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Northern Idaho Haven for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Farragut State Park Idaho – Photo
By Patrice Raplee
By Patrice Raplee
Sunrise shimmers across deep blue lakes, nestled in fragrant
pine and fir forests. Campers stir to make their morning
coffee and bicyclists prepare for the day’s adventure along
the state’s scenic routes. Northern Idaho’s vast area of
wilderness is a veritable haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
From traversing the silver corridors of deserted mining museums,
hiking and biking, to skiing the ice-blue powder on Silver
Mountain, Idaho has emerged as the new year-round scenic
activity playground of the U.S.
State Parks
Numerous beautiful and inviting state parks dot Idaho’s
Northern territory; several even include winter ice skating,
ice-fishing and snowmobiling. However, two outstanding parks,
Farragut and Heyburn, offer visitors a fantastic environment
to fish, hike, bike, camp, play disc golf, swim, boat and
cross-country ski.
Located near Coeur d’Alene, Farragut State Park is a
4,000-acre park that is ideal for families and boaters. The
distance and design between recreational activities and camping
provides a balanced and peaceful mixed use. The park’s ample
amenities, such as electricity, flush toilets and private
lockable tile showers, smoothes over the more rugged aspects
of camping.
In addition to primitive and developed camping sites,
the park also features 10 modern log cabins with electricity
and an outdoor grill-covered fire pit. Although a bit small,
the charming, clean and lockable cabins are inexpensive.
The cabins sleep up to five between bunk beds and a large
futon. The cozy units include a themed log table and chairs,
with a two-person outdoor porch swing, perfect for reading
a book or gazing at the lake. Make reservations well in advance
of your visit, the cabins are popular. For optimal solitude,
book a week into September.
For boating and swimming in the park, Lake Pend Oreille
is the largest in the state and a magnificent sight at dawn.
Gentle waves lap against the shoreline and early morning
anglers cast from their boats, taking advantage of the calm
and quiet. Level, wooded trails skirt the edge of the lake
and are a picturesque, easy stroll.
Farragut provides several fun activities for visitors,
such as a model airplane field, two disc golf courses and
interpretive programs, not to mention the famous Silverwood
Theme Park located only a few minutes away.
For history and museum buffs, the Museum at the Brig,
located in Farragut State Park, is an intriguing site. Once
a training facility of the U.S. Navy in World War II, the
buildings now house fascinating paraphernalia of the ‘40s
naval base and even a few original cell brigs where the German
POWs were kept. Some of the authentic POW cells are a bit
creepy, but the overall impression is an excellent representation
of the WWII war era. The Brig is a wonderful photo opportunity
and the naval museum is definitely worth a visit.
Heyburn State Park, located in Plummer, Idaho, is the
oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest. The vast recreation
area of the park (5700 acres) provides activities from camping,
canoeing and horse trails to wildlife viewing. The first
inhabitants of the area were the Coeur d’Alene Indians (Schee
Chu Umsh). This beautiful area still reflects the harmony
of its origin.
Heyburn is reminiscent of state campgrounds years ago,
before the crush of population expansion made over-crowded
park conditions discouraging for many campers and outdoor
enthusiasts. An afternoon stroll on Rocky Point by Chatcolet
Lake is uplifting. The crunch of tree needles under your
shoes releases the aromatic scent of sun-warmed Grand Fir
and the lake view is stellar!
The well-maintained facilities are impressive with boat
launches, a new interpretive center, public docks, showers,
cabins, cottages and a host of activities for all age groups
and fitness levels.
Two activities worth a special mention are the Plummer
Creek marsh for wildlife photography and the Heyburn State
Park Cruises on the St. Joe River. Plummer Creek is equipped
with a wildlife viewing blind for observation and photography.
The area wildlife is rich with bald eagles, white tail deer,
otters and many other species as well.
For a marvelous experience, take a cruise on the St.
Joe River with the Idaho. The boat accommodates up to 87
passengers and tours past scenic and wildlife areas. Tall,
fabricated nesting stands line both sides of the river at
various points for numerous large species of birds.
The park cruises provide indoor and outdoor seating with
lunch, dinner, special events and sunset voyages available.
Try the lunch cruise and make sure to sit at the bow table
for an unparalleled view. For additional information on Farragut
and Heyburn State Park, visit http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov
Silverwood Theme Park - Photo By Patrice Raplee
Activities
Silverwood Theme Park is the largest original theme park
in the Northwest and is the biggest tourist attraction in
Idaho. The distinction is apt for this fun and exhilarating
park that sports Garfield as their character mascot. Family
owned and operated, Silverwood has created a theme park with
great attention to detail and jam-packed the park with fabulous
attractions. Giant, wooden, looping roller coasters (the
Timber Terror and Tremors) speed past the Panic Plunge Drop
Tower
and race underground to provide even the staunchest roller
coaster critic an impressive ride.
The western and Victorian-themed park features an array
of attractions from sedate to adrenaline-charged and boasts
an incredible wet water park, Boulder Beach. From magic shows
to pizza parlors, the park offers a full range of attractions
and events to keep a family busy for days. With a recent
six million dollar expansion on the Boulder Beach Water Park
and outbidding Disney for a 1915 steam engine (runs a three-mile
loop around the park circumference), Silverwood is now in
the theme park big leagues.
Most noticeably, Silverwood is kept immaculately clean
and is scrupulous about strict maintenance. The park is a
blast for all ages and is worth a trip to Idaho alone. For
additional information on Silverwood Theme Park, visit http://www.silverwoodthemepark.com.
For bicycling and mountain bike enthusiasts, Idaho has
a multitude of bike trails. Notably the longest and most
spectacular bike trail in the Western U.S. is Trail of the
Coeur d’Alenes. This 73-mile trail is newly asphalted and
was created over an old train route. This is good news, as
train routes were rarely graded steeper than two to four
percent and that makes for a mostly flat trail acceptable
for all levels of bicycling. The bike trailhead begins in
Plummer, meanders past the shoreline of Coeur d’Alene Lake,
then continues through numerous lakes, marshes, campgrounds,
resorts and scenic stretches. The trail goes on to make its
way up to the Coeur d’Alene River, and then up into the mountains
of Mullen. This truly is a magnificently beautiful bike trail
and it can be accessed almost anywhere along the 73-mile
path.
Bicyclists on Route of the Hiawatha Idaho
Photo
By Patrice Raplee
For a family bike ride, or to take just a shorter scenic
route, start in Kellogg, Idaho, at the Kellogg Depot Trailhead.
Full mountain bikes aren’t necessary for this paved trail
and if you wish to rent a bike, Excelsior Cycle is located
right at the Kellogg Depot Trailhead. This company is reasonably
priced, knowledgeable and provides the correct height bicycle
for their customers.
For additional information on the Trail of the Coeur
d’Alenes, visit http://www.idahoparks.org and click on Trail
of the Coeur d’Alenes on the right-hand side map. For Excelsior
Cycle & Sport Shop call (208) 786-3751.
For a tremendous mountain bike ride, the Route of the
Hiawatha is located adjacent to I-90 at the Idaho/Montana
state line, 12 miles east of Wallace, Idaho. The route is
spectacular and offers a unique experience! Once a railroad
stretch, the Hiawatha was graveled and made into a bike route.
The route runs 15-miles across the rugged Bitterroot Mountains
between Idaho and Montana. The popular route runs downhill
at a two percent grade and starts at the East Portal of the
Taft Tunnel. Riders follow the path through Taft Tunnel,
which is roughly over a mile-and-a-half.
Yes, bikes must have headlights and riders need helmets.
This route is unique and popular due to the gorgeous scenery,
10 tunnels, seven high trestles and multitude of interesting
interpretive plaques along the trail (the Taft tunnel is
the longest). The route is seasonal from the end of May to
the first week in October and requires a small user fee.
The ride is not difficult and presents a splendid opportunity
for photography with changing scenery and a chance to see
unspoiled wilderness.
For additional information, visit http://www.skilookout.com and
click on the Route of the Hiawatha on the right hand
side.
Join us next month for part two on Northern Idaho, as
we explore additional activities, restaurants, lodging and
museums.
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