Looking for an easy place in the Spokane area to introduce your little ones to backpacking? Plowboy Campground, located on the shores of Upper Priest Lake (approximately 2 hours drive from Spokane) is an awesome option! When I mentioned to a friend that Justin and I wanted to take our 3-year-old and 1-year-old backpacking, she suggested Plowboy Campground as it can be reached via an easy and well maintained 3 mile in and back trail.
Good to know: Reservations and permits are not required to camp at Plowboy Campground. First come, first served for the five camp sites.
Free parking for Plowboy Campground is located at Navigation Trailhead #291 just beyond Beaver Creek Campground. You should be able to enter the Navigation Trailhead into Google maps, but if that doesn’t work just enter Beaver Creek Campground. The trailhead parking lot has a pit toilet and a sign with the distance to Plowboy Campground at the entrance to the trail so you’ll know you’re at the right place. Our 3-year-old walked the whole way, so with some play stops, it took about 1.5 hours to complete the 3 miles. We pushed our 1-year-old in our B.O.B. jogging stroller and it was super easy despite a few little hills and some tree roots in the trail to navigate over. It was definitely easier than what we navigated in the stroller when we did the Camino de Santiago with the kids! At the 3 mile mark, we saw the sign for Plowboy Campground and headed down the super short side trail to the 5 campsites strung along the edge of the lake. Each campsite was awesome with its own little private sandy beach, but we decided on site #1 as it was the most spacious with the biggest beach and closest access to a little creek that empties into the lake. We were surprised to find the whole place empty on a weekend in the middle of summer, but one more family did join us late that afternoon. As such, we’d say that while it’s a regularly frequented campground, your chance of snagging a site is good!
Good to know: Each of the 5 campsites has a picnic table, fire ring, and private beach access. Grizzly and black bears are active in the area, so there are also several bear proof storage bins for your food and toiletries. There is also a pit toilet that even had toilet paper when we were there!
Park at Navigation Trailhead #291 to start your hike to Plowboy Campground
Starting down the trail to Plowboy Campground
The flat, well maintained trail to Plowboy Campground is perfect for little ones to hike or to use a stroller
Turn off to Plowboy Campground
Plowboy Campground rules. Note that dogs on leashes are allowed if you want to bring a furry friend.
Campsite #1 at Plowboy Campground. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and it’s own little private beach
Bear boxes
After setting up our tent, we enjoyed a leisurely afternoon playing on the beach. The water was cold, but not icy, so the kids spent the entire time splashing in the water and playing in the sand. After making some instant noodles for dinner, we got to watch an incredible sunset over the lake, making for the perfect first easy backpacking trip with our kiddos!
Good to know: We went in June and the mosquitos weren’t terrible, but definitely present and biting, so it would be a good idea to take insect repellent that you’re okay using on your kids
Playing on the beach at campsite #1
View of the lake from our camp
Pictures of some of the other campsites
There’s even a decent pit toilet. If you take really small kiddos like us, remember to pack out your diapers - no dumping in pit toilets :)
Setting up our camp
The creek that runs behind campsite #1
Showing our 3-year-old how to filter water
Dinner time!
Settling into our tent for bed
