John Pointer Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
24 Christmases as a mom. My first one as what they call an empty-nester. Things 2 and 4 are in the world and chasing happiness. Thing 3 is settling into his first duty station and being a new homeowner in Virginia. Things 1 and 5 are making their way through the Rockies to then slog […]
Stevens Lakes, Murray, Idaho
This is hike 30 in 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest: Popular among weekend campers, this hike quickly leads from Interstate 90 to an area of quiet alpine lakes in the western reaches of the Bitterroot Mountains. The lakes are situated at the brink of timberline below Stevens Peak and just a ridge west of […]
Marie Creek, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
The trees know about the winter about the change about the falling about the loss and they grow anyway Grow anyway. I wanted to hike with SB, a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. She had invited me on a last-minute trip to Nelson, British Columbia, but I had to decline, so she […]
Upper Coeur d’Alene River National Recreation Trail, Murray, Idaho
Finding ways to feel good in the gap of space between where you are and where you want to be is everything. I was supposed to go on an epic trip to the San Juan Islands on the Washington coast, courtesy of J Go. We were going to stay at her family cabin on Lopez […]
Northrup Canyon, Steamboat Rock State Park, Washington
Go hike Northrup Canyon right now. Go! If you wait any longer, then you’ll miss this. It is vibrant and lush and overrun with countless marmots, but as the heat of summer in central Washington sets in, the green will turn brown, wildfires will smother the crystal blue skies, and rattlesnakes will be out. I […]
Spokane South Hill Bluff, Spokane, Washington
100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest lists Spokane South Hill Bluff under their Three City Choice Hikes. I had already written about their first choice, Tubbs Hill, and their second choice, Q’emiln Park. It is described in the text as: An evolving network of trails in Spokane graces the south-facing slope below High Drive and […]
Bernard Peak, Farragut State Park, Athol, Idaho
Farragut State Park is an incredible place, but somehow only one trail made it into 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest, and it ended up on the last page of the Appendix: Farragut is a sprawling park on a former military camp on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille east of US Highway 95 and […]
Indian Cliffs, Heyburn State Park, Plummer, Idaho
Indian Cliffs is in the Appendix of 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest: Heyburn State Park, 6 miles east of Plummer, Idaho, and then north on the shore of Lake Chatcolet, has a couple of nice trails. Indian Cliffs Trailhead is passed just after crossing railroad tracks before turning into park headquarters, where details can […]
Round Lake State Park, Sagle, Idaho
Two years ago, I would never suggest Round Lake as a hike unless you asked for suggestions for a place to take children or seniors or the very unathletic. How rude. Truly. Within that time, I was watching what was happening to my so-called peers as we tackled big goals and set our sights on […]
Crystal Lake, St. Maries, Idaho
Crystal Lake Trail is a hiking hidden gem in Appendix A of 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest: From Interstate 90 at Cataldo, Idaho, take Exit 40 and head south 20 dusty miles to Sheep Camp on the divide between the Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe River drainages. The campsite is used mostly by locals […]