Overnight camping set to close at Huckleberry Campground

The Bureau of Land Management is poised to begin a modernization and improvement project for electrical upgrades that will require overnight camping to be closed at the Huckleberry Campground and Recreation Area on the St. Joe River.

“In order to complete the work, overnight camping will be unavailable after May 15, and extend into late summer or early fall,” said a message sent to Shoshone County Commissioners by Ray Pease, BLM Coeur d’Alene Field Manager. “We recognize this is not an optimal situation, however; the construction work required to complete the upgrades cannot be conducted during the fall or winter months.”

A construction contract for the project was awarded to Stillwater Electric from St. Maries, and they are expected to begin work as soon as May 16.

“Once completed, the project will bring all campsites at the campground up to 50 amps which will better accommodate modern RVs, provide a more reliable electrical grid and result in more quality recreation experience for visitors at the site,” said the message to commissioners.

Day use recreation activities will still be available for visitors on the west end of the Huckleberry Recreation Site. Visitors will have access to the St. Joe River for fishing, swimming and launching boats as well as use of the day use parking area. Volunteer camp hosts will be on site through the season to assist visitors enjoying day use activities on the west side of the site.

To provide public safety while construction is underway, access to the primary area of the campground, including the RV dump station, will be blocked off. Access to this area will be limited to the contractor, BLM administrative personnel and the Huckleberry volunteer camp hosts.