Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Porthill? The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Porthill, Idaho's most popular destinations.
Crescent LakeBeautiful twenty-two acre lake located nine miles north of Metaline Falls, WA and just a mile south of the Canadian border adjacent to Highway 31 which is part of the International Selkirk Loop. Open season runs from the last Saturday in April through October 31. This lake receives annual plantings of rainbow trout. A small rustic three site campground lies just above the lake. Amenities include: tables, fire rings, concrete vault toilet and animal proof garbage can. No potable water is available. It is best suited for small RV's or tent camping. Facilities 3 small campsites with picnic tables, and fire pits No drinking water 1 vault toilet Garbage disposal (animal proof)
A Discover Pass or Washington State Fishing License is required for access, and can be acquired through Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's website.
Navigation Campground is located on the northwest shores of Upper Priest Lake, with majestic views of the Selkirk Crest. Four campsites are furnished with fire rings, picnic tables, and bear-proof storage boxes. Please note that this site has a Pack It In, Pack It Out policy on all garbage.
Trapper Creek Campground is located on the northeast shore of Upper Priest Lake. It has five sites with beautiful views of Plowboy Mountain, all furnished with fire rings, picnic tables, and bear-proof storage boxes. Please note that this campground has a Pack It In, Pack It Out policy on all garbage.
Solomon Lake offers a developed site in a remote area, with moderate road access. Solomon Lake is locally popular and receives heavy use. Facilities are best suited for single families or groups with a focus on day use. Camping and large group use are common, in addition to short term fishing and picnicking.
$7 / night
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.
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.
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.
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.
$10 - $15 / night
Photo of the thorofare which connects Upper Priest Lake to Priest Lake and provides access to Upper Priest Lake campgrounds.Plowboy Campground is loacted on the southwest shores of Upper Priest Lake, with majestic views of the Selkirk Crest. Five campsites are furnished with fire rings, picnic tables, and bear-proof storage boxes. Plowboy is easily accessed by boat or by the Navigation Trail. Please note that this campground has a Pack It In, Pack It Out policy on all garbage.
Legend
Luby Bay Campground offers a beautiful lakeside experience, with many sites featuring direct lakefront access. The campground is surrounded by trees and foliage, providing a sense of privacy, and the sites are nicely spaced apart.
In the back corner of the lower loop, there is designated parking for boat trailers and extra vehicles. I launched my boat at the Priest Lake Marina just a mile down the road for a small fee, but I appreciated the free trailer parking at the campground.
The flushing toilets were impressively clean—better than many I've encountered at other campgrounds.
The road through the campground is paved but narrow, roughly 1.5 vehicles wide, so backing in a trailer requires some finesse.
Each site comes with a bear-proof locker, which is essential for safety. The only downside was that our locker had trash bags left by the previous occupants, which hadn't been cleaned out before our arrival. This seems to be a minor oversight by the host.
Overall, I had a great stay and would recommend Luby Bay Campground.
Ranger
If you can get one of the lakefront campsites, the views are phenomenal! But if you can't, the rest of the campsites are still pretty nice. The campsites are spaced apart enough so you're not too close to your neighbor. Bathrooms are adequate pit toilets. The lake is clear and cold, decent for swimming if you don't mind cold water.
Ranger
I wouldn’t recommend this campground, especially if you’re hoping for a lakeside experience. The campground is actually a decent distance away, and it’s not easy to access. The road getting in is rough and bumpy, which made for an unpleasant drive. Once we arrived, the campsites were disappointingly small and cramped, making it difficult to set up comfortably. The lake itself wasn’t much better. It’s small, and the water is ice cold, so swimming wasn’t really an option. To top it off, there were no fish to be found, so fishing was a bust. Overall, between the rough road, tiny campsites, and lackluster lake, this campground just wasn’t worth the effort. There are much better options out there.
Ranger
This hike-in lake campground is a true alpine treasure, but be prepared to work for it! The hike to get there is pretty strenuous, with some tough climbs along the way. The trail itself isn’t well marked, so you’ll want to pay close attention or bring a good map to avoid getting off course. That said, the payoff is absolutely worth it. The alpine lake at the end of the trail is stunning—clear, pristine water surrounded by rugged mountain scenery. It’s the kind of place that feels untouched and pure. If you visit during the right season, you’ll find huckleberries everywhere, which is a sweet bonus after the tough hike in. The campground is simple but perfectly positioned to enjoy the beauty of the lake. The water is incredibly clear, perfect for a cold dip if you're brave enough! If you're up for a challenging hike and want to escape to a peaceful alpine setting, this spot is well worth the effort. Just be ready for a bit of route-finding on the trail and take advantage of the huckleberries along the way!
Ranger
This little lake campground is a real hidden gem, especially if you're looking for some peace and quiet. The lake itself is small but beautiful, though it is a bit swampy around the edges. The campground itself is next to the very swampy side of the lake, so you can't really put a kayak in the water or fish or anything from the campground without walking around to the other side of the lake or drive to the day use area. There’s a boat launch and a fishing dock at the day use area.
When I visited, the place was nearly empty, which made it feel like a true escape. The campground is very well taken care of. It’s clean, and each campsite has a nice shelter over the picnic tables, which is great if the weather turns. The pit toilets were also really clean—much better than I expected for this type of setup.
The road getting there is pretty rough, so be ready for a bit of a bumpy ride. But once you're there, the quiet, the fall colors, and the overall atmosphere more than make up for it. The lake, while a little swampy at the edges, still makes for a pretty view, especially with the vibrant autumn leaves around.
Guide
A real gem of a find! Although the campsites are not lakefront, it's only a short walk to the day use area with a fishing dock, boat launch and dock, and a nice public area. Although the lake isn't particularly large, the people we saw fishing were catching. There appears to be 8 sites, one of which is outside of the gate which may be locked after the end of September. At least half of the sites have a nice sized tent area. Most people were tenting when we were there. We arrived at 2pm on a Wednesday and had 4 sites to choose from
Scout
Really well maintained, beautiful campground with great swimming water. Peewee falls is about a 10 minute kayak from the beach. Great stay. Definitely recommend staying during the week. Weekend traffic is intense.
Scout
It was my first time camping! Went camping with my fiance.
Pros
Cons
Recommendations
Scout
You can choose ambiance in the first loop or river front in the second loop. Just be aware that the river is noisy. It’s pack it in and pack it out so, no garbage collection. Cell reception for T Mobile is a strong 1-2 bars. No trouble streaming. One of the best forest service campgrounds. $15 a night. $7.50 with senior discount. The only major problem is that dogs are not on leashes and no one is around to enforce the leash law.
Traveler
Campsite 36 in the Pine loop is just a short walk away from a lovely lake beach that has fire pits and picnic tables. The campsite itself is very nice, large, shaded, with a decent distance from neighboring campers as far as campgrounds go. I didn't do what I usually do and walk around the campground to see what the best site is to book during future visits, but I have zero complaints about this site. We really enjoyed our stay at Lake Sullivan and our excursions to Metaline Falls, Gardner Cave, Peewee Falls, Mill Pond Historic Site, and Crescent Lake.
LegendTent camper here 👋 This specific site wasn't lakefront but was only a short 3 min walk to gorgeous lake views and beach access. Being on the end, it was hushed with minor road noise. This site, in particular, backs up against Elkins Road, leading to the next-door resort which has a restaurant, bar, and convenience store - all in walking/stumbling distance. This campground itself has the basics: bathrooms, bear-proof trash, and water stations.
I highly recommend this campsite and will try to book earlier in the season next time to get a lakefront site.
Guide
This site #8 is one of the larger sites at Sullivan Creek.
It’s right next to the river and about 150 yards from the road.
At the site: Fire Ring, and a bear box. Across the road there is a vaulted toilet along with a few campsites there next to each other.
Pack in and pack out! Sullivan lake is about 2-3 miles west and priest lake is 20+ miles to the east. If you do not have a 4wd vehicle I wouldn’t recommend driving on the service road to Priest, and depending the time of year the snow pack about 10 miles in will stop you!
Traveler
Great
Scout
Johnie and his staff are over the top to accommodate. We stayed in the cabin and it was clean, warm, comfortable. Located central to sights in Idaho as well as Montana. We will be back next year. Guided fishing tours available as well as great food.
Traveler
Worked well to connect spots that were next to each other for a larger group. But most of the ground was hard and difficult to find good tent spots. The only level spots were the parking spots. Access to water was nice.
Traveler
Great site to connect with the lake, but didn't enjoy the tent spots available. Ground was hard and mostly prepared for RVs.
Traveler
Campsites are pretty close together but easily accessible from the shore. Left kayak on the beach and brought the packraft to the table. Vault toilet is close and easy to find in the dark. Beautiful sunsets!
Scout
Loud, obnoxious and drunk boaters who trash Priest Lake. If you suffer one night of this nonsense, you will never go back. USFS complicit with this behavior.
Guide
There is a vault toilet, but it is not the best kept one. There are enough space for a few campers. A long gravel road to get to the camping. Lots of wildlife. We were all alone and had a large animal outside our car at night
Traveler
Between having a pond with many activities to do and the wine bar you can go to I have no complaints. Will happily return.
ScoutI would have given it 4 stars about 5 years ago when we first stayed as it seemed a lot friendlier staff willing to please their customers but I'm not sure if it was sold since then but I had to give it only 2 stars this time because the negatives outweighed the positives. Pros: Friendly staff that helps you park if you need it. Location is fairly close to the town of Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint so you are never too far from civilization. Although I've never used it, they do have wine in the evenings for their guests...not sure if they charge or not. They also sell wood and when we were there 5 years ago, they delivered it to our site. Also, the site we stayed in that time was not full hook ups and the staff still helped us dump without having to move our rig. Cons: Everything everyone says about the pot holes, dirt road, train noise and turn off from the 95 is spot on. The one thing I didn't hear anyone mention is the noise from the 95 of cars that can be as loud as the constant train passing in the middle of the night. So, quiet and serene is not a good description. The"lake" although which can be fun for small kids fishing and maybe paddle boating, is more of a large pond that is dark and gloomy like and so when you first see it, you might be disappointed at it being called a lake. Although friendly, I didn't find it as hospitable as it used to be when we were first there five years ago and you get the distinct feeling that they are barely surviving as they will not do anything extra to refund or make things whole if you experience is not up to par. Here is why: We were charged half of the amount to reserve the spot we wanted and in order to keep a particular spot you pick, you have to pay a little extra to reserve it or you can still risk having them move you to a different spot if they want to. That's a first. It's true they can't control the weather and I don't really blame them for that, but good vacation industries will go out of their way to keep their customers happy when things are not up to par. We paid for six days and with the stifling heat, along with the fires that were in the area, we were smoked out and weren't told that campfires were restricted per an ordinance they were given before we made the trip there. The entire camping experience was ruined because the only choice we had to not to feel choked out was to stay indoors in the RV. We only stayed one night since this was miserable and decided to leave the next day. When we got home we received an email requesting our input of our stay and we told them a partial refund would have been nice since accommodations were not up to standards. Instead, we were told that in order for them to stay in business and because they have few drop ins, they have to take 50% deposits up front. This seems fair but we paid for the entire week, so it seems to me that in good faith and good customer service, 50% or even some refund at all would have kept us coming back despite the cons. They also claimed that charging 50% is better than some places that want all the money upfront when you book. We have been RVing for years in this area and there are much better places to go that do not do this I'm not really sure why they asked us for our input in the first place. Anyway, as a result we won't be back.
Scout
I’ve been camping at Priest for 30 years now and can honestly say this is the grungiest, stinkiest spot i’ve ever seen at this lake. The sites are super close together, it looks like someone hack-job attempted to do some clear cutting with zero attempt to cleanup and it literally smells as though the last camper dumped a weeks worth of black water all over our site. I’ll never book this spot again
ScoutWe came up and found this spot since we needed to plug in. We got a spot beside the lake. Mark at the front desk and wine bar was very nice. Had we arrived sooner we would have had a drink. We paddle boarded and swam the next day.
TravelerLovely forested campground. Had a little dip in the river.
LegendVery cute campground, quiet, no service, right along the beautiful Yaak River and within walking distance to Yaak Falls.
Scout
We showed up without a reservation and we’re lucky to find a site on the water. Reservations suggested
ScoutWhile there were some positive aspects to the campground, a few drawbacks prevented it from standing out. One of the major downsides was the campsite's unfortunate location between two railway lines. The constant sound of freight trains passing by throughout the day was quite disruptive and detracted from the overall tranquility of the camping experience. If you're a light sleeper or prefer a quieter atmosphere, this aspect might pose a challenge.
On a brighter note, the presence of a lake near the campsite was undoubtedly a highlight. The lake provided a pleasant and picturesque setting, offering campers the opportunity to enjoy various water activities or simply relax by its shores. The natural beauty of the lake was a redeeming quality that added a touch of serenity to the overall camping ambiance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Porthill, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Porthill, ID is Brush Lake Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Porthill, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
