Recreation season gets underway at BLM sites in northern Idaho
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Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – The summer recreation season is on the horizon, including boating and camping at Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recreation sites in northern Idaho. If you’re planning a day on Lake Coeur d’Alene fishing or boating, BLM’s popular Blackwell Island boat launch and recreation area will open for the season on Thursday, May 23.
Blackwell Island offers four boat launch lanes, picnicking, a native plant garden, group picnic shelter and wildlife viewing along the nature trail. The popular site is open seasonally through early October from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day.
New this year at Blackwell Island are two point-of-sale machines, providing a much more convenient method for users to pay site fees. Daily rates at Blackwell Island are $6 per day and season passes are $40. Season passes include the use of both Blackwell Island and the Mineral Ridge boat launch on the east side of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Day-use purchases are not redeemable toward the purchase of a season pass.
Campers planning trips to the BLM Huckleberry Campground on the St. Joe River can now reserve camp sites in advance. Reservations are now required for 29 of the 33 sites from May 15 through Oct. 1 each year. Campsites are first come, first served outside of those dates.
Reservations and camping fee payments can be made through www.recreation.gov or by calling their toll free number: 1-877-444-6777. Sites can be reserved for up to 14 days and reservations can be made up to six months in advance.
Close to town but away from it all, Mica Bay Boater Park is a short boat ride from Coeur d’Alene offering tent camping or overnight moorage for just $10 per night. The site also has day use facilities (walk-in) including a reservable group picnic shelter.
The BLM’s Blue Creek Bay recreation area, located 8 miles east of Coeur d’Alene is becoming a great family day trip destination. Visitors can take advantage of new trails or picnicking and fishing at the day use area.
For additional information about recreation opportunities on BLM lands in northern Idaho, call (208) 769-5000 or visit: https://www.blm.gov/programs/
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.