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Established Camping

Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground

Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground, near Cusick, Washington, is a straightforward spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors without too many frills. It’s a no-fuss place where you can pitch a tent or park your RV, with the Pend Oreille River right nearby, offering some nice views and a chance to unwind by the water.

The campground is pretty basic, with no electric hookups or showers, but visitors have mentioned that it’s a decent place for larger groups since the spots are close together. While some campers found the ground a bit hard for tenting, others appreciated the access to water and the beautiful scenery, especially in the early mornings.

If you’re into hiking, you’re in luck! The surrounding area boasts some fantastic trails that make the trip worthwhile. Just keep in mind that the campground can get a bit noisy due to its proximity to the road, but the natural beauty and the helpful campground host can make up for it. Whether you’re planning a quick getaway or a longer stay, this campground offers a simple and scenic escape into nature.

Description

USDA Forest Service

Colville National Forest

Overview

Panhandle Campground is set in a heavily forested area on the Pend Oreille River in northeast Washington. This small campground offers sites with views of the river, plus a swimming area right along the campground.

Recreation

Canoeing and birding are popular activities. Small wetlands areas lie on the south end of the campground, attracting an abundance of birds. Excellent fishing opportunities for bass and trout exist in the river as well. Power boating and water skiing are possible on the wide, deep Pend Oreille River. Boating speeds are limited to 35 mph. A boat ramp is located on-site.

Facilities

Canoeing and birding are popular activities. Small wetlands areas lie on the south end of the campground, attracting an abundance of birds. Excellent fishing opportunities for bass and trout exist in the river as well. Power boating and water skiing are possible on the wide, deep Pend Oreille River. Boating speeds are limited to 35 mph. A boat ramp is located on-site.

Natural Features

The campground stretches along the east bank of the Pend Oreille River. A thick middlestory offers good privacy between campsites. The Pend Oreille River flows north for about 130 miles into Canada and merges with the Columbia River. The beautiful mountains and valleys were shaped by glaciers in the Ice Age. The Colville National Forest encompasses 1.1 million acres in the northeast corner of Washington State. The forest's great salmon runs first attracted Native Americans to the area, then miners, homesteaders and fur trappers. Its variety of resources and natural beauty continues to attract visitors today.

Nearby Attractions

Cruise the forest roads within a 30-mile radius and find an abundance of scenic overlooks and chances to see wildlife.

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Location

Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground is located in Washington

Detail location of campground

Directions

From downtown Newport, travel east on U.S. Highway 2 for 0.75 miles. Immediately after crossing the Pend Oreille River bridge, turn left on LeClerc Road and travel 32 miles north to Panhandle Campground.

Address

15021 LECLERC RD
Cusick, WA 99119

Coordinates

48.51 N
117.2713889 W

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Reviews

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4 Reviews

Reviewed Mar. 7, 2024

Close Spots

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.

Reviewed Oct. 27, 2020

River view

Visited this park with our kids in the spring and it was so thick with vegetation, it was really hard to set up camp. The river was at flood stage so it was hard to access the water and have much fun because of the danger.  Also because of all the rain, there was a lot of bugs and mosquitos. We still make it work and took the time to explore the area but we decided not to come back here.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground by Terrie M., October 27, 2020
  • Review photo of Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground by Terrie M., October 27, 2020
  • Review photo of Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground by Terrie M., October 27, 2020
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Aug. 12, 2020

Beautiful View

Nice campground right along the river. Campsites are a little close together, and a bit noisy from being close to the road. Other than that, very beautiful place especially in the early mornings. Host was incredibly helpful, and nice. Great little couple getaway though.

Reviewed Oct. 31, 2018

Great hiking!

I love Washington because of all its amazing hiking! The campground was mediocre, not really the cleanest, but the hiking made up for it! We did tons of hiking around the area, and enjoyed every single one. The campground itself is pretty small- pretty sure there are only like 12 sites within the campground. When we went, it wasn't too busy. Probably 5 other families there. There is a garbage disposal area there which was nice, although it still seemed a bit dirty. It was $18 a night which we thought was a little on the expensive side for camping, but we only stayed 2 nights and split the cost between 4 people. Great views of Pend Oreille River. We reserved our site online, but I think we definitely could I walked in and got a site. This campground doesn't seem to be used much. Probably wouldn't come back, but maybe try another campground nearby.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground by Adeline T., October 31, 2018
  • Review photo of Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground by Adeline T., October 31, 2018
  • Review photo of Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground by Adeline T., October 31, 2018
  • (8) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the elevation of Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground?

    Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground is located at 3162 feet.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground?

    Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground allows vehicles up to 33 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground?

    There are 13 campsites at Colville National Forest Panhandle Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts