Chattaroy camping opportunities range from primitive sites to full-service RV parks, with elevation ranging from 1,800 to 2,200 feet. Seasonal temperature swings can be significant, with summer highs commonly reaching 90°F and winter lows often dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds in the area operate on a limited seasonal schedule from late spring through early fall.
What to do
Hiking trails: Mount Spokane State Park offers excellent trails directly from the Bald Knob Campground. "There are two beautiful trails accessible from the campground and lots more are within a 10 minute drive with plenty of parking at trailheads. Local foliage is wonderful, views are fantastic from the trails," reports one camper.
Water recreation: Nine Mile Recreation Area provides access to Long Lake at Riverside State Park. According to a visitor, "There's a small lake free fishing, didn't fish. There's an area to swim, and it's a good spot for waterskiing. There are picnic pavilions and a boat launch." Water rentals are sometimes available: "You can rent kayaks, and paddle boards there."
Disc golf: Pend Oreille County Park features an 18-hole disc golf course that's free to use. The park includes over 7 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails through dense forest. Day use activities are free, though the park asks for donations to fund improvements.
What campers like
Privacy and space: Campsites at Dragoon Creek Campground offer ample room. A camper noted, "Each campsite has its own fire pit and a picnic table. While some sites are more private than others they are all within walking distance to a drop toilet." Another visitor mentioned, "Some sites are open while others are shaded, but all are spacious and well removed from neighboring sites."
Clean facilities: Campground maintenance is frequently cited as excellent. "The bathrooms are incredibly clean, the campsites we considered were all clean as well," states one review. Another camper at Liberty Lake Regional Park noted, "It was a very great experience camping here the spots are very spacious and fairly quiet and clean."
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds offer opportunities to see local wildlife. At Liberty Lake Regional Park, a camper observed, "Several hiking trails, including an equestrian trail, waterfall, fishing and lots of wildlife. There were deer in the campground every day, we saw moose, owls, pilated woodpecker, and hawks."
What you should know
Seasonal insect issues: Several campgrounds report significant insect populations during summer months. At Dragoon Creek Campground, "The only downside here would have to be the number of wasps throughout the grounds. Wasp traps would be a nice investment but when you're outside you have to be prepared." Another camper stated more bluntly, "This campground has way, way too many bees. They are a nuisance can't relax without having to worry about a bee flying in your face."
Water access limitations: Creek and lake access varies widely between sites. At Bowl and Pitcher Campground, "Sites one through 18 are on the river and much more spacious and have full utilities. We enjoyed the beauty of the Spokane River, walking across the suspension bridge and hiking the trails."
Campground hours: Some parks close gates at specific times. Dragoon Creek Campground has gates that "close at 10pm so you don't have to worry about people driving in at all hours of the night," while Pend Oreille County Park has gates open from "7 A.M to DUSK." Plan arrivals accordingly.
Tips for camping with families
Entertainment options: Thousand Trails Little Diamond offers numerous activities for children. "Pool, hot tub, nice lake for fishing and boating, laundry facilities that take cards, and everything else that KOAs offer," notes a camper. Another visitor mentioned, "We were here camping over the fathers day weekend. It's a very nice campground with clean spots and clean restrooms despite being short-staffed. If you are camping with kids the spots closer to the playground equipment are perfect."
Swimming areas: Several campgrounds offer swimming options for families. At Liberty Lake Regional Park, there is "a clean shower/bathroom building and a beach within walking distance of the campground." Nine Mile Recreation Area has "a nice little stream that runs through the day use area during the spring."
Cell service considerations: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. While Bald Knob Campground reports "decent cell service in the campground," Bowl and Pitcher notes "TMobile cell service was surprisingly slow given our proximity to Spokane" and others report no service at all: "This is a perfect getaway for people looking to unplug as no cell service (tested on sprint, verizon, and google fi) is available."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Many campgrounds have limits on RV size. At Bowl and Pitcher Campground, "The largest site length is 45 feet, so large RVs won't fit." Liberty Lake notes "The road in was kinda sketchy if you are pulling a large RV."
Hookup availability: Not all sites offer full hookups. The Deer Park RV Resort provides higher-end amenities: "They collect your trash at your site every day, and have a propane delivery service so you can get your tanks filled without having to get out of your slippers." Other campgrounds may offer only electric and water.
Leveling needs: Terrain can be challenging at some locations. At Liberty Lake, one RVer advises to "bring your blocks" as sites may not be completely level. Many campgrounds feature gravel pads rather than concrete, which affects setup time and stability.
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