By:
Submission
Priest Lake was originally called Roothaan Lake by Father Desmet in 1846 in honor of his Jesuit Superior in Rome. One of the prominent peaks in the Selkirk Range still bears the name Roothaan. In 1865, Captain John Mullan designated this same lake as Kaniksu Lake on one of his maps. It is believed that "Kaniksu" was the Indian name of Black Robe, although this has never been authenticated. The name was gradually changed in the early 1900's from Kaniksu Lake to its present name of Priest Lake, which refers to the early-day Jesuit missionary priests who had established a base camp at Kalispell Bay in the 1840's. The lake is one of three largest and most beautiful lakes in the Idaho Panhandle, and a very popular recreation attraction. The world's largest Makinaw trout was caught here in 1963. Dolly Varden, Cutthroat, and Kokanee are also caught in the lake. It is now illegal to fish for Dolly Varden and they are to be returned to the lake when caught. Upper Priest Lake is part of the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. There were five small parcels of private land totaling about 420 acres on Upper Priest Lake. The Forest Service purchased these tracts in 1967 with the assistance of Nature Conservancy. The entire shoreline of Upper Priest Lake is now in either the State of Idaho or Federal ownership, and is administered as a scenic area. Upper Priest River, which flows into Upper Priest Lake, is one of the rivers to be studied for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers system along with the lower Priest River which was famous in the early days as a log-drive stream. The first recorded drive was in 1901 and the last in 1949. The greatest drive took place in 1931 when 50,000 cedar poles and 125,000,000 board feet or logs were herded down the river by the "river pigs".
I don't even know how to begin to describe how horrible my experience at this campground was, I would give zero stars if I could! I wasn't there 30 seconds (not joking, it was seriously less than a minute) and before I could ask my family if/what/where I needed to do anything, and the camp 'HOST' was over in our camp upset because I didn't pay for my car to be there and I needed to pay. Okay cool, I was coming your way, I paid he man. But then he sat at his camp and watched not only me but the other campers in the grounds as well.. creepy, but his job I suppose? But the cherry on top was when I putt-putted the 4wheeler down a path (outside the campground and not on a public road) so my kid felt like she got a ride (on level ground and I didn't even get it over 5 mph) and the HOST hauled up through a road way and blasted me for having my kid on the 4wheeler without full gear and how I needed to take her back to camp and not be on the 4wheeler with her, that I was super creeped out about. He FOLLOWED me and my kid outside the campground! And harassed me! I will NEVER go to this campground again! I camp to enjoy my family and nature, away from other people as much as possible and have a good time. I'm polite, tidy and stay to myself. I do not camp to have someone police my every move and harass me and my family. I left before dark... my kid cried because she didn't get to stay the night but I wasn't going to stay with that old man so close and nosy...
This site is clean and very beautiful. But the price is ridiculous for a no frills camp site, they charged 26 dollars a nite for out of state visitors. It only has an outhouse toilet with no lighting and no running water. But I still had fun, just wish it wasn't so highly priced.
Simple quiet camp ground. Also great for a day picnic if it's not full.
We love this campsite on the river. Its clean, beautiful views and close to everything. Have been Camping here for years and will continue to do so.
Small campground along the river. The bathrooms (pit toilets) we're clean. There's no water or garbage service. It's beautiful and quaint. Very narrow driving loop...tough to get trailers/campers through, but a good spot for tent camping. Online it said it was twelve bucks a night, but the sign had higher rates.
