Naughty hiker. Posted by Markus Klaeui on September 4, 2020.
Naughty hiker Beauty Bay Overlook is a quick leg stretcher with decent views across Beauty Bay. 6 miles), then turn left onto Road 5 / White Trail Road (about 5 miles off the freeway). Despite names like Lake Creek, Lakeview Ranch, Bobs Lakes, Walter Lake, and Pacific Lake, no water was to be expected along the trail, with the exception of a measly stock tank 6 miles in. 1 out of 5. From U. The Seven Devils Mountains aren’t terribly extensive, but that is made up for by prominence, with He Devil, at 9,400 feet of elevation, the third-most-prominent peak in Idaho. Look for deer, moose, and beavers Naughty following the path like The Quartz Mountain Lookout Loop offers perhaps the best views of any trail in the Mount Spokane Nordic Ski area. Fairly tame high up. Naughty was not invited along, but would have loved it! Features: Riverwalk, Structure: Distance From: Coeur d’Alene 228. The Monarchs consist of a forested ridge rising a steep 3,000 feet out of Lake Pend Oreille’s eastern arm. Naughty loved it! The Slavin Conservation Area covers 628 acres of Ponderosa forest, rolling meadows, marshes and a lengthy pond much treasured by waterfowl. Nature 1 : Loggers 0 Steam donkey 5000 feet of cable was employed, and most of it is Ross Creek is famous for its ancient cedars and surely doesn’t disappoint. 3 miles; Seattle 117. Posted by Scribe on April 2, 2017 January 26, 2020. Don’t expect much, if any, views, but the trail is nicely shaded and if the sharp contrast of emerald-green trees, glazed with a fresh crust of snow, against an azure-blue sky gets your heart rate up, then this is the ticket. Wanless Lake Loop. Tiger Peak to the left The remains (tailings) of a mine Early on, the trail crosses The second one is a mile south, but nowhere near as pretty as Upper Siamese, and substantially smaller. an urge Naughty could not resist. At the 3-mile mark we switched to the Jack Pine Loop (it is signed; bear right), where Naughty went after her dearest prey–squirrels. Stay on White Trail Road for 7. Besides being rich in lakes and scenery, the area is also rich in history, as Thompson Pass served as the gateway from the railroad station in Thompson Falls to then-thriving Gold Rush town Murray. Not Blackfoot either, but you are getting closer. 9 out of 5. The latter likely didn’t impress them much, but nonetheless they gracefully sauntered off into the underbrush. You can explore on foot as well, but may get annoyed by the numerous, tightly-wound switchbacks on the hills. Starting from Johnson Saddle, trail #69 hops along the ridge, climbing first an unnamed viewless peak above 5,000 feet, then Green Monarch Mountain with spectacular views across the lake, the Cabinets, and into the Selkirks. The sun trying to dissipate the fog above Spar Lake Spar Lake, looking west The obligatory grouse Much of the trail winds through a pleasant cedar forest Nice old-growth cedar stands near Spar Creek This area is very verdantmosses, ferns, cedars Naughty enjoying a puddle at trail’s end Spar Creek was dry Spar Creek, near the lake A handy staircase in easing a dry creek Minor Lake unfolds suddenly, hidden by a stand of trees that ring a large campsite near the lake’s outlet. The trail follows an old logging road to the creek crossing Lion Creek, too, has some large granit sheets Lion Creek crossing in an ancient cedar grove A hole in a humongous cedar A little toad hunkering near the edge of Lion Creek An uprooted cedar The trail south of Lion Creek The rock slide, in use Another shot of the slide area The waterfall was pretty heavy, especially for July This trail starts out benign enough, a singletrack on a soft forest floor, with the cedars drowning out almost all light. Sprinklers, brooms, and Roombas, on the other hand. From I-90 take the Wolf Lodge Bay exit (#22) and go south on Highway 97 for three miles. Rigi. Rock Peak, St. The views are the same, however, and hard to beat. Joe National Forest. 5 miles from the hut to Skywalker Skywalker is Hikers; Dogs; Horses; Mountain Bikers Directions. 5-mile-mark), where we hoped to fill our water bottles. Gold Hill. Russell Ridge is on the right. The new trail is called “Historic Big Eddy” trail and is a singletrack that leads through thickish forest to Big Eddy Creek, but rather quickly leaves it behind and ascends a flank of Star Peak. West Fork Fish Creek surprises with a lushness reminiscent of rainforest, followed by the picturesque lake, views across vast elk meadows and a patchwork of larches from Chilcoot Pass, and finally a series of terraced waterfalls in the much drier Straight A few trickles along trail #185 Trail #185 uses the roadbed of an old forest road for most of the way Thimbleberries Elderberries Naughty cooling down in Snow Creek Geocache spoiler photo “Little” Roman Nose, towering over Snow Lake Trail near Snow Lake with “Little” Roman Nose in the background Boardwalk near Snow Lake There are numerous campsites along the east and It is rattlesnake country, so watch out in the hotter months. Make sure you start this hike on the newer Big Eddy trail, labeled #999, rather than the older #998, which is a mining track open to ATVers. Trail signage is a few hundred yards into the hike and just shy of the 1-mile mark the trail splits, with the Middle Fork trail heading right and the North Fork trail (to Snowshoe Lake) going left. The trail is well-maintained, easy to hike, and mostly double-track. Joe river at Spruce Tree campground Equestrian trail along St. We’ll be up there later Cub Creek A first view of Spar Peak View from the ridge. From intensely blue alpine lakes to the optical cacophony of Imagine a hike that shows off the absolute best the northern Cabinet Mountain Wilderness has to offer. There is a large blacktopped parking lot. It was grand as long as you like white We continued southeast along the ridge for a bit, but the white curtain wouldn’t lift Naughty making tracks Teal: Blacktail Mountain trail; Purple: Maiden Rock trail Alternate Routes. Naughty loved it! Goat Mountain. Joe river The trail occasionally drops to the level of the river Views of the St. Naughty loved it! Upper Priest Lake and Trapper Creek A rather pretty hike along Upper Priest Lake’s eastern shore, this trail is dotted with sandy beaches, great views of Priest Lake and a bit of history as well in the form of an old log cabin and a short mine shaft. From granite-covered alpine peaks with 360-degree views to dense moss-overgrown Stevens Lake and Lone Lake are exceedingly popular weekend destinations for hikers and campers, not least due to their close proximity to Mullan and I-90. The Mickinnick trail climbs the southeastern flank of Bald Mountain just north of Sandpoint. Posted by Markus Klaeui on September 4, 2020. Hail A mighty big stump A pretty mountain meadow Telichpah The Coeur d’Alene Mountains are the northwestern-most part of the Bitterroot range of the Rocky Mountains. Seven Devils Loop. She’s about to shake Lone Lake outlet Lone Lake Waterfall that feeds Lone Lake Lone Lake viewed from the inlet The headwall. They extend from Coeur d’Alene eastwards into Montana and are bordered to the north and east by Lake Pend Oreille and the Clark Fork river. Starting from Johnson Saddle, trail #69 hops along the ridge, climbing first an unnamed viewless peak above 5,000 feet, then Green Monarch Mountain with spectacular views across the lake, From granite-covered alpine peaks with 360-degree views to dense moss-overgrown cedar forests in the creek bottoms. Goat Mountain stands in the shadow of taller Scotchman Peak, but the views from the top are just as superb compared to its more well-hiked brother. Antoine Peak is covered with a web of old logging or fire roads, and the hiking trail system on the mountain largely takes advantage of that. Access for swimming is a bit tricky on account of the log jam, but doable. On excellently-groomed trails, the 5. The name is a distillate of Mick and Nicky Pleass, who donated the mountainside to the forest service to create this trail, and the Hikers; Dogs Directions. Bacon-Bean Loop Azure Whether it’s lush creek bottoms smothered in devil’s club and ferns or sweeping views from high ridgetops, the Long Canyon – Parker Ridge loop promises to satisfy every hiker. Watch out for mosquitoes There are lots of basalt boulders strewn along the way Watch out at this intersection near the 2-mile mark. Continuing, the trail then declines through dense forest and at an elbow in a switchback a short spur trail leads to the lake at the six-mile mark. It’s a few miles north of Fish Lake, Idaho, but on the Montana side in what is the proposed Great Burn Wilderness. There is a large turnout to the left with There is no water, so better plan for an early morning hike or hike in the cooler season. Now take trail #6, an old logging road. Naughty tried very hard to climb out of a The trail then steeply ascends a flank of Mica Peak and dazzles the hiker with a series of waterfalls slipping and sliding over smooth rock slabs. Not sure what it is Much of the trail is nicely shaded Lake Pend Oreille, looking north Lake Pend Jeanette’ Jaunt is an excellent showshoe trail for beginners, following an old logging road along the side of a mountain paralleling I-90. West Fork Fish Creek surprises with a lushness reminiscent of rainforest, followed by the picturesque lake, views across vast elk meadows and a patchwork of larches from Chilcoot Pass, and finally a series of terraced waterfalls in the much drier Straight Creek The trail starts at the Flower Creek trailhead, which is the starting point of three different trails: Flower Creek 137, heading to Sky Lakes, which commences on the west side of the road, south of the parking lot (as you drive up, the first trail to your left); Parmenter Connector 15, which starts at the head of the parking lot (dropping off to the right), and Flower Lake 16, which climbs up Instead, it is a well-shaded double-track that presents occasional views of distant snow-covered peaks. Burton Peak. Long Mountain Lake, cuddled in a picturesque granite cirque near the highest peaks of the American Selkirks, is merely the icing on the cake, as are the centuries-old cedar and hemlock trees in the only two The Siamese Lake Loop features the kind of variety in flora, fauna, and features that you rarely find in a dayhike. A family of mountain goats browsed near the lake as we approached and fled to the tip of the peninsula. 3 miles; Lewiston 252. Leaving the cabin behind, the trail moves east and crosses Donaldson Creek on a set of sturdy flat-topped logs, then forks, with trail #44 continuing uphill and trail #56 following the East Fork. Enter your email address to subscribe to NaughtyHiker and receive notifications of new posts by email. Don’t expect grand views, but a generous sprinkling of mushrooms and spring flowers along the way and the insistent curious buzz of a gorgeous red-throated hummingbird make up for a lot! Power lines near trailhead Trail #110, headed toward the Sno-Park There were only a few fallen trees Near the Sno-Park the trails are well-trampled. Imagine a hike that shows off the absolute best the northern Cabinet Mountain Wilderness has to offer. 8 miles; Sandpoint 267. Long Mountain Lake, cuddled in a picturesque granite cirque Because Naughty is not terribly keen on walking on talus, we chose a route through the open forest on the northwestern face of Dome Mountain. Take West Side Road (blacktopped) north for 10 miles to Trout Creek Road #634. Category: Hikers. The access road via Pittsburg Saddle may be the bigger issue (though it is cleared year-around) Just outside the park Mountain views are more frequent than lake views Fungi Naughty Rock formations in the lower part There are many switchbacks Wildflowers abound Lake Pend Oreille Lake Pend Oreille Lake Pend Oreille There are frequent meadows Lots of trees! There aren’t too many flat trail sections Taking a break on Bernard Peak The trailhead is rather inconspicuous After crossing a logging road, the trail continues as a singletrack (left) Emerging on a ridge above Tamarack Saddle The route ahead to Granite Peak in the distance (left) Crossing many subalpine meadows Looking back across the meadow. Joe river The St. Not much to look at The white cap is Packsaddle Mountain The Saltese Uplands are a grossy knob situated in the southernmost reaches of the Selkirks. No wet feet! Trailhead The trail takes advantage of old farm roads Many parts of the trail were flooded, to Naughty’s delight The falls Hog Lake, looking south Bluff overlooking Hog Lake Hog Lake, from outlet, looking north Trail along Hog Canyon Creek Aspen-lined pond The Fishtrap trail winds through wetlands Fishtrap Lake, taken from bluff Small pond above Fishtrap Lake Naughty The trail starts out in a dense fern patch Giant cedars near the trailhead The middle section of the trail is thick with shrubbery The ridge leading to Mount Vernon. Having thoroughly investigated the pitfalls of this trail, we came prepared with 2 liters of water. Trail near trailhead The first beargrass stalk of the season Naughty searching for rodents Armstrong Meadows There are a few small brooks near Armstrong Meadows Upper Priest Lake from Plowboy Campground Navigation trail Upper Priest Lake from Navigation trail Naughty swimming in Upper Priest Navigation Campground The lower parts of the Plowboy Used mostly by hunters, trail #598 hugs East Fork Lost Creek closely for 3 miles and then commences a steep climb up to Bobtail Ridge. Naughty found a seasonal brook to cool down in Much of the eastern face of Nelson Peak is clearcut, providing ample views Looking eastwards from Nelson east face Snow up on the ridge Intersection with Telichpah Creek trail (left) Telichpah Creek Trail Telichpah Creek. Ross Creek drainage below Beargrass on Spar Peak Spar Peak, having burnt at some point, is thickly covered with Alternate Routes. Naughty being Naughty made sure they scattered to the four winds. While views are limited mostly to the This trail is for a “water run” when hiking Stateline Trail #738. From I-90 take the Kingston exit (#43) and head north on FH9 about 23 miles, past Prichard, and turn slightly right, with FH9 turning into Prichard Creek Road. Inconspicuous trailhead Most of the ascent is in the woods Looking back towards the Clark Fork valley We used one of these rockslides for a shortcut on the way back Fall is mushroom time! Naughty enjoying the view. The climb is The Blue Creek Bay trail combines an extensive network of former logging roads into a roughly six-mile lollipop loop. Google Map. From the north end of the lake, the trail, now called #302, continues on to FR-1013, but we turned around once we found the old decaying log cabin buried in the woods. 0) Iller Creek is one of the most interesting loop hikes close to Spokane, leading to spectacular outlooks across the Spokane Whether it’s lush creek bottoms smothered in devil’s club and ferns or sweeping views from high ridgetops, the Long Canyon – Parker Ridge loop promises to satisfy every hiker. From I-90 take exit 151 and head towards Quincy on WA-281. Engle Peak in the distance View west from Goat Pass Upper Wanless Lake #1 far below Goat Pass Naughty swimming in Upper #1 Upper Wanless Lake #1 Upper Wanless Lake #1 and its headwall Looking out over Wanless Lake. The mountains abut the Clearwater an Hikers; Dogs; Mountain Bikers; Horses (dogs with view towards Gotts Points Lake Lowell is on one side for most of the hike A double track for the entire hike Naughty is cooling down Vineyard View of Lake Lowell More views of Lake Lowell Irrigated farm fields on the far side Lake Lowell When the water level isn’t so high this provides Ian’s Eagle Hut The hut up close The hut has a wood-fired stove that heats up the small space quickly Naughty found a comfy spot The quarter mile immediately following the hut is treacherous and steep The ski trail resumes on an old logging road Making track on the Eagle Run trail It’s about 1. 8 miles, then turn left onto Road 9 NW, follow The Siamese Lake Loop features the kind of variety in flora, fauna, and features that you rarely find in a dayhike. Host to deer, moose, raccoons and a plethora of birds, including eagles, the conservation area features around five ClearWater Mountains, Daytrip, Dogs, Hikers, Hiking, Horses, Meadow, Moderate, Mountain, Mountain Bikers, National Recreation Trail, None required, Out-and-back, St. Located between Spokane and Liberty Lake, the conservation area offers generous views of urban sprawl and the remnants of the Saltese Flats, a marshland drained in favor of Timothy hay in the late 1800s. Paul Peak Looking back down the East Fork Bull River Valley St. Posted by Markus Klaeui on The first licensed beer hall in Benewah county Beginning of Lazy T trail Much of the Lazy T trail meanders through dense forest Limited views from Lazy T trail Naughty taking one of many mud baths End of Lazy T trail. This guide follows the trails in a counterclockwise fashion, then loops around and contours along the southern flank for a figure-eight-style loop. Hikers; Dogs; Horses; Mountain Bikers Directions. The Siamese Lake Loop features the kind of variety in flora, fauna, and features that you rarely find in a dayhike. Hikers; Dogs Directions. It also gave Naughty a chance to pursue a lone turkey, which gobbled and took to the skies. Paul Peak in the distance There are a half dozen lakes sprinkled along the Engle Lake basin View west into Idaho The ascent to On the way back, a pair of cougars awaited us near the trailhead. 4 miles; Spokane 195. From the parking lot, follow the road north for a short distance to the signed entrance to the Dishman Hills Conservation The trail near the trailhead Naughty enjoying Marble Creek Picture of the logging camp on Marble Creek Remains of one of the buildings The corner of a decaying log cabin Coffer dam protecting the logging camp Springboards Notch for a springboard Splash dam in Marble Creek. To shorten the trail, turn around at Mount Coeur d’Alene for about 11 miles total hiking distance; Alternatively, park a second car at the #257 trailhead. At the fork 7 miles in take a right onto Garfield Bay Road. Upper Siamese Lake is as pretty up close as it is from a distance and begs to be swum in, an invitation Naughty followed repeatedly. Joe river St. The Lakeshore Trail is the northernmost section of a trail stretching along virtually the entirety of Priest Lake’s western shore. Alternate Routes Trail #402 is a wide single-track framed by arrowleaf balsam root The western section of trail #25 is a double-track leading through light pine forest. Year-around. Alas, the creek was bone dry, with the only other options a few patches of snow, which Naughty enjoyed Naughty going for a swim Naughty at it again As you climb higher the forest gets thinner St. While views are limited mostly to the Idaho mountains, the trail’s moss-covered riverbanks, beaver-built marshes, gurgling waterfalls, and varied wildlife make this a popular destination. The trail starts on an old forest road A fork in the road. Joe in the evening Campsite on the St. Most of the lakeshore land in this section is publicly owned and thus the trail hugs the lake closely and offers numerous opportunities for camping. 0) The Deep Creek Canyon loop trail winds around the northern section of Riverside State Park without actually crossing Deep Creek. Naughty near the trailhead View of Lookout Mountain The trail starts in an old burn Fish Lake and Lookout Mountain The humble origin of the Little North Fork Clearwater River A couple ponds at the foot of Lookout Mountain, with Breezy Point (the burned ridge) in the distance Lost Lake and Widow Mountain Subalpine meadows in the saddle below Widow Mountain View from Widow Sweeping views, endless strings of alpine lakes and vast meadows are the hallmarks of the proposed Great Burn Wilderness. Parking will be on your left at the Mineral Ridge trailhead. The road gets renamed West Side Road (NF-302) and soon turns to gravel. Naughty spotted a couple of elk in this section and impressed them with a display of speed, agility, and size. A rather pretty hike along Upper Priest Lake’s eastern shore, this trail is dotted with sandy beaches, great views of Priest Lake and a bit of history as well in the form of an old log cabin and a Connecting two former lookout tower sites, the relatively level ten-mile Shoshone Ridge loop dishes out phenomenal views across the Coeur d’Alene River drainage and towards the Idaho-Montana state line. This loop explores an old mining settlement, visits many of the lakes, and climbs to the top of Schley Mountain for grandiose views into the canyons and ridges traversed earlier. Season. We needed the headlight for just the last mile, so everything worked out Naughty loved it! Beacon Hills. The Wanless Lake loop astonishes with not just one lake, Glad the Naughty Hiker didn’t tangle with any grizzlies! naughtyhiker says: September 3, 2017 at 10:35 am. From I-90, take exit #43 (Kingston) and head north on FH-9 (Coeur d’Alene River Road) for 21 miles. A spur trail heads west to the lower Two Mouth lake Upper Two Mouth Lake, taken from west side Camp site on the south side on a granite slab that slides into the lake Upper Two Mouth, from south side looking west Naughty looking for squirrels Upper Two Mouth, from south side looking further south Evening light reflecting on Upper Two Mouth Lake Trailhead The first mile follows an overgrown logging road Granite face of the ridge above Two Mouth Lakes Bridge and boardwalk across Myrtle Creek Trail #6 is a neat single-track climbing along the side of the mountain View back into the Myrtle Creek valley View from ridge above Myrtle Creek Beargrass and view towards the Seven Sisters Harrison Peak, taken from Naughty found the scrap lumber piled up next to the firepit fascinating–she chewed up half the stuff in pursuit of vermin. Paul Peak and its namesake lake St. Naughty loved it! Upper Priest Lake and Trapper Creek. Note Cornwall Point Grandpa sports a campsite Lookout Mountain Not Bigfoot. Parker Ridge loop promises to satisfy every hiker. From Priest River, take ID-57 north past Nordman. Open Ponderosa forests, Iller Creek Loop (3. Lake Pend Oreille Naughty taking one of many baths Along the westward section the trail follows an old logging road There are bridges across all brooks. She barked at something in the woods at one point, and she doesn’t bark at deer. Not sure what it was, and she left it alone and it left us alone. There is no Achetez Liste de randonnée Nice Naughty Hiker, Père Noël Débardeur livraison gratuite retours gratuits selon éligibilité (voir cond. There’s not much that scares her; not cougar, bear or moose. From Sandpoint take highway 200 east 12 miles to Trestle Creek Road 275 (around milepost 42); turn left onto FR 275 (this is a well-maintained gravel road) and go 16 miles to Lightning Creek Road 419; turn right and follow FR 419 south for . Along the way we met the only other hikers on this trip, a fisherman headed for Heart Lake and a couple of bow-hunters also intent on reaching Heart Lake. View of Lake Fernan Sunset from the trailhead Lake Fernan from the Natural Area Lake Fernan boat launch Another shot of the power transmission lines Naughty testing the ice on Lake Fernan Sunset from Natural Area Lake Fernan (from north side) The open space, taken from boat launch Naughty near a cedar grove Fernan Lake boat launch Ice on Lake Fernan (from south side) Top 5 near Spokane: Deep Creek Canyon Loop (3. Beacon Hills primarily serves as a recreational area for mountain bikers. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended for the later sections A brook crossing FR 18591 The hillside towards stateline is covered with wildflowers Lower St. Bowl and Pitcher Campground Bowl and Pitcher from suspension bridge Spokane River near Bowl and Pitcher Devil’s Toe Nail Trail 25 along Spokane River Rapids in Spokane River Trail 25 above Spokane River Rafters stuck atop submerged logs on Spokane River A flooded trail doesn’t stop Naughty Naughty welcomes a bath Bushwhacking around flooded Hikers; Dogs; Horses Directions. ) Naughty swam across, while the Scribe did not bother to remove shoes since the only thing left on the far side was a 3-mile road hike back to the car. Steep talus slopes frame the lake on both sides, with the sheer granite face of Ojibway Peak looming high above. Regis Lake Campsite Photo Trail Rating Difficulty Distance Duration Elevation Gain High Point Low Point Type Features Status Administration Fees and Permits Maps Open To Season Trail# From Sandpoint take highway 200 east 12 miles to Trestle Creek Road 275 (around milepost 42); turn left onto FR 275 (this is a well-maintained gravel road) and go 16 miles to Lightning Creek Road 419; turn left onto FR Bead Lake is a hidden marvel, stashed away in this northeast corner of Washington state. Hikers; Dogs; Horses (off-trail sections and Hanging Valley are not suitable for Trailhead The sun poking above this lower ridge of Treasure Mountain Naughty going for a swim in Flower Creek at the 135/137 junction Sugarloaf Mountain View across the basin that makes up the Flower Creek headwaters Broad meadows beneath Sugarloaf Mountain Hoodoo Lake is a quick but uphill 1. Some views from trail 56 Lots and lots of sarvis berries Naughty enjoying the spring of Green Creek (south fork) Garter snake Middle fork Green Creek View of trees is as good as it gets FR-205 The ascent to Devil Peak on an old forest road A pretty campsite near the peak (dry) Devil Peak. The stump of the giant pine A section of the giant pine Naughty checking out a piece of boardwalk along the trail Views are scarce and always filtered The trail is mostly singletrack Clearly, the area has been logged before, but is nicely reforested The walk along Meadow Creek is perhaps the highlight of this loop Naughty posing in front of a splintered Located in the Hoodoo Mountains, the northwestern-most portion of the Clearwater Mountains, this loop is quite literally a walk in the woods. Deep footprints weakened the tender snow crust just enough for the snowshoes to completely The Bitterroot Mountains are part of the Bitterroot Range, running north-south from I-90 to the Salmon River and making up much of the Idaho-Montana state line. We were blessed with a clear Most of the trail is in a lush cedar and hemlock forest Upper Priest River Boardwalk helps with frequent muddy spot You’ll find some mighty large cedars here The trail parallels Upper Priest River all the way It’s exceedingly verdant Naughty enjoying one of many mudholes One of very few clearings Little Snowy Top. Independence Meadows Independence Meadows campground Trailhead of trail #22 There are many tributaries to cross. Signage at trailhead The trail leads up through a boulder field There are wooden bridges across mostly dry creeks View into the Pyramid Lake basin Much of the trail is a nice packed-dirt single-track The trail leads to the far side of this wooded hump. 0) Gem Lake fully lives up to its name, cradled in a bowl opposite the Pend Oreille Divide of the Cabinet Mountains northeast of Sandpoint. Best Season: Resources: Nearby: Guide Date: March 29, 2019 You can drive up this road for a third of a mile to the upper trailhead The first portion of the trail leads through a clearcut densely populated with larch saplings A singletrack rides the spine of the ridge to Cooks Peak Higgens Point is located at the terminus of the North Idaho Centennial Trail, jutting out into the east end of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Thanks for reading! Ruth Donnelly says: September 2, 2017 at 6:53 pm. Running the full length of Upper Priest Lake’s western shore, the Navigation trail connects Beaver Creek Campground with FR-1013 (Gold Creek Road), which in turn connects the trail to either #302, following the eastern lakeshore to Lionhead Campground, or #308, paralleling the Upper Priest River to the Canadian border. Highway 95 in Bonners Ferry, drive west on Riverside Road (aka Country Road 18A) past the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge to the Refuge’s headquarters. A first look at Trout Lake Trout Lake up close This might be the most prominent rock There are quite a few Lower Stevens with Stevens Peak in the background The outlet of Lower Stevens Lake Naughty pretending to be good View of Lower Stevens from the southern end Lower Stevens Lake Naughty at Upper Stevens Lake Stevens Peak, still showing cornices The ridge dividing the Stevens Lakes and Lone Lake Upper Stevens Lake. picnic table at the trailhead Fall colors paint the Leigh Creek valley Infinity pool waterfall The highest point in Kootenai County is right on Latour Peak, which means incredible views since the peak is pretty much bare. Take this mining road (a double-track) uphill for about 1. 5-mile loop winds through pine and fir forest to the base of Quartz Mountain. 7 miles; Resources: GPX track and elevation profile; Date: September 17, 2017 Hikers; Dogs; Horses Directions. This route follows the cedars, then lifts off the river bottom and climbs through an old burn to a set of sparkling cascades carved into the South Fork Ross Creek. Other than that, it’s a nice hike through the woods, close to town, with interesting rock formations and frequent views of the . Naughty looking for water along the Trout Creek and the fancy conveyance that will get you across dry There are large boulders near Trout Creek Naughty taking advantage of a tiny spring The brook is just a small trickle A boulder field halfway up. When we did the hike it was obvious that the only trail users in recent history had been of the ungulate type. . Hikers Directions: Google Maps: 47. Beautiful adventure, Naughty! So glad you let the Scribe join you so we get to read about it and see photos! Happy 5. A cog-wheel railway has been in operation since 1871, the oldest in Europe. The hiking along the lakeshore to the north end is rather nice and beats the Trapper Creek forest road anytime. The water is refreshing, there’s camping, there’s fish, and you’ll likely have the place to yourself. Great Naughty posing next to one of many giant cedars Some cedars are dead, but the stumps remain for decades A burnt stump The inside of the burnt stomp A fallen giant Many of the trees are hundreds of years old This tree fell Daytrip, Dogs, Hikers, Hiking, Horses, Kaniksu National Forest, Moderate, Mountain Bikers, None required, Out-and-back, Selkirk Mountains, Unprotected. The trail touches it Daytrip, Dogs, Hikers, Hiking, Horses, Kaniksu National Forest, Meadow, Moderate, Mountain, Mountain Bikers, None required, Out-and-back, Selkirk Mountains, Structure, Unprotected. Continue for another 15 miles to the top of Thompson Pass. Crossing a creek in the lower third of the hike (this is not Gem Creek, though; this trail never intersects Gem Creek) Frequent crossings of small brooks (likely seasonal) The trail is well-maintained View of the Pend Oreille Divide in the background We ran into snow at around 5600 feet. Though the hike Lake Darling – Pend Naughty loved it! Rigi. The site of the pond and wetlands was in fact farmland for most of the past century, drained by early settlers (you won’t find the pond on the older USGS maps), and now restored to provide wildlife habitat. Up, up, up! A lower lake (pond, really) just beneath the brim of Gem Lake View of Glad the Naughty Hiker didn’t tangle with any grizzlies! teresa@sweetveg says: September 2, 2017 at 12:45 pm. That means many opportunities for a quick dip Looking northwest along Independence Creek Independence Creek near Minor Creek There are many meadows and flood plains. The unobstructed views from the Dome are fabulous, with glacier-covered Snowshoe Peak and A Peak prominently to the south. Unlike Heart and Northbound, shallow Mallard Lake isn’t surrounded by sheer cliff walls; rather, it’s a pretty pond in a meadowy and marshy basin, making it prone to bug infestations. It is not nearly as dramatic, or popular, as nearby FR 18591 Lookout Pass chairlift FR 18591. While not very long, the hike is nonetheless an ideal leg stretcher if you’re just travelling Trailhead First views across Lake Pend Oreille of the Monarch Ridge The trail is a nice single-track all of the way Pretty flower. The trail follows along the base to the saddle on the right, then curls around and ends up on the razor-edge saddle to the left of the chimney Naughty found a pool in the basin below Chimney Rock Chimney Rock from right beneath it View into Pack River valley The Pack River trail drops down to the right along the boulder field into the trees. For most of the trail the incline is negligible, signage is superb, trail maintenance is much improved, and heavy usage turns much of the trail into easily-traversed packed snow. The trail then steeply ascends a flank of Mica Peak and dazzles the hiker with a series of waterfalls slipping and sliding over smooth rock slabs. 643021. Add to that a slew of stunning mountain lakes, flower-covered alpine meadows, and views deep into Hell’s Canyon and the Oregon The trail then steeply ascends a flank of Mica Peak and dazzles the hiker with a series of waterfalls slipping and sliding over smooth rock slabs. We didn’t see any, but other hikers reported spotting a couple (early April) Hells Canyon gets very little, if any snow, so the trail can be hiked year around. Add to that a slew of stunning mountain lakes, flower-covered alpine meadows, and views deep into Hell’s Canyon and the Oregon Naughty checked for bears and found none, thank goodness. Of course, Naughty had to give chase! Luckily, the cougars fled and Naughty didn’t see a need to pursue the matter further. Naughty loved it! Beacon Hills. Beautiful Antoine Peak is covered with a web of old logging or fire roads, and the hiking trail system on the mountain largely takes advantage of that. From US-2, at the 40-mile marker (8 miles south of Libby), take FR-278 (Bear Creek Road) west for 3 miles. The Slavin Conservation Area covers 628 acres of Ponderosa forest, rolling meadows, marshes and a lengthy pond much treasured by waterfowl. Take the road uphill to the right Mountainview from 2-mile marker on Skyline Drive Singletrack ascending Mineral Mountain Glacier Lily Looking south Naughty crossing Stack Creek the hard way Nice views from Lost Creek Ridge! Lost Creek Ridge Be prepared for a bit of deadfall on Lost Creek Ridge The first source of water after leaving Lost Creek behind View from stateline 93-Mile Lake South Branch Trout Creek Anyone lost a pair of shoes? At lower elevation, Trout Creek is completely dry East face of Trailhead The trail starts out as a double-track, but later morphs into a single-track The beargrass-lined trail continues uphill at a steady incline, following the spine of the ridge Fork to the spring below Shorty Peak Beargrass meadow Lookout tower The last bit is a bit steeper Lone Tree Peak. There is no water, so better plan for an early morning hike or hike in the cooler season. No need for snowshoes Naughty on trail 110 The upper portion of 110 is less well travelled Trail 160 towards Mount Kit Carson Nearing Mount Kit Carson Mount Kit Carson is a small knoll atop a sheer cliff. Looking back onto Lake Estelle from the talus slope Still a long way to the saddle A large snowfield lingers in the bowl above Lake Estelle Unnamed peak to the south of the saddle Distant mountains in the east (assumed to be the Montana Cabinets) Lake Estelle, taken from saddle Ridge to the south Ridge to the north Gem Lake, taken from saddle The Gem Lake side is less Rock Lake is a pleasant hike to a phenomenal lake in the midst of the Cabinet Wilderness. The McKenzie Conservation area covers nearly 500 acres along the northwestern shore of Newman Lake. Joe from higher up Crossing moss-covered tributaries St. Could’ve been a bear. The peak is pretty much bare with excellent views south and west, but trees block Upper Glidden Lake. The very top of the Dome is all talus, though. Bureau of Land Management, Coeur d'Alene Mountains, Daytrip, Dogs, Easy, Hikers, Hiking, Loop, Mountain Bikers, None required, Unprotected. The views from the lookout, and those along the way, make it totally worth every effort. Views are relatively sparse Campsite at the junction with Located in the Hoodoo Mountains, the northwestern-most portion of the Clearwater Mountains, this loop is quite literally a walk in the woods. S. 0!! Catch any squirrels? naughtyhiker says: September 3, 2017 at 10:32 am. St. Joe is fairly tame in late Parking lot Trail to Fern Falls Fern Falls framed by fall foliage Fern Falls through the evergreens Yellow Dog Creek A pretty bench along the trail Shadow Falls Shadow Falls cascading into a pool surrounded by moss-covered timber Rapids above Shadow Falls Naughty checking out the falls Water cascading over rocks above Shadow Falls Shadow Falls Trekking through snow along the divide Uprooted tree on the divide Trekking through snow along the divide Mount Pend Oreille shrouded in fog Views north towards the Purcells Snow was up to a foot deep on the divide Great views from Pend Oreille divide Windswept tree on ridge Uphill slope towards Pend Oreille Divide Hitting snow at around 5600 Much of the Blossom Lakes loop is in fact part of the Idaho State Centennial trail, a footpath stretching from Canada all the way to Nevada. Trail 127 traces the eastern shore of the lake beneath a cooling canopy of cedars and pines to West Lodge Creek, then presents the option to hop onto trail 127. Naughty perching on Grandma. For the secondary trailhead continue on FR 266 (Revett Lake The hike is pleasant along the cascading and bubbling brook, with the dense tree canopy shielding the hiker even on hot summer days. Queen of the This is an alternative entry point to the Rocks of Sharon and Iller Creek loop covered in an earlier post (Iller Creek). Other than that, it’s a nice hike through the woods, close to town, with interesting rock formations and frequent views of the city and distant hills. Be prepared for a fair bit of ascent, though, as the elevation gain amounts to 4000 feet. Hikers; Dogs; Horses; Mountain Bikers (bikers are not allowed on the Mineral Ridge trail) Directions. Supposedly, Bobs Lakes was a mud flat. It appears to have lost some of its loneliness View south towards the Parker Hikers; Dogs; Horses; Mountain Bikers (Beware of snakes!) Directions. Joe river First fording of St. Located in the Hoodoo Mountains, the northwestern-most portion of the Clearwater Mountains, this loop is quite literally a walk in the woods. 5 miles, with the best views about half a mile in. 970527,-115. 1, a spur trail leading to a secluded bay perfect for a cooling dip. Beauty Bay Overlook. From US-95, take Sagle Road in Sagle, heading east. Trail #25 crosses the log and veers away to the left The first nice views as you From the parking lot, cross the road and follow it a bit northwards to the gate blocking an old mining road. We sure did. Joe shortly past Ruby Creek Island in St. 5-mile hike to one of many superb alpine lakes in the Bitterroot Mountains. West Fork Fish Creek surprises with a lushness reminiscent of rainforest, followed by the picturesque lake, views across vast elk meadows and a patchwork of larches from Chilcoot Pass, and finally a series of terraced waterfalls in the much drier Straight Creek Naughty enjoyed the swim! Mollies Tip was once home to a lookout tower, but only the concrete footings, a bunch of rusty nails and rotting boards are left. From granite-covered alpine peaks with 360-degree views to dense moss-overgrown Coeur d'Alene Mountains, Coeur d'Alene National Forest, Daytrip, Dogs, Grove, Hikers, Hiking, Meadow, Moderate, Mountain, None required, Out-and-back, Rock Formation, Unprotected. The views across the lake are excellent, with Plowboy Mountain to the south and Navigation Campground straight across. the Goat’s head Lake Pend Oreille Views are superb all around Scotchman Scotchman 2 Lake Pend Oreille Clark Fork valley Naughty gracing the Goat’s head Looking down on Clark Fork The trail follows this ridge Lightning Creek A well-deserved cool-down in Lightning Creek The obligatory grouse Hikers; Dogs; Horses; Mountain Bikers Directions. Stay on WA-281 (this involves a right turn after 1. A short way in, a barred mine is visible to the right. The Quartz Mountain Lookout Loop offers perhaps the best views of any trail in the Mount Spokane Nordic Ski area. 6 miles. Steeply below it huddles Mirror Lake in a forest-ringed cirque and to the east are the remains Tributary to West Willow Creek The trail is well-maintained Waterfall near Lone Lake Rushing water below Lone Lake Looking back down the Willow Creek valley Jumble of logs at Lone Lake outlet Naughty after a bath. The ascent is steep, though, gaining over 4,000 feet over 4 miles and you’ll likely have the peak to yourself. Resources. Take #634 uphill for 9 miles to the #13 trailhead (there is only Mesas in the distance Steep-sided Wall Lake A herd of mule deer atop a basalt butte Turtle Lake Basalt rock outcroppings abound on the way from Wall Lake to Escure Ranch Naughty looking for rodents As the trail winds through multiple coulees, you come across many small ponds, frogs announcing each from afar Rocky mesa ahead of Escure Ranch An A offshoot of Savage Mountain An alpine meadow leading up to the saddle between Little Spar and Horseshoe lakes Scotchman Peak #2 Horseshoe Pond Snow ringed the lake even in July Horseshoe Pond up close There was no distinct headwall, but a lot of this smooth slab along the northern edge of the lake The outlet Looking across the lake from the Then the forest swallows you once again and the views are gone, replaced with lush ferns and a magnitude of wildflowers. Paul Peak Close up of St. Swing a left; to the right is the bridge to nowhere A bridge to nowhere The trail is quite brushy, and in our case wet from the previous day’s rain Delphinium is quite prolific There is one The shortcut landed us on FR-1907 near the origins of East Fork Big Creek (8. Queen of the mountains, as she is known, Rigi has been an exceedingly popular tourist attraction for well over a hundreds years. In Prichard, turn right onto Beaver Creek Road and continue for 3 miles, then Top 5 near Sandpoint: Gem Lake (3. apju yihtdv asy dfw lzcbm ndyxxfq mqvxy wetysw gpwirp lry