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Tent campsites near Kellogg, Idaho range from established campgrounds to primitive backcountry sites within the surrounding national forests. Lake Elsie Campground offers tent camping at a mountain-top lake setting with basic amenities, while Breakwater Campground provides a more primitive experience along a tributary of the Coeur d'Alene River. Lakes Divide Road offers dispersed camping options for those seeking a more secluded tent camping experience approximately 20 miles northwest of Kellogg.
Most primitive tent sites in the area feature minimal amenities, with fire rings being common but potable water rarely available. Tent campers should pack in all necessary supplies, including water filtration systems for sites near lakes or streams. Many campgrounds have vault toilets, though Lakes Divide Road and other dispersed areas lack bathroom facilities entirely. Road conditions vary significantly, with Lake Elsie requiring high-clearance vehicles to navigate the steep, narrow 8-mile dirt road to the campground. According to one visitor, "The road up to the lake is really rough and narrow but manageable with a proper vehicle."
Backcountry tent camping in this region offers exceptional access to hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and wildlife viewing. Sites at Lake Elsie provide direct lake access for kayaking and paddle boarding, while Breakwater Campground stretches along a tributary ideal for fly fishing. Early fall brings fewer crowds and more comfortable temperatures at higher elevation sites. In summer months, tent campers should be prepared for yellow jackets and other insects, particularly near water sources. One camper noted that "This is one of the most spectacular campsites I have ever been to," referring to Lake Elsie's lakeside setting, though they also emphasized the importance of packing out trash to preserve the area's natural beauty.
"Easy to drive up to. Any vehicle will do. Dirt road to the top where you will find a lovely little lake with 4-5 camp spots surrounding it."
"You’ll want to bring good cars because the road gets pretty primitive. Awesome lake for kayaking and paddle boarding."
"Great tent camping. Also, it's a great starting point to some really good dirt bike trails. Be prepared for no cell service. 0 amenities. it's just a place to pitch a tent and have a fire."
"This campground stretches along a tributary of the CdA river, and there is great tent camping and fly fishing. Downside is that there is limited vehicle access to most spots."
"Close to the highway so a little bit of noise from the interstate. Fire ring and that’s it."
"Very uneven but I found a spot close to even"
"However, there was some noise from the freeway. Overall not a bad place for the night."
"There are several sites near here and it’s remote enough to sight in your guns and do a little practice."
"It has restroom access. It would not be nice to travel here in the snow though due to the gravel roads. I did see some campground nearby but they were really small and did not look very nice."
"Camp here for a real north Idaho camping experience."
"The Marble Creek Campground has a few sites and one outhouse facility nearby. Just miles from the camp, there is an old man-built cave that makes its way through the entire mountain."
"We wanted a place to tent camp as close to the Pearson, Idaho end of the Hiawatha Bike Trail as possible. This little (5 camping sites) primitive campground suited our needs perfectly."
TravelerCampground is close to boat ramp, paved, big rig friendly, no host in July, no trash service and no water available. Dogs are OK on leash, bear boxes provided. Quiet and beautiful camp. Close to Trout Creek store if you need supplies.
ScoutThis used to be a great place to camp, especially at the Pavilion. However, two recent camping trips were not so great. There is no water, even though there are cisterns everywhere. There is no trash pickup. Restrooms are visited and "cleaned", but there is no evidence that anything was done. There are still tons of bugs and webs. I think they just replace the TP. Last visit was at the Pavilion with a men's campout with around 20 individuals. No trash containers, no bear boxes, and no water. We brought 250 gallons of water with us and pulled up to where the fire pit was, so it would be close to the fire for safety and convenience. The day after we left the site, a ranger called and accused us of "off-roading" and not placing our food in the non-existent bear boxes. We weren't "cited," but the temperament of the management is that they want you to pay the same price for camping without a host, water, trash, bear boxes, or clean restrooms. If you wish to dry camp, there are plenty of spaces, but it is definitely dry camping. Beautiful campground with severe management issues, all blamed on"lack of funding".
RangerA 9 mile drive over paved mostly straight even and the last couple miles on smooth dirt road. Clean vault toilets with scattered sites in the forest. Due to the foliage, the sites feel quite isolated. There is also a boat ramp and bear boxes at each site, along with picnic tables, fire rings, and a number of covered eating areas. You are only a few feet above the lake level, so walking to the lake's edge in the morning is they most calming relaxation. No fees and a 14-day limit make this a most delightful stopover.
TravelerWe stayed at Chatcolet campground for two nights in late June. The campground is really nice with lovely hosts and clean flushable toilets. We booked site 128 and didn’t realise it was a tent only site with a short walk from where you park to the picnic table, fire ring and tent pad. We have a rooftop tent so we parked and set up our tent and then just carried our chairs, food and wood down to the picnic table. Privacy on these sites isn’t the best, I would recommend booking this site along with 129 as a group site to give yourself good privacy.
Overall this campground was great, the toilets were clean, they are porcelain, flushing toilets inside a hut. There was drinking water and some nice walks to the lake, if you have bicycles there is a really nice cycle that you can do. The reason for rating this 3 out of 5 is that there was very noisy and intrusive maintenance going on from 7am to 5pm in the sites next to us which was very disruptive. No warning had been given about maintenance in the campground, notice was only given regarding roadworks leading into the campground.
GuideThis is a free campground. There are five sites with generous spacing. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. There is a privy and one bear box in the middle of the circle. This campground doesn't really accommodate large RVs, but it's great for tent camping. Although it sits along the river, it doesn't really have great river access. The campground is no more than 10 minutes from Thompson falls, so it's easy to get to town if you need to.
GuideTalk about a hike! This is a pretty steep trek, with rewarding views at the top. Be sure to read trail reports and weather reports before heading out. North Idaho weather can be pretty finicky, especially at high elevations. Make sure to be aware of wildlife as well! Scotchman's is known for mountain goat sightings, but as they become more accustomed to people they can be a little aggressive. Keep a safe distance!
TravelerCoeur d’Alene River Road has SO many places to boondocks and camp, I wouldn’t waste our money on this campground again. The pit toilets were clean and the fire rings and picnic tables were in good shape, hence the two stars. Lots of wasps. No water. Nothing to do within walking distance. Find a boondock spot and save the $28.00
Guide2020 cost is $16 + $8 extra car, half off with Federal parks pass, & it's average for a Forest Service pay campground. There's water, & you can fill a holding tank, but no power or dump. The lower loops are very close together & less shade. The upper loop has more shade, bigger sites, but sound rises from below. You can hear the conversations and generators of your lower neighbors. Our site was next to a vault toilet - we could smell it. There was lots of noise, e.g., road, train, barking dogs, etc. The 2020 camp hosts were very intrusive. They stopped us in the middle of the road while they inspected our front license plate (we aren't required to have one), then interrogated us, without masks, about where we were from, what we were doing & how many dogs we had. We have a nice RV and look like average middle class folks. Maybe it was because we were in a Class B Van, but our van cost more than most class As. This is a self-pay campground so unless I need firewood I don't need to be forced to stop & be questioned by a volunteer. While we drove through looking at sites one host tailed us on foot through the CG. Five minutes after we began to set up they showed up, not wearing masks, wanting money. I didn't think volunteers were supposed to handle any money. We'd already paid at the iron ranger pay station & they seemed disappointed to not get the money directly from us. Then, within a minute, they returned, not wearing masks, & fussed because we hadn't gotten the tag on our campsite post yet - we were still setting up & hadn't had time yet. They weren't social distancing & we thought they were very peculiar and intimidating.
TravelerWe’ve stayed here a couple times now. It is a nice place. It is a little run down though. The car, tent camping is great. You have your own plot under trees. If you tent camp is the rest of the camp ground you will need a pad under your tent. I ground is pretty course gravel with up to 1.25” sharp stones. Firewood is free though.
Tent camping near Kellogg, Idaho offers diverse experiences within the Panhandle National Forests region, where elevations range from 2,300 to 4,800 feet across various sites. The camping season typically runs from late May through October, with most backcountry areas becoming inaccessible during winter months. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during days and 45-55°F at night, creating comfortable conditions for outdoor recreation.
ATV and dirt bike riding: Lake Elsie Campground serves as a popular base for motorized recreation with numerous riders utilizing the extensive trail system. "Tons of riding trails and a quiet campground," notes Russell M., who traveled roughly 11 miles from where the pavement ends to reach this destination.
Kayaking and paddleboarding: The alpine lakes in the region provide excellent flatwater recreation opportunities. According to Nathan M. at Lake Elsie Campground, it's an "awesome lake for kayaking and paddle boarding," making it worth the journey on primitive roads.
Fly fishing: Stream fishing is abundant in the tributaries throughout the Coeur d'Alene River watershed. "This campground stretches along a tributary of the CdA river, and there is great tent camping and fly fishing," reports Lane P. about Breakwater Campground, though he notes "there is limited vehicle access to most spots."
Alpine lakes: The mountain lakes near Kellogg provide serene camping environments with direct water access. Samuel H. describes Lake Elsie Campground as "What a place! I saw no trash or broken glass, it was very clean," adding that "Sites only had a fire pit, I believe there are also pit toilets."
Seclusion: Many campers appreciate the remote nature of these sites, particularly in shoulder seasons. Ivy K. notes about Lake Elsie, "A bit of a drive off I-90 but well worth the stop. Multiple campsites right along the lake. It might get a bit crowded on summer weekends but multiple sites were vacant when we arrived on a Thursday afternoon in July."
Wildlife viewing: The forests around Kellogg support diverse wildlife populations. "We always catch lots of brooke and rainbow trout and wild life is everywhere!" reports Jessica C. about her experiences at Lake Elsie, though Natalie J. cautions, "multiple bears went through the campground in the evening and came back at around 3am. Be careful with your food and be smart."
Road conditions: Many camping areas require traveling on challenging forest roads. Saphrenne R. advises about Lake Elsie Campground, "The road down is decent, kinda narrow at times. But, I've seen people tow trailers down to the lake before. The road sometimes still has a good foot of snow until about Mid-June, so beware."
Amenities: Most dispersed camping areas offer minimal facilities. At Breakwater Campground, Dealspeed notes it's "Very primitive. Great tent camping. Be prepared for no cell service. 0 amenities. it's just a place to pitch a tent and have a fire. And it cost nothing."
Seasonal considerations: Early fall offers fewer crowds while summer brings more competition for sites. About Lakes Divide Road, Teresa T. reports, "It is a steep but well maintained forest road. There was one clear pull off early and it had someone in it. Wanted some privacy so I kept going."
Cave exploration: Some areas offer unique geological features suitable for family adventures. Near Marble Creek Campground, Jade F. notes, "Just miles from the camp, there is an old man-built cave that makes its way through the entire mountain. You can drop family members off, let them walk through the exciting damp, dark cave, and pick them up on the other side."
Food storage: Proper food management is essential due to wildlife. At Lake Elsie, Diadra G. advises, "FYI There is a moose that frequents the area so keep your trash in your car to avoid feeding the moose," while other campers report bear activity in the same area.
Water activities: Lakeside camping allows for multiple recreation options in one location. Jessica C. shares about Lake Elsie, "We stay here often. Easy to drive up to. Any vehicle will do. Dirt road to the top where you will find a lovely little lake with 4-5 camp spots surrounding it."
Small trailers only: Most forest service roads in the region have limitations for larger vehicles. At Telichpah Campground, Gretchen B. found the small primitive campground "clean, no frills, had a well-maintained vault toilet, and there was even a small creek for pleasant background sleeping sounds," noting it has only 5 camping sites.
Water supplies: No potable water exists at most sites around Kellogg. Gretchen B. at Telichpah Campground points out, "please note that we didn't see a pump or other water source in the campground," making it essential to bring sufficient water supplies for your entire stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Kellogg, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Kellogg, ID is Lake Elsie Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 9 reviews.
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