THE DIRT: Where Trails Meet Tranquility: New Campground Prioritizes Access and Experience

A new bicycle and pedestrian-friendly campground in Smelterville opened in May, offering visitors a unique, low-impact outdoor experience near the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. Located off Airport Road on the north side of Interstate 90, the campground includes 26 campsites, two of which are fully ADA-accessible. The accessible sites feature pathways connecting the trailhead parking area directly to the campsites.

Designed primarily as a bike-in or walk-in campground, the site encourages visitors to arrive without a vehicle. A 22-stall parking lot is available inside a gated area on a first-come, first-served basis. Not every campsite will accommodate a vehicle, and some visitors may need to park and walk up to 1,000 feet to reach their site. The campground road is approximately 10 feet wide with shoulders, but vehicle access beyond the gate is restricted to those with reservations.

Each campsite includes a bike rack and picnic table, while 11 sites also have hammock posts. The campground offers tent pads, a centrally located shower house with four stalls, flushable toilets, sinks, electrical outlets, and power for charging devices. Two e-bike charging stations are available—one near the shower house and another at the campground entrance. Visitors must bring their own chargers.

The campground supports Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, but not Class 3 e-bikes. The trail speed limit is 15 mph. ADA users may request an OPDMD permit through Idaho Parks and Recreation to use qualifying mobility devices. Dogs are welcome but must remain leashed, and owners are required to clean up after them.

The campground is located in an area that has undergone extensive environmental cleanup. Visitors should remain on designated paved and gravel surfaces because surrounding areas have not been fully remediated. In particular, soils in areas below the high-water mark may still contain elevated levels of heavy metals. Avoid disturbing these soils and follow posted signs and access restrictions.

Just east of the campground, cleanup at East Smelterville Flats has also transformed a former contaminated site into a safer recreational area. Phase 2 of the cleanup was completed this summer. The work included installing a new 12-inch clean soil cap, revegetating the 14-acre site, adding gravel walking paths, and installing four concrete pads for future picnic areas. Interpretive signage will help visitors understand both the area’s history and the environmental cleanup that has taken place.

A new shade structure and picnic table, installed by the Kootenai Realtors Association just west of the Airport Riverwalk parking lot, provide another place for visitors to rest and enjoy the area. This fall, additional interpretive signs covering local history and environmental cleanup efforts will be installed.

Future plans include a trail connection between the campground and the Pinehurst Trailhead, pending agreements and funding.

Together, these projects demonstrate how cleanup and recreation can work hand in hand—protecting people from historical contamination while creating new opportunities to bike, walk, camp, and learn about the ongoing restoration of the Silver Valley.