The northern reaches of the great state of Idaho host some of the most pristine lands this beautiful state encompasses. During the autumn months this verdant paradise transforms into nothing short of a Rembrandt painting bursting with vibrance. The sleepy, rural area that surrounds Bonners Ferry contains excursions which are perfect for anyone and everyone to see the beauty of the changing of the seasons. There are multiple scenic drives and plenty of trails in the area to be explored.
Cruising for Fall Colors
If a scenic drive is what you are looking for then you have to check out the link up of Meadow Creek Road into the Moyie River Road which lies northeast of the town of Bonners Ferry. The drive takes you through gorgeous tamarack groves, evergreen forests and winds along the banks of the Moyie River at the toe of the Cabinet Mountains. Dawson Lake is a perfect spot to pull over and soak in the scenery if you’re wanting a spot to stretch your legs or have a picnic.
The most beautiful drive we did while touring around northern Idaho was undoubtedly West Side Road from Bonners Ferry. This drive has multiple access points but I would highly suggest driving west out of Bonners on Riverside Road, which takes you to the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, granting sweeping views of vast farmland and meadows along the way. The refuge is a beautiful place to see in and of itself, boasting 2,774 acres of pristine country and some 223 different recorded species of birds. From the refuge you can continue to drive north and link into West Side Road or you can park at the Deep Creek Trailhead and take a walk down the incredibly beautiful 4.3-mile out-and-back trail. Deep Creek Trail is home to some of the best fall colors in the whole area. The big cottonwood and birch trees were literally raining down golden leaves as gusts of wind set them free.
From the wildlife refuge, West Side Road takes you north along the west side of the stunning Kootenay River Valley, affording you views of the countryside, the Cabinet Mountains and the broad, meandering Kootenay River. The wide open views close in as you head north, but make the hairpin turn and head up the Smith Creek drainage and you’ll gain a vast, birds-eye-view of the valley below.
For the adventurous individuals with four-wheel-drive, continuing the drive up Smith Creek Road will take you to a few beautiful and seldom visited places including the Smith Creek Drainage, West Fork Lake and Lookout trail and Hidden Lake and Red Top Mountain trail.
Lace Up Those Hiking Boots
Once you finish the drive up the Moyie River Road and pop out on Highway 95 it’s a mere 5.2 mile jaunt to the trailhead for Copper Falls which is a short, 1.4 mile out-and-back hike – a perfect walk to break up time spent in the car. The Copper Falls trail takes you through cedar and pine forests while bridges span small babbling creeks in the magical basin which leads to the base of Copper Falls. Alternative to the lower loop trail, there is an option to hike up to an overlook, but many prefer the trail that takes you to the base of the waterfall, where you can soak up the immensity of one of the longest waterfalls in northern Idaho. It’s also feasible to go to both the overlook and base of the falls as it adds minimal distance to the hike. I would recommend doing both!
Closer to Bonners Ferry are two other waterfall hikes which are easily accessible and short enough for the whole family to enjoy. The 1.4-mile out-and-back to Snow Creek Falls is fits the bill perfectly. Choose to go to just the lower falls, the upper, or both – all of them are beautiful! If you have a pup you can bring them along on this one.
Myrtle Creek Falls is 0.9-mile out-and-back trail that is considered an easy route, taking only about 25 minutes to complete. This trail is great for hiking and walking, and it’s unlikely you’ll encounter many other people while you’re out enjoying the trek to the scenic falls. Unfortunately, pups aren’t allowed on this trail.
Uncrowded trails and roads, wildly beautiful terrain and leaf peeping like you wouldn’t believe make the Bonners Ferry area an ideal place to witness the changing of the season. And although it is a little bit out of the way and off the beaten path it’s well worth the travel to get there. Plus, you can make it a trip and check out Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene on the way too.
Feeling hungry and need a bite to eat? A couple great places to stop for food and drinks in Bonners are Under the Sun Bistro and the authentic Salvadoran food from Bonners Ferry Pupuseria. And if you’re looking to wet your whistle swing on down to the Kootenai River Brewing.
Feature image credited to Jasper Gibson.
Jasper Gibson is a born and raised Idahoan, growing up in Sandpoint, Idaho. He has worked with major U.S. companies including The North Face, Mountain Hardware, Marmot and Smartwool. His work has been published in Outdoor Magazine, National Geographic’s Extreme Photo of the Week and on Redbull.com. Aside from his commercial work, Jasper has been a photographer on multiple expeditions around the world.
Published on October 10, 2023
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