Mirror Lake

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.

Since 1946, the Bureau of Land Management has been responsible for managing federal lands. Currently, the BLM administers more than 12% of the land area of the United States, which is nearly 250 million acres. There are almost 900 areas under the BLM's purview. In Idaho, the five major BLM districts were based on the needs of the Grazing Service. While visiting the Gem State, you might ask, "Where is there BLM camping near me?" The answer is at Mirror Lake, Idaho.

In Idaho Bureau of Land Management campgrounds, you can only camp for 14 days straight in any one spot of BLM land. After that, you must move at least 25 miles away before camping again. Once you leave a spot, you may not return to the original spot for 28 days. At Mirror Lake, Idaho, solitude is the order of the day, with nothing but the lake for miles around. Although you can boat and swim at the lake, it is devoid of fish. There is just one national park within 500 miles of Mirror Lake, Idaho, and it's Glacier National Park in Montana, which is 216 miles distant.

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

The Mirror Lake Trail

This rock-covered trail goes downhill to the shores of the lake.

Length: 1.6 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Fishing and Boating

Mirror Lake has no fish in it. Boating is popular on the 20-acre lake, and people take anything from rowboats to kayaks out for a spin. Hardy souls will enjoy the cold water for a swim while taking advantage of the Bureau of Land Management free camping at the site.

Climbing

The Seven Devils Mountains provide climbers with challenging opportunities, beginning with the saddle that overlooks Mirror Lake. The climbing goes very high, more than 9,000 feet, so it's only for experienced climbers.

Wildlife Viewing

Woodland caribou wander the area, and so do the grizzly bears that hunt them. Other predators include Canada lynx and gray wolves. You'll also be likely to spot some salamanders during your visit. There are also numerous bird species. Notable among them are hummingbirds and loons.

Picnicking

Almost any flat clearing in the area is great for a picnic. The campsites have fire pits, too, so you can have your picnic and barbecue right where you're staying if you want. Part of the Bureau of Land Management camping experience at Mirror Lake, Idaho, also includes electrical hookups at sites 1 and 2, so you can bring along an electric smoker to spice up your picnic delights.

Hunting

Depending on the applicable hunting season, you can hunt 16 different bird and small game species along with seven species of big game. Contact the U.S. Forest Service for information or licenses.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

Just five miles up the road from Mirror Lake, Idaho, is Sagle, Idaho. There, the Travel America RV park provides 76 RV campsites for RV Camping. About 20 of them have 30-amp electrical hookups.

Free Camping

The shores of Mirror Lake itself are free for primitive camping even though a couple of the sites maintained at that location have electrical hookups. Note that if you are gone more than a day from your free primitive campsite, the BLM could consider your RV and gear to be abandoned and remove them.

RV Rentals Near Mirror Lake Plan your next adventure

Credit: Vanna Mae, @vannamaeart

Planning your Mirror Lake BLM trip

The weather around Mirror Lake, Idaho, is mild in all four seasons. The average lows in the winter are barely below freezing while the average highs in the summer just touch 90 F. The area gets very little snow, so you can hike all year round.

If you're going to hunt or trek outside of the Mirror Lake general area, then it's a good idea to bring reflective, bright-colored clothing to stand out from the terrain. Other hunters can then see you much more easily. A compass, battery-operated GPS, and extra socks are all good ideas on a climb or a hike that takes you away from Mirror Lake.

If you can get them from the U.S. Forestry Service, having maps along for your climb or hike will be a very good idea. Although the weather is mild in the area, getting lost in the forests of the Idaho Panhandle is dangerous. Even if you know exactly where you are, you also have to be mindful of wildlife predators and know what to do if you run across them. Never approach a predator, especially bears of any kind, closer than about 300 feet.

Know what to do if you are surprised, such as maintaining eye contact with cougars but not with bears. Do not approach. Hold your arms out to show that you're a human being and back away slowly. Bring bear spray along, just in case. It works on cougars too. Be cautious, educate yourself, and you'll be fine. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.

Leave No Trace

To minimize the effects of human visitation on wilderness areas, follow the seven principles of "Leave No Trace." Please be sure to: - Plan ahead. - Set up camp and travel between camps on hard surfaces wherever possible. - Take nothing with you and leave what you find behind. - Take care with campfires and cookfires. - Don't feed wildlife, and aside from legal hunting in the proper season, do not harm wildlife. - Look out for each other and be respectful toward others in the area. - Dispose of waste the right way, and take everything with you that you brought.

Mirror Lake Location

Take Route 95 north from Coeur d'Alene until you come to Dufort Road. Take Dufort Road east until you come to Talache Road. Follow Talache Road southeast. It continues to the western shore of Mirror Lake. Halfway between Dufort Road and the lake itself, there is Mirror Lake Road. You have the option of taking Mirror Lake Road to the northern shore of the lake. The Mirror Lake Hipcamp is at address 675 Mirror Lake Rd. There is no fixed address on the western shore of the lake.

Ready to visit Mirror Lake, Idaho? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.