Island Campground south of Bartow will become a walk-in only facility in late April of this year due to concerns about bridge safety.  The area, which is especially popular with anglers, currently has six campsites along with amenities including toilets and picnic tables.   Five of those campsites are accessed over two aging wood bridges.  Recent bridge inspections have raised doubts about the ability of those bridges to safely carry heavy loads, which has forced local Forest Service officials to consider how to provide developed camping in the area while ensuring visitor safety.

Recognizing the popularity of the Campground, it will be open as a walk-in facility rather than closing it entirely.  However, in order to provide enough parking for people fishing, camping overnight, or hiking on the nearby trail plus a turning area for large vehicles, the only campsite located prior to crossing the bridges will become a parking lot.  “We sometimes get people in large RVs visiting this area,” noted District Ranger William Dunk, “so we have to be sure they can safely turn around and that there will be enough parking for everyone using the area.  That means we have to go from a six site campground to five sites.”

Forest Service officials will soon begin an overall recreation analysis of the Island Campground-Lake Buffalo-Old House Run area to determine what opportunities there might be for development of campsites in the vicinity.  Bridge replacement is very costly, and it may be that there are better choices for building additional drive-in camp sites elsewhere than planning to eventually re-open Island Campground for vehicles.

Visitors will see activity at Island Campground in mid-April when the parking areas will be gravelled prior to a physical closure of the bridges in late April.