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.

Beaver Creek in the Heat

We had a short turnaround after our trip to the coast. A couple of days to clean the camper and re-stock.  On Wednesday we connected with Rayelle, Mike, and Julia driving north to the uppermost end of Priest Lake. We had a large double camp-site that we had reserved about six months earlier.

From the beach at Beaver Creek.

Linda and I arrived first and backed our rig in and leveled it. The Andersons arrived and filled in the second spot as we finished our setup. Everything fit nicely and before long we were heading down to the lake to get cooled off.

We had a wonderful five days of swimming, riding bikes, paddle boarding, kayaking, and playing Mexican Train! We shared great meals each night. No one went away hungry. 

After our first meal, Linda was given a birthday cake and cards. We ate cake and ice cream. It was a very thoughtful event and I know Linda appreciated it greatly.

It's just a rabbit. 

Saturday afternoon the Andersons packed up and drove to Sandpoint to attend the Mt Joy concert at the Festival.  Linda and I prepared for departure on Sunday and relaxed in the water. 

Sunday morning we got up, ate breakfast, and headed home. We had a great time, and once again enjoyed our time with the Andersons immensely.

Linda's new favorite water sport.

And he still has eyebrows!

The traditional Big Breakfast
being prepared. 

Take the photo now, cuz I could go over
any time!

6.5 miles to keep our Wordle
streak alive!

Ducks on the big pond.

Beaver Creek with the Andersons

 It is definitely a dry heat! That's what we were thinking as we returned from our four-night visit to Beaver Creek Campground up on Priest Lake. When we left the campground our truck thermometer read 88 degrees and when we arrived home the reading was 101. I will get back to our return after I recount the great week we had up on Priest Lake.

With our truck loaded with food, water, and our new bikes, we pointed the rig north following Hwy 41 through Rathdrum. At the Spirit Lake Cutoff Road, we took a right and cut across the Hoodoo Valley. When we arrived at the end of this road we turned left and followed the Pend Oreille River down to Priest River. From there it's a straight shot north following the road that ends at the Beaver Creek Campground.

Mangata on Priest Lake.

In this adventure, we joined Mike, Rayelle, and Julia Anderson for four nights of relaxing. The weather for these days started warm and moved quickly to hot. 

Our two sites were a little ways apart but gave us the option to visit either one based on shade and breezes. Our site had great shade and a slight breeze most of the time we sat out. The Andersons site gave us lots of space to play Corn Hole and other games as well as close proximity to lake access. They worked out perfectly.

The first night gave us a spectacular full moon that rose above the ridges of the Selkirk Crest Mountain range. We sat on logs at the beach and watched the mangata (shimmering of the moon on the water). Later as the air cooled off, we ate dinner and played games. We slept in the cool breeze off the lake. It was good to be out in our little home again.

The next morning we packed water, some snacks and hiked the 6-mile round trip trail from the campground up to Upper Priest Lake. The trail is very well cared for and hiking was easy. When we arrived at the lake we were the only hikers up there and were able to take in the beauty all by ourselves. I took some photos and then as soon as other hikers arrived we left the lake, returning back to our sites.

The rest of the day was spent in the shade sleeping, reading, and playing games.

Linda and I went for a long bike ride the next morning. It was nice to get out, but as we rode we knew that the day was going to get very hot. When we got back to our site we settled in and laid low enjoying the shade and light breeze off the lake.

Each evening we played Corn Hole and several table games. We really enjoyed this time with the Andersons.

By Sunday the weather reports stated that for the next week we would be in record-breaking heat. We loaded up and drove back home. As we drove, the outside temperature climbed. Linda turned on the truck's air conditioner and got nothing. Great! What a time to have no air conditioning.

Mid Week Getaway

The Priest Lake Thoroughfare .

Our homes for this week.

The key to retirement camping is to leave your home on Monday and return on Thursday. That is the best camping prior to the end of public school. After school lets out for the summer, it is every RVer for themselves!

We packed up and drove north out Hwy 41, through Rathdrum and Priest River to the end of Priest Lake where we met Daren and Marcy at the Beaver Creek Campground. The camp was virtually empty and so we got a good double site with a lot of sunshine hitting it.

Once we were all set up Daren and I took a hike up the trail towards Upper Priest Lake. We hiked about three miles total, just enough to get good and loose.

No bears around here!

Dinners were created and eaten, and we sat out and talked of past adventures while slapping a mosquito once in a while. We turned in early and slept like logs.

On Tuesday we packed a lunch and all four of us hiked up the trail all the way to Plowboy Campground about a three-mile hike from our rigs.  On the way in we met a couple of hikers and they told us that they had come upon a bear earlier in the morning on the trail. The bear had run away and so they were not bothered. We kept an eye out but saw nothing.  Our hike up to Upper Priest was near perfect and we enjoyed our lunch at Plowboy. The return hike was as nice as the walk in, with no interruptions or visitors.

Phoebe Tip across Upper Priest.

We had a good late afternoon drink and appetizer session then ate dinner and then went off to bed.

Wednesday saw Daren, Marcy and I hiking down the Priest Lakeshore Trail and checking out some of the nice boat-in campgrounds. We hiked to Teacher Bay and I went a little further down the trail to try and get a picture of Chimney Rock. After about a quarter mile I came upon Bottle Bay Campground and decided that I would not get the picture I wanted so I returned to Teacher Bay. We hiked back up the trail and met two mountain bikers, other than that we saw nothing unusual

As we entered the campground it started to rain. We sat out around the fire until about 6:00 PM when the intermittent sprinkles turned into a downpour. By the time we fixed dinner, the rain had socked us in, so Linda and I played Cribbage and washed up a bit. We straightened up the inside of the camper, brushed our teeth and went to bed.

The reward for hiking to Plowboy.

Goblin Knob and the Wigwams.

Last Minute Decision

We spent the last month trying to decide if we wanted to go up to Priest Lake and stay with the Anderson clan at Indian Creek campground. Two week ago we finally said no we wouldn't be going up. Two days before the departure date Rayelle called and suggested that we look online to see if there were spots available and low and behold, we booked a site and started packing the camper.

Earl and Mike preparing breakfast.

On Friday morning we hit the road, Kobi did his usual pissed off traveler routine and Linda settled into her spot, map in hand. Two hours later we were in our camp spot and settled.  At 3 PM, Earl, Lorraine and Julia arrived in their motor coach. Rayelle and Mike were not far behind and so our camp group was set up and ready.

We spent the evening talking and cooking dinner. Each night we met in Earl and Lorraine's RV and talked until we were ready to go to bed.

While we were up there I had the opportunity to go out fishing on Earl's boat.  We fished for lake trout and silvers, but in the two trips out were able to catch only one lake trout. It was a small one so we returned it to its home.

Hotcakes!

During the weekend, it rained off and on. The temperatures were well below normal, but we all hoped it was providing relief for all the wildfires located throughout the west.

On Sunday, Rayelle's family visited, Linda and I gave them some time together and we played cards, walked and stayed close to the camper. After dinner, we met back at the RV and talked and laughed.

Monday morning we went out on the second fishing trip.  When we returned everyone packed up, Linda had packed up everything for us so we were ready to go in no time.

We said our goodbyes and thanked everyone for the weekend.  It was a great time and we were glad we made the decision to join the Anderson's annual event.

Eggs, over any way they lit.

The fishing crew.