Big Hank

Idaho Panhandle National Forests — riverside, fishing, hiking

Location: Prichard, ID, ID

Price: From $24 per night

Rating: 2.9 out of 5 (32 reviews)

Season: May through October

Big Hank Campground is located along the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River in Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Shore fishing is a large draw, along with local hiking and biking trails. The campground also provides an excellent base camp for hunters during season.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/big-hank to be notified when sites open up.

Big Hank sits on the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River with direct shore fishing access for cutthroat trout and popular summer tubing. The location also serves as an excellent base for local hiking and biking trails in Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

Wildlife alert: Moose are documented in the area via iNaturalist research-grade observations. Black Swifts, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and Townsend's Warblers have been observed, making this a solid birding spot.

Insider tips for Big Hank: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 30 sites and high demand Bring a self-contained RV or expect no hookups; most sites lack utility connections Shore fishing is a main draw; pack cutthroat fishing gear and plan river access time

Skip Big Hank if: You need RV hookups — none are available at most sites. You require year-round access — seasonal operations May through October only.

Best time to visit Big Hank: June-September — Campground operates May-October, but tubing and cutthroat fishing are explicitly noted as popular summertime activities.

Nearby campgrounds: Little Guard Lookout (SMELTERVILLE, ID), Spyglass Ground House (SMELTERVILLE, ID), Berlin Flats (Prichard, ID), Kit Price (Prichard, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Big Hank

Cell signal at Big Hank (Prichard, ID): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch›ID›Big Hank
Big Hank — photo 1
Idaho Panhandle National Forests — riverside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Big Hank

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Prichard, ID, ID★ 2.9 (32 reviews)From $24/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Big Hank Campground is located along the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River in Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Shore fishing is a large draw, along with local hiking and biking trails. The campground also provides an excellent base camp for hunters during season.

Best for:AnglersHikersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV45 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — none are available at most sites✕ You require year-round access — seasonal operations May through October only

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 30 sites and high demand

Bring a self-contained RV or expect no hookups; most sites lack utility connections

Shore fishing is a main draw; pack cutthroat fishing gear and plan river access time

Best: June-September

Campground operates May-October, but tubing and cutthroat fishing are explicitly noted as popular summertime activities

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Moose are documented in the area via iNaturalist research-grade observations. Black Swifts, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and Townsend's Warblers have been observed, making this a solid birding spot.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
435-245-6521· Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Getting there →

From Kingston on I-90, take Exit 43 to FH-9 and drive 20 miles north to Prichard, then turn left and continue 17 miles north on FH Road 208 to campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Idaho Panhandle National Forests fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Idaho Panhandle National Forests before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Big Hank cost per night?+
Big Hank costs $24 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Big Hank open?+
Big Hank is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Big Hank have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Big Hank?+
Big Hank can accommodate RVs up to 45 feet.
How do I make reservations at Big Hank?+
Big Hank is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Big Hank?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Big Hank is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Big Hank open, and what are check-in times?+
Big Hank is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Print Facility MapForest Service Concessionaire
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$24 /night★ 2.9 (32)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Big Hank cost per night?+
What season is Big Hank open?+
Does Big Hank have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

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