Northern Idaho is famous for its dazzling forests, sky-high mountains, and wet landscapes, but nestled within these natural wonders also sits North America’s only multi-national scenic drive, The International Selkirk Loop.
The scenic byway is a 280-mile drive that connects you through the rugged and remote Selkirk Mountains of Idaho, Washington, and Canada. The Idaho portion of the route starts at the border of Washington at the Panhandle Historic Rivers Passage Scenic Byway and winds you through the Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway, where you’ll stop at the entrance to Canada. Before you head into British Columbia, save some time to do the offshoot byway, the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway.
The Selkirk Loop is a boon for nature enthusiasts looking forward to parking their RV or pitching a tent at the many state parks and recreation sites. For the traveler who craves more creature comforts, there are plenty of hotels and restaurants to choose from along the way.
Here are some of the best sights and stops on Idaho’s portion of the International Selkirk Loop, as well as tips to make the most of your time.
Panhandle Historic Rivers Passage Scenic Byway
Route: Highway 2 from Washington State Line to Sandpoint Idaho
Length: 28.5 miles one way.
The Panhandle Historic Rivers Passage Scenic Byway follows along the forest-green waterways of Priest River and Pend Oreille River. Starting near Idaho’s state line, history lovers will enjoy a stop at Albeni Falls Dam to marvel at feats of engineering and learn more about how and why the dam was built. Along the way, you’ll pass the historic downtown of Priest River, where you can stop for a locally crafted beer at Timber Town Beer Company. Heading east on the byway, you’ll pass numerous recreation areas where you can camp, fish, swim, kayak, bike, and commune with nature. Riley Creek Recreation Area is a well-developed campground perfect for RV campers and family travelers.
Continuing along the byway, you’ll pass the small luxury town of Dover. It offers a small but idyllic public beach, the riverside restaurant Dish, and charming walking trails that look upon the sprawling upscale homes.
Lastly, you’ll come to northern Idaho’s charming resort town Sandpoint. Located next to Pend Oreille Lake, Sandpoint offers an abundance of excursions that could quickly fill up an entire week of exploring. In winter, you’ll want to head up to Schweitzer Resort for the best views in northern Idaho and to play on the 3000 acres of skiable terrain. While there, foodies will enjoy dining at Crow’s Bench, a sleek restaurant with alpine-inspired dishes. In the summer, Sandpoint is all about the lake life, with boaters, tubers, kayakers, paddle boarders, and swimmers enjoying Lake Pend Oreille, the Pack River, and the Pend Oreille River. Stop by downtown Sandpoint and rent your summer gear from Outdoor Experience. If you want non water activity, you can also rent bikes from Outdoor Experience and ride along the idyllic Sand Creek Path that runs beside Sand Creek and offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
Where To Eat:
Pend d’Oreille Winery in Sandpoint for pizza and locally-made wine.
Dish in Dover for riverside dining.
The Settlement in Priest River for eclectic pub fare.
Side Trip: Take a detour and head north on 57 to visit Priest Lake. With 80 miles of shoreline, it’s a water lovers paradise and a popular snowmobiling destination in the winter. To see sweeping views of the lake, hike the easy Viewpoint Trail at Priest Lake State Park to get a fantastic view of the lake. For hikers who want more of a challenge, trek the Mount Roothann Trail for a higher perspective and sweeping views.
Pend Oreille Scenic Byway
Route: Starts at US 95 in Sandpoint and continues along Highway 200 to the Montana state line.
Length: 33 miles one way.
Before continuing along the Selkirk Loop, you can opt to take a side trip on the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway. This is the route to take for glorious views of Idaho’s largest body of water, Lake Pend Oreille. Starting in Sandpoint, you’ll continue east on Highway 200, where there are multiple pullouts to read informative plaques and take pictures of the stunning lake views. Just past the Idaho Club, Idaho’s only Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, you’ll pass the Pack River Delta, where you can park along the side of the road and put in a kayak or stand-up paddle board. The delta is a phenomenal place to kayak in solitude while looking out for osprey and bald eagles. Kayak rentals can be found in Sandpoint at Outdoor Experience.
Continuing east, you’ll pass by Trestle Creek Recreation Area, where you can boat, swim, or enjoy a picnic and Hope, a small waterside town with a handful of restaurants and amenities. The Floating Restaurant in Hope is a popular dining spot for locals and visitors alike. The Hope Marina is also a fantastic spot to rent a boat for the day.
Next up, you’ll drive along the Clark Fork River, where you’ll pass through Clark Fork, the gateway town for adventurers looking to explore the Cabinet Mountains and the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Area.
Lastly, you’ll make the final stretch before hitting the Montana State Line. Most notably, visitors will enjoy stopping at the Cabinet River Gorge Dam. With an impressive view of the turbines and the Clark Fork River, you can learn more about how this hydroelectric dam was built in 21 months and creates enough power to light up 200,000 homes.
Where To Eat:
Idaho Club in Sandpoint for American fare.
Pearls by The Lake in Hope for lakeside dining.
Side Trip: Take a day to hike northern Idaho’s most famous hike, the Scotchman Peak trail. This challenging hike is 8 miles round trip with a 3700 feet elevation gain. The path is a constant uphill trek, but for hikers up to the challenge, the views at the top are worth it. With a landscape lookout of Lake Pend Oreille, the Selkirk Mountains, and the Clark Fork Valley, you’ll be glad you made the trip. You might also be greeted by the herd of mountain goats that live at the top.
Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway
Route: Starts in Downtown Sandpoint at US 95 leading you to Bonners Ferry before continuing north on State Route 1 to the International Border of Canada.
Length: 48 miles one way.
The Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway takes you back through time on this historic route used by the Kootenai Tribe looking for fishing grounds and gold prospectors heading north to Canada. Historical relevance aside, the byway is a picturesque drive that winds you through some of northern Idaho’s most fertile lands.
Starting in Sandpoint, take some time to explore its outstanding downtown area. With art galleries, bakeries, breweries, clothing shops, and nearby City Beach, there’s enough to explore for an entire day. If you’re visiting in the summer, head to the bi-weekly Farmers market in Farmin Park, where live music, food trucks, local farmers, and artisans bring the community out in droves.
Afterward, you’ll head north on US 95, where you’ll come to Bonners Ferry, a historical town that once was the center of activity for river crossings and fur trading. Take a walk through the small downtown, and stop at Under The Sun to peruse through this eclectic home decor store with some of the best food and drinks in Bonners Ferry. For a deeper understanding of the area’s history, stop by the Boundary County Museum to look through displays that outline the history of the ferry crossing and the indigenous Kootenai people.
Animal lovers will love The Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary for wildlife, including elk, beavers, bears, moose, and birds. In the fall, the refuge has over 40,000 birds that migrate through the park. While there, you can check out the visitors center, walking trails, and a one-way auto tour road with pullouts and benches.
After crossing the Kootenai River, you’ll head north on State Route 1. Just a stone’s throw from the Border of Canada is the trailhead to Copper Falls in the Kootenai National Forest. This 225-foot waterfall is an easy 1.4-mile loop trail that leads you to different views of the falls.
Where To Eat:
Kootenai River Brewing Company in Bonners Ferry for pub fare.
The Bank in Sandpoint for tapas and cocktails.
Side Trip: Spend a day on the Moyie River with a guided white water rafting trip with ROW Adventures. The Moyie River is in a remote area that sees very few visitors. A true off-the-beaten-path adventure! The meet-up point is off the byway on Highway 2 in Moyie Springs, a short detour from the Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway.
Feature image credited to Live A Wilder Life.
Christina Grance and Brad Benoit are the wife/husband duo behind the adventure travel blog, Live A Wilder Life. Former full-time travelers turned part-time nomads, they live with their wild son and an ornery cat in North Idaho, where they spend every second they can dreaming up their next big trip. They specialize in outdoor travel for the everyday adventurer and love helping people to plan or discover their next trip. You can read their travel guides and tips at their travel website or follow along @liveawilderlife.
Published on May 7, 2024
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