McGillivray campground
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Campgrounds open Memorial Day Weekend
Kootenai National Forest
May 17, 2007
(Libby) – Kootenai National Forest campgrounds will officially open for the summer season this Memorial Day weekend at the end of May.
Overnight camping fees are charged only at selected campgrounds containing designated tent or trailer spaces, drinking water, access roads, refuse containers, toilet facilities, campfire facilities, and reasonable visitor protection. Forest users will find campsite fees ranging from $5.00 to $10.00, depending on facilities offered, and will be clearly identified by Forest Service fee signs.
There is no charge for National Forest picnic areas, boat ramps, hiking trails, scenic drives, toilet facilities, wayside exhibits or undeveloped, outdoor recreation areas.
Campground Hosts will be available throughout the season at selected sites to provide general information and assistance, and aid in campground maintenance. These sites include Rexford Bench, Rexford Bench Boating Site, Peck Gulch, Rocky Gorge, Douglas Hill, North Dickey Lake, Yaak River, Dorr Skeels, Bad Medicine, Pete Creek, Whitetail, McGillivray, McGregor Lake, Howard Lake, Bull River, and North Shore.
Those seeking non-fee campgrounds and picnic areas may wish to visit any of the following sites: Triangle Pond, Big Eddy, Marten Creek, Rock Lake, Grave Creek, Swisher Lake, Loon Lake, Lake Creek, Spar Lake, Yaak Falls, Ross Creek Cedars Scenic Area, Dorr Skeels, Sylvan Lake, Willow Creek, Red Top, Caribou, Camp 32, and South Dickey Lake.
Only the east loop of the McGillivray campground will be open for the summer season. Lake Creek campground will be open for the season; however, the public water system will not be activated.
Persons 62 years of age or older are entitled to use National Forest campground facilities at one-half the regular fee by purchasing a lifetime Interagency Senior Pass for $10. Interagency Access Passes are available free of charge to blind, deaf, or permanently disabled persons and also entitle bearer to half –price regular fees.
The Interagency Annual Pass, primarily issued by the National Park Service, sells for $80. This pass is an entrance pass to federal lands including national parks, refuges, recreation areas, historic sites, and monuments that charge entrance fees –areas managed by the Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. This pass can also be used for entrance to other Agriculture and Interior public land sites; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has no entrance fees on lands under its jurisdiction.
The Interagency Senior Pass admit the pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle. Where entry is not by private vehicle, the pass admits the pass holder, spouse, children and parents. The pass is valid for a 12-month period starting with the date of purchase and ending the last day of the purchase month one year later.
All passes are available at any Forest Service office, but visitors should note that Interagency Annual Passes are not applicable to reductions in Forest Service reservation or overnight camping fees.
Congress passed the Recreation Enhancement Act in 2004 which authorizes participating sites to retain up to 80 percent of the fees at the project level. Funds collected will be used for site enhancements, educational and resource protection programs and visitor services.
Improvements completed in the past year include placing lighting at the vault toilets and a fee board at North Shore. Debris was removed from the Rexford Bench and Tobacco Plains Boat ramps making them more useable. Additional maintenance of facilities, more toilet pumpings, and providing Host services were also provided.
Improvements that may be on going at Peck Gulch is the access road into the recreation site will be widened out. Various work will be done at Rexford Bench Campground to make 15 sites barrier free.
Due to the natural events that occurred in the late fall of 2006, portions of the Grave Creek Road #114 and the entire Therriault Lakes Road #319 will be closed to wheeled-motorized vehicles until the damaged portions of the roads are repaired. The closure begins at the junction of Grave Creek Road and the trailhead for Blue Sky Trail #74, approximately 14 miles up the Grave Creek Road.
Ross Creek Cedars Road is closed to vehicle traffic due to flood damage from last fall. The road will be closed until sometime in June. There is also damage to the trail and picnic area. Work on the trail and picnic area will commence when the road is opened in June.
Loon Lake, Lake Creek and Sylvan Lake Campgrounds will not likely be opened by Memorial Day weekend. There will be no dock at McGillivray Campground. Libby Ranger District will not be providing firewood at any developed sites.
Although many site upgrades and changes will be accomplished by the end of this fiscal year, visitors may be inconvenienced this summer by fewer improvements and services in the past. The overall budget is a major consideration and adjustments are being made to provide adequate accommodations to the recreating public. As construction allows, closure dates and services may vary at individual campgrounds. It is best to contact the appropriate District Office for further information before planning your overnight trip.
Rexford Ranger District; Eureka, 406-296-2536
Fortine Ranger District, Fortine, 406-882-4451
Three Rivers Ranger District; Troy, 406-295-4693
Libby Ranger District; Libby, 406-293-7773
Cabinet Ranger District; Trout Creek, 406- 827-3533
Related Links:
Kootenai National Forest
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