U.S. Forest Service · Idaho Panhandle National Forests · Priest River, ID

Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground

Surrounded by clear waters of Priest Lake, the 52 sites on Kalispell 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 51 single sites on the island as well as one group site known as Three Pines Group Site. This Group Site is located on the southeast side of the island and has been renumbered from Site #001 to site #29 for groups of 10-30 individuals. All sites are only reachable by boat. A popular activity among visitors is to kayak, canoe, or power boat up a 3.5-mile thoroughfare, which leads to the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area.

Reservable · Recreation.gov52 sitesPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in Idaho · tent only in Idaho · pets allowed in Idaho · group sites in Idaho

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
KALISPELL ISLAND GROUP SITEKALISPELL ISLAND GROUP SITEKALISPELL ISLAND GROUP SITEKALISPELL ISLAND GROUP SITE
Photos via Recreation.gov
4fires
active
Silver · 12 mi away · 2,593 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Boat-in51
Group tent areas1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

52 sites in 13 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
35CottonwoodBoat-inLakefront10 / –YesPrime
029KALISPELL ISLAND GROUP SITEGroup tentPartialLakefront30 / –YesStandard
51Kalispell VistaBoat-inLakefront10 / –YesPrime
52Kalispell VistaBoat-inLakefront10 / –YesPrime
45North CoveBoat-inLakefront10 / –YesPrime
46North CoveBoat-inLakefront10 / –YesPrime
47North CoveBoat-inLakefront10 / –YesPrime
48North CoveBoat-inLakefront10 / –YesPrime
49North CoveBoat-inLakefront10 / –YesPrime
8PeninsulaBoat-inLakefront10 / –YesPrime

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Most campsites require campers to bring their own portable toilets. They can check out toilet buckets at the Kalispell Boat Launch. Kalispell Island can only be accessed by boat. No drinking water is availabe and this is a pack it in, pack it out facility. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 3.95 inches of precipitation, 21.8 inches of snowFebruary: 2.59 inches of precipitation, 11.3 inches of snowMarch: 3.40 inches of precipitation, 5.4 inches of snowApril: 2.50 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowMay: 2.76 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 2.61 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.97 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.87 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.30 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.89 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowNovember: 4.19 inches of precipitation, 9.2 inches of snowDecember: 4.53 inches of precipitation, 25.7 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 26.9°F averageFebruary: 29.4°F averageMarch: 36.3°F averageApril: 44.0°F averageMay: 53.3°F averageJune: 58.9°F averageJuly: 65.4°F averageAugust: 64.3°F averageSeptember: 55.5°F averageOctober: 43.1°F averageNovember: 32.7°F averageDecember: 26.5°F average0 in10 in20 in30 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Priest Rvr Exp Stn, 15 miles from the campground at 2,371 feet, station USC00107386 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 33 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 74 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Access to the campground is by boat only. To reach various boat launches around the lake, travel north from Priest River, Idaho on State Highway 57. To access the Kalispell Bay Boat Launch, travel on Highway 57 for 31 miles to Kalispell Bay Road. Turn east (right) until you reach West Lakeshore Road. Then head south.5 miles to the boat launch.

Nearest townPriest River, Idaho
Coordinates48.5639° N, 116.8933° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Silver

    12 mi from the campground · 2,593 acres · 30% contained

  • Wildfire
    Parker Lake

    24 mi from the campground · 1,531 acres · 1% contained

  • Wildfire
    Upper Smith

    28 mi from the campground · 4,848 acres · 41% contained

  • Prescribed
    Sl Rx - Ione

    29 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗4.7 mi
Outdoor gearNorth 40 ↗23.7 mi
RV sales & serviceKootenay RV ↗41.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Priest Lake Camping - Kalispell Island Camping & Kayaking

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Kalispell Island a Spur
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Kalispell Island
    2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.2 mi
    Kalispell - Reeder Bay
    4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle
  • 1.5 mi
    Beach ↗
    6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2 mi
    Bulldog Point
    2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.4 mi
    Woodrat ↗
    5.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Kalispell Island is one of seven islands scattered throughout Priest Lake. Kalispell is the largest of these islands, spanning 264 acres, and is shaped like a tooth. Priest Lake, at a 2,400 foot elevation, is one of the top three largest lakes in Idaho. To the north, the lake connects to the Upper Priest Lake, divided by a narrow channel, which can be passed through by boat.

Recreation

Priest Lake is less than an hour from the Canadian Border, nestled deep below the crest of the Selkirk Mountains. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Northern Idaho and the mile-high mountains, this 25,000-acre lake offers clear, blue waters reaching depths of 300 feet. Fantastic wildlife viewing is available on the 2.5-mile loop trail that encircles Kalispell Island, offering phenomenal lake views and bird watching opportunities. The waters of Priest Lake offer anglers access to record-breaking Mackinaw trout, Dolly Varden, Cutthroat and Kokanee.

Nearby

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.

Guidebooks for Idaho

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground?

Sites at Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground have?

52 sites, including 51 boat-in sites and 1 group tent area.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground?

Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Is there cell service at Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground?

Priest Lake is less than an hour from the Canadian Border, nestled deep below the crest of the Selkirk Mountains. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground?

Priest River, Idaho. Hike the Lakeshore or Beach Trails that traverse along the west shore of Priest Lake.

Source: Getting there

What if Kalispell Island Boat-In Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Kalispell Island Group Site and other Campgrounds (0.4 mi, partly first-come), Bartoo Island Group Site/Campgrounds (1.5 mi, partly first-come), and Bartoo Island Boat-In Campground (1.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby