Idaho / Shoshone County / Idaho Panhandle National Forests

Devils Elbow

Closed — Closed for the season. Opens on the Friday before Memorial Day and closes on the last Monday in September at noon. Reservations available 6 months in advance through Recreation.gov.

About

Devils Elbow Campground is situated along the scenic North Fork Coeur d'Alene River in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, offering a peaceful riverside escape at 2,600 feet elevation. Located approximately 69 miles northeast of the city of Coeur d'Alene in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains, the campground features 20 individual campsites and a group site that can accommodate up to 50 people and 14 vehicles. The sites are nestled among lodgepole and mixed conifers, with paved campground roads and wide parking spurs designed to fit two vehicles alongside a trailer. The North Fork Coeur d'Alene River is the main attraction, offering excellent opportunities for rafting, kayaking, swimming, and catch-and-release cutthroat trout fishing. Downstream, rafters will find class I-III rapids for more adventurous paddling. The river valley provides hiking access to nearby Downey Creek and Valitons Creek, as well as Fern and Shadow Falls about 3 miles from the campground. Wildlife enthusiasts may spot mule deer, moose, osprey, and calliope hummingbirds throughout the area. The campground is managed by Scenic Canyons Recreational Services under special use permit with the U.S. Forest Service. Sites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance through Recreation.gov, while the group site can be reserved up to one year ahead. Amenities include hand-pump drinking water, vault toilets, and trash collection.

Directions

From Coeur d'Alene, travel east on Interstate 90 to Exit 43 (Kingston). Follow Forest Service Road 9 north for 26 miles, then continue 14 miles north of Prichard on Forest Road 208. The campground will be on the right, approximately 3 miles north of Kit Price Campground.

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