Over the top noise - Hellsgate SP in Idaho

[jamesu]

FYI. If you like quiet camping, now is not a good time to camp at Hellsgate SP in Lewiston, ID. Currently extremely loud power boats are practicing on the Snake R. adjacent to the park each day from the morning into the dusk. I talked to the ranger on duty at the VC this AM to say that if I had known about noise like this I could easily have booked 3 nights elsewhere. I then rode my bike down to the SP's boat ramp where the boat crews were working on the boats. Talked to the guys and learned that the gas engine boats go 100 and the jet engine ones go 140mph. Was told they are training for a race up on Lk Coeur 'd Alene this weekend and then a race down here on the Snake adjacent to this SP the following. In conversations with several locals these noisy boats are normal fare here every year from mid-May on into the summer.

We have loved camping here in the past during April and early May, not knowing about the rest of the summer. A word to the wise: unless EXTREMELY loud engines racing within a block or two of your campsite does not bother you, plan your trips to Hellsgate SP carefully.

[vermilye]

Reminds me of a stay at Shellmound County Park in Florida. A nice quiet rural campground until the air boats show up. The combination of unmuffled V8's & large propellers is "interesting". That & the combination of chiggers ( a post a few days later) & no-see-ums made for a annoying night.

Still, a lot less expensive & more open than the other Cedar Key campgrounds.

[path1]

FYI. If you like quiet camping, now is not a good time to camp at Hellsgate SP in Lewiston, ID.

Things you don't plan on. In a way you lucked out. In late summer they get millions of little tiny gnats that are so small they can get thru the screens. You have to close every window and the take your pick to die of heat or inhale the bugs.

Strange how it goes sometimes with things you don't think about. We recently were at a small town that had a small harbor for boats. They also had a place for RV's to overnight. Middle of the night the wind picked up pretty good and boats that had any type of bell was clanging. Whole place sounded like a big wind chime. When those things happen just think about the next place. If your still there the place in back of Costco is pretty good. And RV place down by marina. And when I had to make speed runs over there for Mother in law. Walmart (also near Costco) is not to bad believe it or not.

[SCVJeff]

3oaks wrote:

coolmom42 wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
Id go there just to watch the boats. You can find silence anywhere

You can find NOISE anywhere, much more easily than silence.

That's for sure! Way to much noise almost anywhere these days.

We liked Hellsgate SP when we were there years ago. Based on jamesu's report, we won't be returning anytime soon. 😞

Really ? ONE guy shows up when there are practice runs for a few days for a race on another lake and YOU won't go back? Wow.. Noise typically doesn't linger around very long BTW

[SCVJeff]

Good, i don't need to worry about you all taking the good spots at the drag boat races.

I live in LA County and can drive under an hour to find places that are so quiet you can hear your ears ring. Is it really that difficult elsewhere?

[3oaks]

coolmom42 wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
Id go there just to watch the boats. You can find silence anywhere

You can find NOISE anywhere, much more easily than silence.

That's for sure! Way to much noise almost anywhere these days.

We liked Hellsgate SP when we were there years ago. Based on jamesu's report, we won't be returning anytime soon. 😞

[rhagfo]

coolmom42 wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
Id go there just to watch the boats. You can find silence anywhere

You can find NOISE anywhere, much more easily than silence.

X2
I miss the days when Unlimited Hyrdoplane's at Seattle's Seafair races ran the old Allison Aircraft engines and were referred to as Thunder Boats. Now days the turbine engines are faster, but the sound just isn't the same.
Just still love NASCAR and NHRA races.

[rockhillmanor]

Thanks for the heads up.

And for those that have never heard racing jet boats it is NOT the warm fuzzy sound of a motor boat on a lazy summer day! :W

[coolmom42]

SCVJeff wrote:
Id go there just to watch the boats. You can find silence anywhere

You can find NOISE anywhere, much more easily than silence.

[coolmom42]

That kind of noise is very annoying to me too. I learned the hard way not to get a waterfront spot at LBL on a warm sunny weekend.

[Naio]

Great post, jamesu! Now those who like the boats know when to go, those like quiet know when to stay away, and those who are on the fence know what to expect:).

I'm sorry your trip was messed up, though. Not getting sleep when you need it is the pits :(.

[Gottahaveit]

Holy Moley we just missed it and would have loved the hot boats and noise. LOL we are traveling and have a
RC gas boat in our toad that will do 50 mph

[SCVJeff]

Id go there just to watch the boats. You can find silence anywhere