Kamloops Island Campground

Location

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
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Policies

Check-in

01:00 PM

Check-out

12:00 PM

Max stay

60 nights

Pets

Allowed (per listing)

Campfires

Allowed (per listing)

About

Kamloops Island Campground sits where the Kettle River empties into Lake Roosevelt, the upper Columbia held in high stone walls shaped by ancient floods; the site's character comes from that meeting of rivers and the pockets of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir that shade the campsites. The campground has 17 sites total, and each of them is laid out to accept both tents and RVs, with the primary cluster of vehicle-accessible sites tucked into vegetation at the top of the island and a small spread of walk-in tent sites set among a stand of pines. Many sites look out toward the river, the lake, and the steep ravine that the Kettle River reveals during seasonal drawdown a favorite sight for anglers and people who enjoy shoreline geology. Wildlife is a visible part of the experience: moose, elk and deer are often seen in the area and bald eagles patrol the shoreline; the water supports walleye, bass, rainbow trout, salmon and sturgeon, with a short, regulated season for sturgeon. Recreational options at Kamloops Island tie directly to Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area's offerings: swimming is pleasant in summer, anglers come for a variety of species, boating is popular from nearby launches, hiking and general shoreline exploration are convenient, and the campground's courtesy dock gives you waterside access even though it does not include a boat ramp. Plan ahead: Kamloops Island is a reservation-only, year-round campground with no staffed office on site, and all 17 sites must be booked through recreation.gov (no first-come sites). Peak season runs May September and sites are $23 per night; the off-peak rate from October April is $11.50 per night, but note that the campground is not plowed in winter. Each site includes a picnic table and a fire pit, but you must bring your own drinking water. Changes or cancellations must be handled through recreation.gov; a cancellation the day before or the day of arrival results in a $10 service fee plus forfeiture of the first night's fee (one-night reservations canceled on arrival day forfeit the entire amount paid). The campground is reached on the west side of Lake Roosevelt near Kettle Falls roughly 79 miles north of Spokane on U.S.-395 and for general park information the main office can be reached at (509) 754-7889.