Bumblebee Campground
Kingston, Idaho · on Bumblebee Creek · Coeur d'Alene National Forest
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- creek
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $24
- SEASON
- May
About Bumblebee Campground
Bumblebee Campground is a small U.S. Forest Service campground in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests (Coeur d'Alene River drainage), sitting in an open meadow along Bumblebee Creek near its confluence area with the Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River. Recreation.gov, the federal booking site for this USFS facility, explicitly tags it as a 'Swimming Site' and describes easy creekside access for floating, swimming, and wading. Camper reviews corroborate clean, clear creek water on site.
The campground occupies an open meadow with no standing trees at about 2,200 feet elevation in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, immediately adjacent to Bumblebee Creek and near the Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River, roughly half a mile from prime trout water. A camper review also mentions beaver dams reachable by short forest trails near the campground.
Swimming at Bumblebee Campground
Recreation.gov describes 'easy access for floating, swimming and wading' directly from the creekside campground on Bumblebee Creek and the adjacent Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River system. A camper review independently describes a shaded stretch of 'clean running creek water' behind one of the campsites, suggesting a small, casual creek-swimming/wading spot rather than a deep swimming hole.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Interstate 90's Kingston exit, take Forest Road 9 north 5.4 miles, turn left onto the Bumblebee cutoff for 3 miles, then turn right onto Forest Road 796 for 0.1 miles to the campground.
Parking: Campground has paved access road with sealed-gravel parking spurs at individual sites; no dedicated swim-area parking lot is described beyond the campsite pull-offs.
The hike in
No hike is needed for the main swim/wade access - it's creekside right at the campground. Separately, a camper review mentions an unnamed short woodland path behind campsite 25 leading to a shaded creek stretch and a beaver pond/dam, described as a brief kid-friendly walk rather than a formal trail.
No named trail could be found for this location; Forest Service and Recreation.gov pages describe only vehicle access to the campground, not a hiking approach to the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Recreation.gov markets 'easy access for floating, swimming and wading' from the campground and a camper review calls the creek behind site 25 'clean running creek water' with a short, kid-walkable path to a beaver pond. But there is no lifeguard, no marked swim beach, the ground near the creek/pond was reported muddy and swampy in July, and the adjacent North Fork Coeur d'Alene River carries real current for floaters plus rowdy weekend crowds in peak float season (Memorial Day-early August), so young kids should be watched closely rather than left to wade unsupervised.
Parking
Paid, included in campsite fee (roughly $21-$112/night depending on site per Recreation.gov/camper reports)
No separate day-use swim-area lot; visitors park at individual sealed-gravel campsite spurs. Roads within the campground are narrow, which reviewers flagged as tight for larger RVs/trailers; double sites have shorter spurs that may not comfortably fit two RVs. An extra-vehicle fee applies beyond the one vehicle included per single-site reservation.
Restrooms
Yes
Vault toilets in both campground loops (one reviewer described them as very clean with air fresheners even in August heat); a hand-pump for drinking water is available at the group site.
Water clarity
Mostly clear
One camper describes 'clean running creek water' in a shady stretch of Bumblebee Creek behind site 25. The surrounding ground near the creek/beaver pond was separately reported as muddy and swampy in a July visit, which may affect access but wasn't described as affecting the water's clarity itself. No additional trip reports on clarity were located.
Hours
No gate hours found. Campground is seasonal (roughly May-September per prior camper reports) and reservable via Recreation.gov; no specific day-use-only hours are published.
On the water
Bumblebee Creek itself is small and described only in terms of wading/swimming/floating a short creekside stretch, not as a boatable run. The nearby North Fork Coeur d'Alene River is floated by tubers/paddlers in season, with a 'Bumblebee bridge put-in' mentioned by a camper review near the campground. One reviewer warned that Memorial Day-to-early-August weekends bring heavy floater traffic and partying at this put-in. No official regulations on watercraft type or motor restrictions were found for this stretch.
What regulars say
Camper reports describe: a shady, clean-running stretch of Bumblebee Creek behind campsite 25 with nearby beaver dams reachable by a short kid-friendly woodland walk; narrow campground roads that make parking larger RVs difficult, especially on the shorter double-site spurs; vault toilets kept notably clean (air fresheners noted) even in August heat; and a caution that the 'Bumblebee bridge' put-in on the adjacent North Fork Coeur d'Alene River draws large, sometimes loud/partying floater crowds on weekends during peak float season (Memorial Day through early August).
Bumblebee Campground: FAQ
Does Bumblebee Campground charge a fee?
USFS campground fee required to stay onsite; Recreation.gov lists a price range of roughly $24-$112 per night depending on site, and a camper review cites $21 for standard single sites and $42 for double sites. No separate fee for swimming/day use is mentioned.
Is Bumblebee Campground kid friendly?
Recreation.gov markets 'easy access for floating, swimming and wading' from the campground and a camper review calls the creek behind site 25 'clean running creek water' with a short, kid-walkable path to a beaver pond. But there is no lifeguard, no marked swim beach, the ground near the creek/pond was reported muddy and swampy in July, and the adjacent North Fork Coeur d'Alene River carries real current for floaters plus rowdy weekend crowds in peak float season (Memorial Day-early August), so young kids should be watched closely rather than left to wade unsupervised.
Do I need to hike to reach Bumblebee Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Bumblebee Campground?
No separate day-use swim-area lot; visitors park at individual sealed-gravel campsite spurs. Roads within the campground are narrow, which reviewers flagged as tight for larger RVs/trailers; double sites have shorter spurs that may not comfortably fit two RVs. An extra-vehicle fee applies beyond the one vehicle included per single-site reservation.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Bumblebee Campground?
Bumblebee Creek itself is small and described only in terms of wading/swimming/floating a short creekside stretch, not as a boatable run. The nearby North Fork Coeur d'Alene River is floated by tubers/paddlers in season, with a 'Bumblebee bridge put-in' mentioned by a camper review near the campground. One reviewer warned that Memorial Day-to-early-August weekends bring heavy floater traffic and partying at this put-in. No official regulations on watercraft type or motor restrictions were found for this stretch.
When is the best time to visit Bumblebee Campground?
Roughly May through September, per the campground's seasonal operating window noted in camper reviews.
What are the rules at Bumblebee Campground?
Bear-aware rules apply: food must be stored in approved bear-resistant containers or a locked vehicle. Generators are prohibited during quiet hours (10pm-6am per camper review). Maximum stay is 14 days. Campground operates seasonally (roughly May-September) and is reservable via Recreation.gov.
What water body is Bumblebee Campground on?
Bumblebee Campground is on Bumblebee Creek, a natural creek verified in USGS hydrography data.
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