Outlet at Priest Lake

About this campsite

Overview

Outlet campground is located on the southwest shore of Priest Lake at the headwaters of Priest River. Campers come to Outlet for sunshine, fishing, boating, kayaking, and the breathtaking views of the rugged Selkird Mountains of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

Recreation

Visitors enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and power boating on Priest Lake and up the 3.5 mile thoroughfare 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. Off-highway vehicle 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 area, water hydrants and accessible flush toilets. Garbage service is available in bearproof cans. A public dump station is located 5-miles North of the campground, at Upper Luby Bay, on Highway 57.

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.

Nearby Attractions

Kalispell boat launch is the closest public boat launch, located about 7.5 miles north of the campground.

Location

OUTLET AT PRIEST LAKE•ID

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Common questions about OUTLET AT PRIEST LAKE

Can you book OUTLET AT PRIEST LAKE online?

We hold no online booking link for OUTLET AT PRIEST LAKE, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season.

Where is OUTLET AT PRIEST LAKE?

OUTLET AT PRIEST LAKE sits in ID. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

2.1 km away

OSPREY

Overview Campers come to Osprey for sunshine and boating at Priest Lake, and for breathtaking views of the rugged Selkirk Mountains. Fishing is also a big draw, with trout just waiting to be caught. While here, watch for moose, grizzly and black bears, wolves, mountain lions and deer. Osprey, as inferred by the campground name, also inhabit the area. Recreation Boating, canoeing, kayaking and wake boarding are summertime favorites. Boaters like to head north on the lake and traverse a narrow thoroughfare to reach Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. Anglers often catch Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon. Facilities Campground roads and parking spurs are paved and facilities are accessible. Amenities include flush toilets, fire rings and picnic tables that are naturally shaded by towering trees. Natural Features Osprey Campground is perched on the lower western shore of Priest Lake near Outlet Bay. The beautiful 25,000-acre lake is fed by springs trickling down from the Selkirks. The clear, blue lake reaches 300 feet in depth. Nearby Attractions Hike the Chipmunk Rapids Trail that traverses along the Kaniksu Marsh, Priest River and Chipmunk Rapids. In winter, ice fishing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling are popular activities in the surrounding area.

3.4 km away

LUBY BAY

Overview Luby Bay Campground is located near both Lamb Creek and Priest Lake. The campground is densely wooded with nicely secluded sites, and is within easy access to many great views of the Selkirk Mountains. Recreation Visitors enjoy kayaking, canoeing and power boating up the 3.5-mile thoroughfare that leads to the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. The upper lake cannot be accessed by car. Fishing, swimming, birding and wildlife viewing are popular activities as well. The Beach Trail #48 can be accessed from the campground. The 8-mile scenic excursion loops around the southern part of Priest Lake. Facilities Luby Bay has an upper and lower section. Upper Luby Campground has paved roads and gravel parking spurs. Lower Luby has paved parking spurs and the option of waterfront sites. Campground amenities include water hydrants, flush toilets and a dual-bay RV dump station (an additional fee is required for the dump station). Lower Luby has a large day use area perfect for picnics and group functions. If you park to use day use area there is a parking fee of $8.00. If you walk from your campsite there is no fee to use the day use. An amphiteather is located in the recreation area and regularly hosts interpretive programs. Natural Features The campground sits at an elevation of 2,500 feet on the western shores of Priest Lake. Campsites are shaded by hemlock and cedar. Priest Lake consists of the main lake where most water recreation takes place. To the north, the lake connects via a narrow channel with Upper Priest Lake. Nearby Attractions Off-road vehicle enthusiasts will find authorized trails like the Peewee Trail, Steep Creek Trail and John Wayne Trail. In winter, hundreds of miles of groomed trails beckon nordic skiers and snowmobile riders.

5.7 km away

Schneider Campsites

Campground: Schneider Campsites. Operated by Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

5.8 km away

Peninsula Campsites

Campground: Peninsula Campsites. Operated by Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

5.9 km away

BARTOO ISLAND BOAT-IN CAMPGROUND

Overview Surrounded by clear waters of Priest Lake, the 25 sites on Bartoo Island provide the ideal getaway for people looking for a rugged, but highly rewarding, camping experience on the peaceful shores of Priest Lake. There are 24 single sites on the island as well as one group site known as Sunrise Group Site. This group site has been renumbered from site #001 to site #23 for groups of 10-30 individuals. All sites are only reachable by boat. Recreation Visitors enjoy all types of boating from kayaking to canoeing to power boating up the 3.5-mile thoroughfare, which leads to the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. The upper lake cannot be access by car, so water is an excellent navigation option. Fantastic birding and wildlife viewing is available, as well as Huckleberry picking from mid-july to early fall, when the sweet berries can be found in abundance throughout the forests of Northern Idaho. Swimming is a popular summer pastime and with beach access not far from the campground, visitors won't have any problem cooling off during warmer months. Anglers will be excited to know that the waters of Priest Lake are home to record-breaking Mackinaw trout as well as Dolly Varden, Cutthroat and Kokanee. Facilities Campers are required to bring their own portable toilets to this campground. They can check out toilet buckets at the Kalispell Boat Launch. Bartoo Island can only be access by boat. No drinking water is available and this is a pack it in, pack it out facility. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided. Natural Features Priest Lake spans 25,000-acres of incredible beauty, fed primarily by the waters of the Priest River. Named after the historical presence of Jesuit priests who settled in the lake area in the mid 19th century, Priest Lake is today a major tourist attraction, drawing water sports enthusiasts, photographers and birders alike. The group campground is located on the east side of Bartoo Island at an elevation of 2,400 feet. Bartoo, spanning 219 acres, is one of nine islands on Priest Lake. Summers at the lake are typically sunny and warm and wildlife in the area includes bears, deer and moose. Nearby Attractions Hike the Lakeshore or Beach Trails that traverse along the west shore of Priest Lake. The Beach trail extends between Outlet Bay Campground and the Kalispell Bay Boat Launch. The Lakeshore Trail runs for 8 miles along the northwest shores of Priest Lake. In winter, ice fishing, shoe shoeing and snowmobiling on nearby trails entertain visitors.