USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Sam Owen
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Sites
- 82
- Hookups
- 1 electric, 78 no hookups
- Season
- May 19 to September 24
- Max RV length
- 60 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 2,110 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- SAM OWEN DAY USE (NFSR 640) · asphalt · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Idaho Panhandle National Forests
- Address
- IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL FORES, ID
- Phone
- 435-245-6521
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Day Use Area, Kayaking, Paddling, Star Gazing, Swimming, Swimming Site
79 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Sam Owen Campground is nestled on the banks of Lake Pend Oreille in a densely wooded forest of pine and cedar. Popular activities include hiking, canoeing, swimming and boating in summer, and skiing in winter.
Recreation
A beach draws crowds of sunbathers and swimmers. Visitors also like to hike the half-mile, accessible Sam Owen Trail #4. The trail reaches a beautiful vista of Owens Bay, where hikers can rest on benches and take in the astonishing view.
Anglers take pleasure in catching kamloops, Dolly Varden, northern pike, trout and catfish. A boat ramp and dock are located on-site.
Facilities
Amenities include a picnic area, paved overflow parking areas and an amphitheater for educational programs. Campsites do not have electric hookups but a group picnic shelter has electricity and lights. Accessible flush toilets, drinking water and a dump station are provided.
Natural Features
Sam Owen Campground is situated on a peninsula on the east side of Lake Pend Oreille in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, at an elevation of 2,000 feet. The lake spans 82,088 acres and has 125 miles of shoreline.
The well-loved campground shares a peninsula with the Sam Owen Game Preserve, which provides plenty of opportunities to see wildlife up close. Deer are very easy to spot, and watching for unique birds is a rewarding activity.
Nearby Attractions
The Pend Oreille Scenic Byway is well worth exploring.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 31° | 0° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 38° | 29° | -1° | 46° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 45° | 34° | 11° | 65° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 49° | 38° | 26° | 74° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 62° | 48° | 39° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 53° | 43° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 82° | 65° | 54° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 67° | 56° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 71° | 59° | 47° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 57° | 46° | 40° | 72° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 44° | 38° | 20° | 58° | 1 of 10 |
| December | 37° | 33° | 11° | 50° | 7 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Huckleberry · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
- Green Bay Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 17 sites
- Garfield Bay Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 7 mi · 43 sites
- Lunch Peak Lookout · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi · 1 sites
- City Beach RV Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 13 mi · 21 sites
All public campgrounds in Idaho · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.