A Few Days at Beavercreek Campground

Our last visit to Beavercreek Campground on Priest Lake was back in August of 2022. That trip was spent with our good friends the Andersons, soaking in the views of the lake and wandering the trails around the campground. This week we found ourselves back in that same peaceful spot, only this time we were joined by our friends John and Loretta Sutherland.

Looking northeast into the Selkirks.

The weather showed off for us — blue skies, warm sun, and just enough breeze to keep the mosquitoes guessing. We stayed three nights, settling into that easy rhythm that only camping seems to create. Evenings were spent in camp chairs, swapping stories, solving the world’s problems, and laughing about everything else we couldn’t solve.

Each morning Linda would head out for her daily walk and return with a new story or observation from her adventures — sometimes about wildlife, sometimes about people, and occasionally about something only Linda could spot in the woods. I took a long walk myself, following the lake trail south. I managed to get close to a lake‑access camp area in Teacher Bay. That bay was my goal, but I had been out for quite a while, and eventually I turned around and hustled back to our campsite before anyone sent out a search party.

There were hundreds of butterflies.

We spent most of our time relaxing or playing cards. One thing we did notice was the large number of trees that had blown down during winter. It must have been a harsh one, but the landscape has been recovering nicely, with new growth already filling in the gaps.

For our evening meals we enjoyed three very tasty delights. On the first night we had an easy‑to‑fix standby of soup (clam chowder), salad, and cookies. The second meal was a bit international — Greek gyros. We cooked up some lamb, added feta cheese, tzatziki, and lettuce, and wrapped it all in a warm pita. Simple, delicious, and perfect for camping. Our final meal was traditional barbecue hamburgers, but boy, were they good.

On the drive home we were treated to one of those moments that instantly upgrades a trip: a bull moose sighting. We were heading south along one of my favorite stretches of highway when something dark stepped out of the brush and into a wide green clearing. Sure enough — a bull moose, antlers still covered in velvet and looking like he owned the place.

I slowed the camper and found a wide spot to pull over. After putting the truck in park, I hopped out and walked to the back of the rig just in time to see him step onto the road and stroll across the asphalt like he had an appointment on the other side. We were probably 500 yards away, but there was no mistaking that silhouette. I managed to get a few photos with the phone — proof for anyone who thinks moose are just mythical creatures invented by the Idaho tourism board.

There’s something about spotting wildlife in the middle of a trip that adds a little spark to the day. It’s a reminder that these places are alive, and that sometimes the best moments are the ones you don’t plan.

As we rolled the rest of the way home, I found myself thinking about how lucky we are to have places like Priest Lake close by — places where a few days of simple living, good friends, and a surprise moose can reset the soul. Trips don’t have to be long or complicated to be memorable. Sometimes all it takes is a quiet campground, a few shared meals, and the beauty of Idaho doing what it does best.

Big cone, small cone.

Peeling hard boiled eggs.

Bull moose crossing!

The end of the camping adventure.

DB/AI

Beaver Creek, Hot Again

Linda and I just returned from another camping adventure up at Priest Lake. We shared a camp spot with Rayelle, Mike, and Julia Anderson at Beaver Creek Campground on the lake's Northwest side.

We met the Andersons up at Spirit Lake, followed each other to our spot, and were set up and at the water by 4:00 PM. We had a great spot reserved in a campsite where there was shade most all day and not too many people around us.  It was busy (we were camping over a weekend which is something we normally don't do), but most folks followed the campground rules and were very nice.

This trip was relatively peaceful, though there was one camp group that kept their dog locked in a cage all day and he was not happy about that. The dog kept howling. He was very sad and lonesome, but the owners were boating all day. After the first night, they moved their campsite to a spot a distance away and we couldn't hear the poor dog for the rest of our stay. We felt so badly for him.

Our time at the campground was spent laying in the shade and playing in the water, playing cards and reading. We had great dinners each night and Mike made his usual big breakfast on our second day there. During the evening we played Skip-Bo and enjoyed talking and laughing.

Sunday, I took a walk down the Lakeshore Trail to Teacher Bay while everyone else was down at the beach. It was hot and I was ready to swim when I got back to camp.  

Before we called it an evening, Linda and I went for an evening swim. There was no one down at the beach at that time so cooling off was wonderful.

On Monday afternoon the Andersons had to pack up and go home.  Rayelle had an all-faculty NIC meeting she could not miss. We were sad to see them go.

Monday night was quiet. There was no breeze to speak of, so again we went swimming before bed. 

Tuesday morning we packed up and drove home. The trip was short but fun. Now we are hunkered down. It's over 100 degrees outside and it looks like it is staying hot for the next four or five days.  Thank goodness for the air conditioner we put in last summer.

Photo Bomb!

Old chimney left from beach cabin.

Great camping team!

Evening calm on Priest Lake.