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Two people walking along the beach at Tubbs Hill at sunset and a forest of trees in the background.

The National Park Travelers worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this content.

With October in full swing, we wanted to visit a spot with peak fall foliage. We had been to Idaho once before and fell in love with the area and the natural beauty. So it was a no-brainer to return to this underrated state in search of the best fall colors! We drove all across northern Idaho and visited countless areas to find the best fall colors. Here’s everything you need to know about planning a fall foliage trip to northern Idaho.

Looking down at worn brown Chelsea boots and light ripped jeans standing on green grass scattered with red, orange, and yellow maple leaves.
Fallen maple leaves in red, orange, and gold carpet the grass on a crisp fall afternoon. Credit: The National Park Travelers.

Where to Stay

We stayed in the town of Coeur d’Alene and felt this was the perfect home base for our adventures. The Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn is the perfect budget-friendly hotel in our opinion. The town itself is a charming town filled with coffee shops, amazing restaurants, and all the local shopping you could want.

Closest Airport

The closest airport to Coeur d’Alene is Spokane International Airport (GEG) in Washington, about 40 minutes away. Spokane offers nonstop flights or one-stop access from most major cities in the USA and Canada. After landing, you’ll arrive in less than an hour to the amazing town of Coeur d’Alene.

Must Do Hikes near Coeur d’Alene

This area of Idaho is filled with more hikes than you can imagine! We could’ve spent months here and still not covered all there was to do. From forests, to lakes, to stunning rivers and everything in between, there’s truly a hike for everyone in the family in this area. Here’s a few of our must do hikes that need to be on your itinerary.

A person in a pink puffer jacket and light jeans stands on a rock at the edge of a calm lake at sunset, looking toward forested hills under a pink and blue sky.
So many fall hikes to explore in northern Idaho. Credit: The National Park Travelers.

Lone Lake Trail
Difficulty: Hard
Length: 4.6 miles
Estimated hiking time: 3 hours

This trail was one that caught our attention right away. This is the perfect rugged day hike when visiting. Lone Lake Trail is a difficult uphill hike but the views at the end of Lone Lake are well worth it. Make sure to check the weather ahead of time as the end of this hike takes you right to the tree line. You don’t want to get caught in a storm while on this hike! We noticed some incoming weather about halfway up and had to turn back.

Mineral Ridge Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Length:3 miles
Estimated hiking time: 1.5 hours

This was the first hike we did upon landing and we recommend doing this one at sunset! The views at the top of this trail provide stunning photo opportunities of the water below! The hike itself takes you through a beautiful forest and is a must do!

Tubbs Hill
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2 miles
Estimated hiking time: 1 hour

Tubbs Hill is located in the town of Coeur d’Alene and truly exceeded our expectations! We absolutely loved this hike and it was hands down our favorite that we did. We loved the different landscapes provided during this easy hike. We hiked through forests, along the edge of a lake with huge rock formations, and even found a hidden beach to relax and watch the sunset! This is a must if you’re staying in town!

North Idaho Centennial Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 30 miles

If you’re looking for a great biking trail, the North Idaho Centennial Trail is perfect for that! This trails winds along Coeur d’ Alene lake for 30 miles and gives amazing views of the crystal clear lake. We didn’t bike this, however there’s plenty of paved walkways to just take your time and go for a peaceful morning walk! Which we did our last morning before heading to the airport.

Q’emlin Park

This is a beautiful 78-acre system that includes 40 miles of trails throughout. As well as a guarded swimming beach, boat launch, BBQ pits, picnic shelters, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, concession stand, and restrooms. There are two small covered shelters (the Gazebo & Picnic Shelter), a large covered Grand Pavilion, an enclosed Trailhead Pavilion, and grassy areas available for picnic reservations.

Additional hikes to consider if you have time:

Indian Cliff Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 3 miles
Estimated hiking time: 1.5 hours

Chilco Mountain Trail
Difficulty: Hard
Length: 3.9 miles
Estimated hiking time: 3 hours

Pulaski Tunnel Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 3.5 miles
Estimated hiking time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Scenic Byways to Consider for Fall

Another great way to take in the fall colors in Northern Idaho is by driving along one of many scenic byways this state has to offer. With over 30 total, Idaho is truly a road trip paradise! We recommend adding these and taking the longer way to and from your hikes, making for the perfect roadtrip around the Northern part of the state.

Aerial view of a winding divided highway curving through a mountain valley forest of golden autumn larches and dark green evergreens.
Don’t miss the autumn larches on your fall adventure. Credit: The National Park Travelers.

Coffee Shops & Restaurants to Try in Coeur d’Alene

A smiling barista with long dark hair holds out a small glass cup of latte with rosetta foam art at The Vault counter.
Latte art and good vibes at The Vault Coffee. Credit: Visit Idaho.

Northern Idaho was one of our all time favorite areas to explore for fall colors. From beautiful lakes, to stunning forests and mountains, this is truly a gem of the United States and needs to be on everyone’s bucket list. We were lucky enough to get some amazing fall colors, however this isn’t just a fall destination. This is truly a year round adventurers dream. No matter the season be able we can’t wait to return during different seasons and see what else Idaho has to offer.

Feature image credited to Visit Idaho.

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Published on October 13, 2026