Hiking Trails Through Northern Idaho: The Northwest’s Playground

Located five minutes south of Post Falls, Idaho is Q’emiln Park (pronounced “ka-mee-lin) This 79-acre, multi-use forested area is surrounded by Spokane Riverfront, granite cliffs, and native wildlife. Open for non-motorized public recreation, Q’emiln park is a great place to play. Take the Old Wagon Loop to Spokane River Trail for a 2.2-mile, moderate hike through the Post Falls area.

Directions: From Post Falls, Idaho head five minutes south to Q’emiln Park. From the park parking lot, explore numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort offers hikers and runners a number of easily accessible and well-maintained trails. Whether you want a leisurely stroll, or an intense workout, Schweitzer Mountain has something for everyone. Take the chairlift to the top of the mountain and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views on one of the multiple peak side loops. Alternatively, guests can skip the chairlift entirely and follow the 2.5-mile nature trail to the top. Whatever your speed, enjoy access to over 20 miles of pristine trails perfect for hiking, trail running, photography, bird watching, and even huckleberry picking in the summer months.

Directions: From Sandpoint, Idaho travel northwest 30 minutes to Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Onsite staff can direct which trails to take from there.

Looking for a trail that leads you through Coeur d’Alene bays? The Mineral Ridge National Recreation Trail is an outstanding 3.3-mile, moderate hike through the Beauty and Wolf Lodge bays of Coeur d’Alene. Established by the Bureau of Land Management in 1962, this trail has been a community staple for decades. Follow 22 interpretive signs along the well-maintained trail to learn about indigenous plants and animals. Explore the interrelationships of the nearby city and regional forest through the Mineral Ridge Trail.

Directions: Travel 15 minutes south from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to the Mineral Ridge Scenic Area parking lot. Open to the public year-round, this trailhead is well-marked and includes visitor picnic tables, pit toilets, and trash receptacles.

Hike the historical Pulaski Tunnel Trail and learn about the great fires of 1910. Located 10 minutes from downtown Wallace, Idaho, the Pulaski Trail is a 4-mile-long trail that leads hikers through an area once ravaged by fire. The site’s harsh history is only felt, not seen, however, as the nearly 100 years of reforestation have left the region cloaked in a thick jacket of spruce and fir trees.

Directions: Head six minutes south from Wallace, Idaho to the Pulaski Tunnel Trailhead. Allow two to four hours for the four-mile round trip to the Pulaski Tunnel overlook.

Explore the Roman Nose Lakes Trail for a 4.1-mile, moderately trafficked hike. Open during the summer and fall months, the Roman Nose Lakes Trail is an excellent area for hiking, as well as, picnicking, fishing, camping, and huckleberry picking. Follow the interpretive trail signs to upper, middle, and lower Roman Nose Lakes. Enjoy breathtaking views from numerous overlooks.

Directions: From Bonners Ferry, Idaho, travel one hour west to the Roman Nose Lakes. When traveling to this trail, note that the road there is accessible to all vehicles, but AWD vehicles are recommended.

For a more advanced hike, take Canfield Mountain Trails 1562, D, and Loop 3. Open to the public year-round, this 5.3-mile loop offers some of Northern Idaho’s most stunning views of local wildflowers in the spring. Though the trail poses some challenges throughout its terrain, the views are well worth the workout. Pack up your pups, and hit the trail.

Directions: From downtown Coeur d’Alene, Idaho head 10 minutes north to the Canfield Mountain Trailhead.

Located 20 minutes outside Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the Marie Creek Trail is an excellent 8.7-mile out-and-back hike. Walk along the river and enjoy year-round access to Northern Idaho’s verdant forests and meadows. Bring the pup, and enjoy numerous opportunities to take a dip in the summer months.

Directions: From Coeur d’Alene, Idaho drive 20 minutes east to the East Marie Creek Road access point. Follow signage from there.

Open to the public year-round, Section 16 is composed of two moderate trails, and is curated in conjunction with the Idaho Department of Lands and Boundary County and 9B Trails. Mix and match trail combinations to add terrain variety and length to your hike. Explore up to 11 miles of the Kootenai Valley along these all-access trails. Open year-round and located in the beautiful Paradise Valley just outside Bonners Ferry, this trail is ideal for both novice and experienced hikers.

Directions: Head 10 minutes south Bonners Ferry to Kootenai Trail Road. Follow signage from there.

Green Monarch Ridge to Green Monarch Mountain is a 5.6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Hope, Idaho that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail.

Directions: 45 minutes southwest of Hope, ID

Situated among the American Selkirk mountain range, Italian Ridge is a 2.6-mile advanced hike that leads to Shorty Peak Lookout. Enjoy panoramic views of Kootenai River Valley and the Purcells from atop the 6,500-foot Shorty Peak. Open to the public in the summer and early-fall months, Italian Ridge offers an intense uphill workout surrounded by stunning views, fir forest, indigenous wildlife, and babbling springs.

Directions: From Bonners Ferry head northwest an hour. Follow USFS signage from Smith Creek Road to trailhead #95 (AKA Italian Ridge).

Follow 3.5-mile out-and-back Mickinnick Trail for a challenging workout. Totaling 7-miles in length, this trail ascends over 2,000 feet through huge rock outcroppings, grassy meadows, open forests, and steep switchbacks. Summit the mountain and experience stunning panoramic views of Sandpoint, the Long Bridge, the Cabinet Mountains, and Lake Pend Oreille.

Directions: From Sandpoint head 10 minutes north to the Mickinnick Trailhead.

Scotchman Peak Trail is a popular advanced trail located near Sandpoint. Open during the summer months, there’s no better place to experience views of Lake Pend Oreille and the Clark Fork River Valley than along this hike. Follow the trail up a steep and steady incline along this 7.6-mile out-and-back trail. Please note that weather and trail conditions are subject to change — and frequently do. Prepare accordingly, and the payout is huge. This high country trail is a rewarding workout with stunning views (and sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can see firsthand the family of mountain goats that call this summit home).

Directions: From Sandpoint head 45 minutes east to Scotchman Peak Trailhead.

Arid Peak via Slate Creek Divide is a 13.7 out and back trail located just outside of Avery. This lightly trafficked trail offers an intense uphill climb to the Arid Peak Lookout – a former 1930s United State Forest Service fire lookout. Pass through alpine forests and through granite outcroppings on this intensely rewarding trail.

Directions: From Kellogg head southeast toward National Forest Development Road 389 and follow signage to the trailhead.

Get a bird’s eye view of the Coeur d’Alene River, Thompson Lake Wildlife Refuge, and Anderson Lake on this steep hike near the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes Springston Trailhead. The trail is primitive, free, and not signed.

Directions: To drive there from Harrison, head north on Hwy 97 and cross the bridge two miles from town. Turn right onto Blue Lake Rd. after the bridge. From there it’s 1.8 miles east to Springston Bridge. Turn right over the bridge to the trailhead parking area. Walk toward Anderson Lake on the dirt road and look for a trail on your left that leads uphill. Follow it around to the right for a good climb.

Stevens Lakes Trail is a 5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Mullan, Idaho that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

Directions: From Mullan, ID take Friday Ave east till it forks take the right that becomes Willow Creek that turns into National Forest Road 8008 and follow signage to the trailhead.