Camping
$11.66 (bought the yearly pass for $40, which saves $5 each day of camping)
Pass
$40 (will get discounts throughout the year)
List of services: (Need a key) Copy from web site???
Verizon has cell coverage at Hawley’s.
Left home at 10am, time I had planned for… if not Lisa. Lazy
drive through Sprague, then a number of smaller towns (Bradshaw Rd.) through
Waverly, then finally ending up in Plummer. Nice drive through the Palouse,
seeing springtime – winter wheat sprouting, ducks, erosion, a number of very
nice, clean farms, and a number of junky homes. Arrived about 1pm. Lunch in
visitor center parking lot. Checked in with desk and found out that ½ price for
seniors camping at this park. Some other parks also in state are ½ price. (Got
list next day from Leslie… very helpful) Went for hike from parking lot… next
to paved road… muddy. Marsh boardwalk was nice. Great large Western White Pine. Then up
Plummer Creek trail to Appoloosa trail. Steep, densely forested. Top was DF
stand but trip up was very diverse (see tree species). Came down to horse
riders parking (nice setup). Turned left and followed power line down to close
to parking lot. About 4.1+ miles. Nice hike… lot of elevation. My knees were
painful as there were still bruised from fall in pole barn (through rafters and
onto the tire rack). We had a nice camp in Hawley’s Landing (site 44) had
problems with power and moved over one to 43. Power okay. Very peaceful as no
one else was on our loop! Camping had just opened the day before. Road noise was noticeable, but not bad within the
camper. Red-necked grebe were calling in evening with chorous of frogs!
Incredible! Morning was chilly (perhaps 35) and a bit foggy. Cleared as morning
progressed. Nice sun, but not brilliant. When leaving camp about 10, we stopped
at center again and talked. Outside, we met with Beth and she talked a lot. One
question I asked was what made this park special to her. She said “diversity”.
We talked about a lot… tree species, PP management (openings, burns, etc.),
inholding leases, cabins, Boulder Co (where she moved from, but grew up in
Wisconsin).
Find out details about establishment of park – something
about Heyburn wanting a national park but it became the northwest’s first state
park…
Many coniferous tree species found here: PP, LPP, WP, GF, WF,
DF, WL, WRC, Hemlock, Pacific Yew, Spruce, but don’t know the species? This is
fairly unusual.
Ron is the manager… about 30 years there.
Benewah unit was upgraded in 2013 – bathrooms rebuilt, RV
sites upgraded to full service and 50amp. Tent sites are close, but lakeside
sites (up a steep shore) are beautiful and were not upgraded.
Lots of camping available – there are three distinct units:
Hawley’s Landing, Chatcolet, and Benewah… not open for camping year round but
the park is! (web site wasn’t clear) Hawley’s Launch opens about 4/1, but other
sections open later, as late as mid-May. October 1 – November 1 for closures, depending
on unit. Check web site for exact info. Park is open year round.
Visitor center is very nice and staffed daily during peak season.
We noticed the interpretive signs are much better than average, often including
tribal names and customs. Make sure you take the Marsh Boardwalk (it’s short),
and notice the variety of birds, trees, shrubs, and plants. There’s a large
specimen of Western White Pine along the trail. WWP was what the logging
companies went for in the heyday of logging at the end of the 1800’s and
through 1950 or so.
Frogs and robins very noisy in the spring. Red Necked Grebe
was courting loudly. Road noise is noticeable at one of the camps (Hawley’s
Landing). Occasional trains.
Benewah camp is first come first serve. The two other camps
are reserveable and are often reserved far ahead of time. It is a very popular
park during the summer.
Should we list species of wildlife (and other?) for each
state park?
Once known as “Chat Cak Alye” (meaning “lake”) by the Coeur
D’Alene Tribe, Chatcolet Lake has long been a favored spot for camping and
fishing.
Biking, hiking, horseback, boating, fishing (very popular –
both spiny ray and trout), swimming, wildlife viewing (excellent birding).
Park can be difficult to make camping or cabin reservations
for as it is a very popular park.
Area being big timber in the past.
CdA is impounded by dam. Raised water a few feet. St Maries
River… St. Joe River? CdA River?
History of lake???
What’s close by (within 25 miles):
Palouse
Casino
Plummer/St.
Maries
Trail
of CdA’s
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