A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Forest Service campground

Panhandle

Forest Service campground in Colville National Forest, Pend Oreille County, Washington. 2,061 feet. 12.6 miles from Cusick.

Managed by
Forest Service Colville National Forest
Elevation
2,061 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
12 12 standard non-electric
Longest rig
33 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Panhandle Campground is set in a heavily forested area on the Pend Oreille River in northeast Washington. This small campground offers sites with views of the river, plus a swimming area right along the campground.

Recreation

Canoeing and birding are popular activities. Small wetlands areas lie on the south end of the campground, attracting an abundance of birds. Excellent fishing opportunities for bass and trout exist in the river as well.

Power boating and water skiing are possible on the wide, deep Pend Oreille River. Boating speeds are limited to 35 mph. A boat ramp is located on-site.

Facilities

Sites are suitable for tents and large RVs. Most sites are private and all are within a short walk of the river. Drinking water, vault toilets and picnic tables are among the campground's amenities.

Natural Features

The campground stretches along the east bank of the Pend Oreille River. A thick middlestory offers good privacy between campsites. The Pend Oreille River flows north for about 130 miles into Canada and merges with the Columbia River. The beautiful mountains and valleys were shaped by glaciers in the Ice Age.

The Colville National Forest encompasses 1.1 million acres in the northeast corner of Washington State. The forest's great salmon runs first attracted Native Americans to the area, then miners, homesteaders and fur trappers. Its variety of resources and natural beauty continues to attract visitors today.

Nearby Attractions

Cruise the forest roads within a 30-mile radius and find an abundance of scenic overlooks and chances to see wildlife.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • swimming site

The land around Panhandle

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.