Moose Creek Reservoir
May 18th - May 21st - 2015
Moose Creek Reservoir is located close to Bovill, Idaho about 50 miles east of Moscow Idaho just off Highway 8. It has a Latah County Campground that has 24 sites. There are clean pit toilets and water available from a hand pump. The reservoir is long and narrow and is stocked with Rainbow trout. It also has some large bass reportedly up to 8-9 pounds.
This was taken not far from the entry sign. The reservoir is wide down at this end and it is not very deep. Certainly not a huge body of water. They allow electric motors on the boats but no gas engines. Some people had canoes. Since we were there before Memorial Day Weekend it was not crowded. The campers were starting to come in by Thursday when we left.
Some of the campsites were situated around the lake. Some of them had fishing docks and some of the docks were not associated with campsites.
This is a view from the lake looking back at the campground. Each campsite has it's own garbage can, table, fire ring and pole on which to hang your lantern. Some of the campsites are up in the trees and others, such as the one we had are down closer to the lake,
This is the view out from the campsite. In the earlier picture of the reservoir the lake appeared much wider. Back here the reservoir narrows down and there are some cattails along parts of the shore. The picture was taken Monday evening and as you can see there was no wind.
Here in the early morning the mist rises from the water creating a pleasant almost mystical image. This image also was right in front of the campsite.
As mentioned, each site has a garbage can, they are mostly plastic
garbage cans. I spoke with Ron the campground host and mentioned that
there must not be much bear problem since none of the garbage cans
nor dumpster were bear proof. He laughed a bit and said there were
problems with bears and pointed to this garbage can at one of the
campsites. Thursday as we were leaving a bear hunter came by with his six hounds to run the bear off.
In the cattails next to the lake were a lot of song sparrows. I would look at each one with the binoculars hoping for something different than a song sparrow but never did see anything
This appears to be a juvenile song sparrow but I have no idea what happened to the tail. It should have a long tail.
Just in front of the campsite was a dirt road leading west. There was a locked gate blocking the road about 100 yards west and there was virtually no traffic on the road. We walked the road and it meandered along the lake. Eventually it turned into a pleasant little stream flowing through some beautiful deep grass meadows.
About a mile out along the road were some corrals to hold cattle. There were no cows there but I would guess they will be arriving soon. It is a beautiful lush green meadow. All along the road were a lot of birds, warblers, vireos, chickadees, and woodpeckers just to name a few species. Neat place.
Flitting amongst the cattails were these neat little dragonflies. There were lots of them in the afternoon.
This is a juvenile violet-green swallow. The coloration and marking typical of the adult bird have not fully developed.
Across the lake from the campsite was this pair of eagles and their nest seen in the tree below. It was really great to see these magnificent birds.
Moose Creek Reservoir is a wonderful place to camp. Not sure we would want to be there on a major weekend but off week is great. The nearest services are in Deary about 11 mile away to the west.
If you have a golden eagle (old goats) pass the camping fee is only $5.00 a night. $10.00 without the pass. Well worth the expense.
We will go there again
Some of the campsites were situated around the lake. Some of them had fishing docks and some of the docks were not associated with campsites.
This is a view from the lake looking back at the campground. Each campsite has it's own garbage can, table, fire ring and pole on which to hang your lantern. Some of the campsites are up in the trees and others, such as the one we had are down closer to the lake,
This is the view out from the campsite. In the earlier picture of the reservoir the lake appeared much wider. Back here the reservoir narrows down and there are some cattails along parts of the shore. The picture was taken Monday evening and as you can see there was no wind.
Here in the early morning the mist rises from the water creating a pleasant almost mystical image. This image also was right in front of the campsite.
In the cattails next to the lake were a lot of song sparrows. I would look at each one with the binoculars hoping for something different than a song sparrow but never did see anything
This appears to be a juvenile song sparrow but I have no idea what happened to the tail. It should have a long tail.
Just in front of the campsite was a dirt road leading west. There was a locked gate blocking the road about 100 yards west and there was virtually no traffic on the road. We walked the road and it meandered along the lake. Eventually it turned into a pleasant little stream flowing through some beautiful deep grass meadows.
Flitting amongst the cattails were these neat little dragonflies. There were lots of them in the afternoon.
This is a juvenile violet-green swallow. The coloration and marking typical of the adult bird have not fully developed.
Moose Creek Reservoir is a wonderful place to camp. Not sure we would want to be there on a major weekend but off week is great. The nearest services are in Deary about 11 mile away to the west.
If you have a golden eagle (old goats) pass the camping fee is only $5.00 a night. $10.00 without the pass. Well worth the expense.
We will go there again
