Perched on a mountain bowl fifty feet above Sagle's quiet Mirror Lake, this Sasquatch-themed campground offers private campsites, a lakefront cabin, and nine hidden Bigfoot figures to spot.
Bigfoot Campout at Mirror Lake, also known as Paradise on Mirror Lake, is a private campground situated on a twenty-acre forested property in Sagle, Idaho. Purchased in 2021 by Nathan Knecht, a former dentist from Fort Collins, Colorado, who turned to hospitality, the campground sits on a mountain bowl perched fifty feet above the water. Knecht designed the property to pay homage to the deep-seated Sasquatch legends of northern Idaho. To keep the experience intimate and wild, the campground is restricted to just ten sites, including a two-bedroom lakefront cabin added in 2024 near the water's edge at Campsite A. This deliberate limitation ensures that the dense forests of Douglas fir, western larch, and cedar remain quiet, with minimal traffic and plenty of space between campers.
The main draw of the property is its namesake body of water, Mirror Lake, an eighty-five-acre alpine basin that bans gasoline-powered motors. This restriction keeps the water exceptionally calm and quiet, allowing only non-motorized canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards to glide across the surface. Anglers frequently visit the lake to fish for Kokanee, brook trout, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout, which are stocked annually by Idaho Fish and Game during the first week of June. Film buffs may recognize the lake's glassy surface and surrounding ridges from Hollywood productions: it served as a primary filming location for the 1997 disaster movie Dante's Peak and the 1998 family film Everyone Loves Mel.
Each of the campsites on the property offers a distinct environment. Campsites A, E, and F provide the most shade under the thick forest canopy, while Campsites B, C, and D are the sunniest. For those requiring power, Campsites B, C, and D have electrical access, with C and D sharing a central power pedestal. Knecht has integrated several whimsical features into the landscape, including nine hidden Bigfoot figures scattered throughout the woods for children and adults to find. At night, an interactive Enchanted Forest light display illuminates the undergrowth to reveal glowing woodland creatures, while an amenities shed near the restroom facilities houses lawn games like horseshoes, bocce, and cornhole. For those looking to wash off the lake water, a dedicated shower bag station provides a rustic outdoor rinse.
Bring a pair of binoculars and set out on the water just after dawn, which is the prime time to spot moose feeding along the marshy edges of Mirror Lake. If you are planning a fishing trip, book your stay for shortly after June 7, which is when Idaho Fish and Game typically completes its annual trout stocking of the lake.
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