Idaho / Bonner County

Bartoo Island Boat-in Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. Operates from late May through October, with peak reservable season from late May through mid-September and first-come, first-served camping from mid-September through October.

About

Surrounded by the clear waters of Priest Lake, Bartoo Island Boat-in Campground provides a remote camping experience accessible only by boat. The island spans 219 acres and hosts 24 single sites plus one group site (Sunrise Group Site) that accommodates 10-30 people. At 2,400 feet elevation, the campground offers a true backcountry experience with pack-in-pack-out requirements. Priest Lake is a 25,000-acre mountain lake fed by the Priest River, named for Jesuit priests who settled the area in the mid-19th century. Campers can boat up the 3.5-mile thoroughfare to Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area, which is inaccessible by car. The lake is known for record-breaking Mackinaw trout, as well as Dolly Varden, cutthroat, and kokanee salmon. Summer activities include swimming at nearby beaches, huckleberry picking in mid-July through early fall, and exceptional birding and wildlife viewing of bears, deer, and moose. Campers must bring portable toilets (rental buckets available at Kalispell Boat Launch), all drinking water, and pack out all waste. Each site includes a picnic table and campfire ring. The campground operates as a reservable facility during peak season and first-come, first-served in shoulder season.

Directions

Campground is only reachable by boat. Travel north from Priest River, Idaho on State Highway 57 to various boat launches around the lake. To access the Kalispell Bay Boat Launch, travel on Highway 57 for 31 miles to Kalispell Bay Road. Turn east (right) until you reach West Lakeshore Road. Head south 0.5 miles to the boat launch.

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