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Hiking

The spectacular beauty of Boundary County can often best be seen and experienced when traveling by foot. Hikers can choose easy walks on a well-established trail or multiple-day treks in the wilderness. In fact, there are more than 300 miles of trails in the Panhandle National Forest land contained in Boundary County. You can explore the Canuck Basin in the Purcell Mountains or Boulder Creek areas in the Cabinet Mountains, or the magnificent Selkirk Crest. For more information, call the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at 208-267-5561. Here’s a sampling of some favorite trails.

Roman Nose Lakes Trails No. 160 and 165. 23 miles southwest of Bonners Ferry via Snow Creek Road No. 402, Road No. 1007 through Caribou Pass and Road No. 2667. Vehicle access to Roman Nose Lake No. 3, limited camping and picnicking, day hikes to other lakes 1-2 miles. High mountain vistas of the Selkirk Crest, including the Sundance Fire area.

Pyramid-Ball Lakes Trails No. 13 and 43. 23 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry. From Highway 1 turn west on Copeland Road, found in the Trout Creek drainage via Road No. 2667. Vehicle access to trailhead on Upper Trout Creek. Easy 1.3-mile hike to Pyramid Lake; one-half mile farther to Ball Lake.

Queen Lake and Mountain Trail No. 152. 15 miles northeast of Bonners Ferry via Meadow Creek Road No. 229 and Queen Mountain Road No. 2542. Moderate half-mile hike to lake from trailhead, over mountain is three-quarters of a mile farther. Excellent views of Moyie River Valley and Purcell Mountains.

Two Mouth Lakes Trail No. 268. 15 miles west of Bonners Ferry in the Myrtle Creek Drainage via Road No. 633. Vehicle access to trailhead in Upper Myrtle Creek. Moderate 5.5-mile hike to lakes.

Clifty Mountain Trail No. 182. 18 miles southeast of Bonners Ferry via Twenty Mile Road No. 408 and Black Mountain Road No. 274. Vehicle access to trailhead is at saddle east of Black Mountain. Moderate 1.5-mile hike to Clifty Mountain. Outstanding views of Bonners Ferry, Kootenai Valley, Selkirk and Cabinet mountains.

Red Top (Hidden Lake) Trail No. 102. From Highway 1, turn west on Copland Road to Smith Creek Road No. 281 to No. 2545 to trailhead. Short hike to high elevation lake with good views and opportunities for spotting wildlife. Watch for bears!

Long Canyon Trail No. 16. From Highway 1, turn west on County Road 18 to the Westside Road trailhead. Remote, roadless drainage from Kootenai River Valley to the Selkirk Crest with excellent views of Long and Parker Canyons and walks through old-growth forest. The full loop is 32 miles long and makes a good four- or five-day backpacking trip. Back to top

Mountain Biking

Old Forest Service roads make perfect mountain bike trails when logging is no longer taking place. The Forest Service suggests seeking closed roads to avoid motorized traffic. Mountain bikers are still discovering new trails to cruise that offer a wide variety of backcountry stops. A few areas suggested for exploring are the Snow Creek/Myrtle Creek Loop, Boulder Creek, Clifty Mountain or Katka. Exceptions are any restricted hiking trails developed for foot traffic only or handicapped accessible. For current information, call the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at 208-267-5561. Back to top

Camping

Campgrounds across the county offer an unparalleled outdoor experience and some of the most beautiful scenery around from high mountain vistas to the banks of the Moyie River. The U.S. Forest Service has five developed campgrounds in addition to lookouts for rent (see below). You may also select from a number of commercial campgrounds.

 

Forest Service Campgrounds

Robinson Lake
7 miles south of Eastport, Idaho on Highway 95. 10 units, lake access, boat ramp, fishing, wildlife viewing. Fee area.

Copper Creek
2 miles south of Eastport, Idaho, on Highway 95 and Forest Road No. 2517. 16 units, banks of Moyie River, river rafting, Copper Falls 1.75 miles away. Fee area.

Meadow Creek
11 miles northeast on Highway 2 and Meadow Creek Road No. 229. 22 units, Moyie River access, fishing, whitewater rafting below campground. Fee area.

Smith Lake
5 miles north of Bonners Ferry on Highway 95, east 2 miles on Forest Road No. 1005. 7 units, lake access, fishing, boat ramp. No fee. Wildlife viewing.

Brush Lake
19 miles north of Bonners Ferry on Highway 95, south 2 miles on Forest Road No. 1004. 4 units, lake access, fishing, boat ramp. No fee. Wildlife viewing. Back to top

Lookout Rentals

Three former Forest Service lookout stations and one guard station have been converted into use for a unique recreational experience. Using lookouts for spotting fires became obsolete after aircraft came into use. While many lookouts across the West were torn down, several were kept intact in Boundary County. The Bonners Ferry Ranger District accepts seasonal overnight reservations for Shorty Peak Lookout, Deer Ridge Lookout, Black Mountain Lookout and Snyder Guard Station. The guard station was approved in 1982 for the National Register for Historic Places. This site is well-suited to group functions. Snyder’s old Ranger House is available for use and has electricity and running water.

On the other hand, the lookout buildings are rustic, have no electricity or running water, and one requires hiking in; however fees are minimal. The lookouts have exceptional views of the surrounding mountains. For complete information, check with the Bonners Ferry Ranger District: Rt. 4 Box 4860, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805-9764. Phone 208-267-5561. Back to top

Whitewater Rafting and Boating

Moyie River
For recreational rafting, try the Upper Moyie accessed south of Eastport on Highway 95 at County Road No. 211. The upper reaches of the Moyie have gentle waters, and there are five bridges where the river can be accessed for put in and take out. A good place for recreational rafters to land is at Meadow Creek Campground, open for day use to picnickers and fishermen. Below Meadow Creek Campground and extending south to the Kootenai River, there’s plenty of whitewater action. The lower Moyie River is not suggested for novices. The adventurous kayaker or rafter will find the Lower Moyie to be a thrilling experience. For a guided experience, try local outfitting and guide services available in the spring.

Kootenai River
The Kootenai is suited to recreational rafting from the Yaak River Campground on Highway 2 in Montana to below the highway bridge in Bonners Ferry. View wildlife, go fishing and enjoy the mountain scenery on this stretch of river. You can also take a power boat on the Kootenai to the Canadian border. If you want to proceed to Kootenay Lake in British Columbia, you must check into customs at the border. Access the Kootenai by the boat ramp three miles west of Bonners Ferry.

Swimming

Bonners Ferry has a swimming pool open to the public during the summer.