Outlet At Priest Lake
Outlet campground is located on the southwest shore of Priest Lake at the headwaters of Priest River. Campers come to Outlet for sunshine, fishing, boating, kayaking, and the breathtaking views of the rugged Selkird Mountains of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
More like this: reservable in Idaho · big rigs in Idaho · pets allowed in Idaho
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 27 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 56 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
27 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Back-in | 9 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 02 | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 03 | Back-in | 34 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 04 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 05 | Back-in | 14 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 06 | Back-in | 49 | Paved | Partial | 16 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 07 | Back-in | 54 | Paved | 16 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 08 | Back-in | 14 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 09 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 10 | Back-in | 56 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 70 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Outlet campground has three loops, two upper view sections and one lower lake-side section. Roadways and parking spurs are fully paved. There are RV and tent sites (two of which are walk-in tent sites). Campsites vary from very large, capable of parking an RV and a boat trailer, to small, camper size, with lake side and lake view sites. Some of the sites are heavily wooded, while some are found in opened areas. Campground amenities include swimming area, water hydrants and accessible flush toilets. Garbage service is available in bear proof cans. A public dump station is located 5-miles North of the campground, at Upper Luby Bay, on Highway 57.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | Mid May to Late September |
| Forest | Idaho Panhandle National Forests |
Weather by month
Getting there
Physical Address: Priest River, ID 83856 From I-90; Turn at Post Falls Highway 41 north to Newport, WA. Take Highway 2 east to Priest River. At the junction of Highway 57 and Highway 2, turn left. Drive 26 miles to Outlet Bay Road. Turn right for approximately 0.5 mile. Turn left on Lake Shore Road.
| Nearest town | Priest River, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 48.5106° N, 116.9164° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireSilver
14 mi from the campground · 2,593 acres · 30% contained
- WildfireParker Lake
28 mi from the campground · 1,531 acres · 1% contained
- PrescribedSl Rx - Ione
30 mi from the campground
- WildfireUpper Smith
32 mi from the campground · 4,848 acres · 41% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 8.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | North 40 ↗ | 22 mi |
| RV sales & service | Kootenay RV ↗ | 45.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Review of Outlet bay campground at priest lake as well as Lionhead natural rockslides at p
Trails nearby
- 1.1 miNorth Binarch1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miWoodrat ↗5.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miBeach ↗6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miBinarch Mountain1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miBulldog Point2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.5 miBinarch Creek3.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Idaho Panhandle National Forests begins about 12.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 12.9 miIdaho Panhandle National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,943,333 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Lamb Creek SchoolBuilding · Priest River · 1.5 mi
- Vinther and Nelson CabinBuilding · Coolin · 6 mi
- Michael and Myra Donohue HouseBuilding · Eastsound · 13.5 mi
Natural features
Outlet campground is situated at an elevation of 2,500 feet on Priest Lake. The lake is one of three largest and most beautiful lakes in the Idaho Panhandle, and reaches 300 feet in depth and covers 25,000 acres. The world's largest Mackinaw trout was caught here in 1963. Upper Priest Lake is part of the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. The entire shoreline of Upper Priest Lake is either the State of Idaho or federal ownership, and is administered as a scenic area. While visiting Priest Lake, watch for moose, black bear, wolves, deer, elk, and eagles, among others.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and power boating on Priest Lake and up the 3.5 mile thoroughfare that leads to the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. The upper lake cannot be accessed by car. Fishing, swimming, bird and wildlife viewing are popular activities, as well. Beach Trail #48 runs through Outlet campground and stretches northward along an 8-mile scenic part of Priest Lake. Off-highway vehicle enthusiasts will find authorized trails like the Peewee Trail, Steep Creek Trail, and John Wayne Trail. Hike the Chipmunk Rapids Trail that traverses along the Kaniksu Marsh, Priest River, and Chipmunk Rapids.
Nearby
Kalispell boat launch is the closest public boat launch, located about 7.5 miles north of the campground.
Guidebooks for Idaho
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Outlet At Priest Lake?
Sites at Outlet At Priest Lake are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Outlet At Priest Lake?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Outlet At Priest Lake have?
27 sites, including 27 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Outlet At Priest Lake?
The longest site here provides 70 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Outlet At Priest Lake?
Campground amenities include swimming area, water hydrants and accessible flush toilets.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Outlet At Priest Lake?
Yes, pets are allowed at Outlet At Priest Lake. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Outlet At Priest Lake?
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
What is there to do at Outlet At Priest Lake?
Visitors enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and power boating on Priest Lake and up the 3.5 mile thoroughfare that leads to the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Outlet At Priest Lake?
Priest River, Idaho. Kalispell boat launch is the closest public boat launch, located about 7.5 miles north of the campground.
Source: Getting there
What if Outlet At Priest Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Osprey (1.3 mi), Luby Bay (2.1 mi), and Bartoo Island Group Site/Campgrounds (2.9 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby