:	Mid May - Late September
Closest Towns:	Priest River, Idaho
Water:	Potable water
Restroom:	Flush
Operated By:	Scenic Canyons Recreational Services, Inc.
Information Center:	Extra Vehicles: One vehicle is included in your single campsite fee. Each additional vehicle will be charged a per day fee that is collected on site (cash or check only). Maximum two vehicles per site. Be bear aware, keep all food and drinks locked inside your vehicle when not in use. Remove all food items from the area after eating. No electric hookups at this facility. This campground is 100 percent reservable. Maximum boat length is 20 feet.

General Information

Directions:

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
48.51056, -116.91639
48°30'38"N, 116°54'59"W

Physical Address:
Priest River, ID 83856

From I-90; Turn at Post Falls Highway 41 north to Newport, WA. Take Highway 2 east to Priest River. At the junction of Highway 57 and Highway 2, turn left. Drive 26 miles to Outlet Bay Road. Turn right for approximately 0.5 mile. Turn left on Lake Shore Road. Proceed 0.5 mile to Outlet Campground on the right.