Bartoo Island Boat-in Campground

About

Located on Bartoo Island in Priest Lake at 2,400 feet elevation, this boat-in campground provides a rugged yet rewarding camping experience surrounded by the clear waters of one of Idaho's most scenic lakes. The 25 campsites include 24 individual sites and one group site known as Sunrise Group Site, which accommodates groups of 10-30 people. The campground is primitive by design. Vault toilets are available at some sites, while others require campers to bring portable toilets (buckets available for checkout at Kalispell Bay Boat Launch). No potable water is available, and the facility operates on a pack-it-in, pack-it-out basis. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Maximum occupancy is 10 people per individual site with a 14-day camping limit. Priest Lake spans 25,000 acres and offers excellent boating, fishing for Mackinaw trout, Dolly Varden, Cutthroat, and Kokanee, as well as swimming and wildlife viewing. A 3.5-mile thoroughfare leads to the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area, accessible only by water. Huckleberry picking is popular from mid-July through early fall.

Directions

Accessible only by boat. Travel north from Priest River, Idaho on State Highway 57 to various boat launches around the lake. For Kalispell Bay Boat Launch, travel Highway 57 for 31 miles to Kalispell Bay Road, turn east onto West Lakeshore Road, then head south 0.5 miles to the launch.