Walking & Hiking Trails
Some days call for a flat lakefront walk; other days you want switchbacks, timber, and a ridge with room to look around. Across North Idaho, you’ll find trails that cover both ends of that spectrum—family‑friendly paths, shoreline routes, and mountain hikes where the views feel like a reward. The ones gathered here are a good place to start.
Walking & Hiking Trails
Paths, peaks, and places to stretch your legs.
North Idaho is packed with scenic walking and hiking trails, from easy downtown lakefront paths to forested climbs with wide-open views. Whether you want a family-friendly stroll, a shoreline walk, or a more challenging mountain hike, these are some of the best trails to add to your North Idaho itinerary.
Best Walking Trails
Mudgy Moose Trail – Coeur d’Alene
One of the most family‑friendly walks in Coeur d’Alene, the Mudgy Moose Trail follows the lakefront and downtown core for about 2 1/4 miles. Inspired by the local children’s book Mudgy & Millie, the route features five life‑size bronze Mudgy Moose statues and is free to explore.
Note: The story of Mudgy and Millie is adorable. If you’ve got little ones, be sure to pick up a copy when you see it—or stop by one of the local libraries and check it out.
Official link: mudgyandmillie
North Idaho Centennial Trail
The North Idaho Centennial Trail is a paved, multi‑use route extending roughly 23 to 24 miles from the Idaho/Washington state line to Higgins Point east of Coeur d’Alene. It follows the Spokane River through Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene before tracing the shoreline of Lake Coeur d’Alene, making it one of the area’s easiest ways to mix walking, jogging, and everyday sightseeing.
Official link: North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation
Tubbs Hill – Coeur d’Alene
Tubbs Hill is a 165-acre natural area on a peninsula beside downtown Coeur d’Alene, with a main loop of about 2 miles and several side trails to coves and viewpoints. Its close-to-town setting, forested paths, and lake access make it one of the most popular short walks in North Idaho.
Official link: Tubbs Hill | City of Coeur d’Alene
English Point Trails – Hayden Lake
On the west side of Hayden Lake, the English Point trail system offers a mix of easy forest loops and slightly longer routes, with boardwalks and lake peeks along the way. It’s a good fit for walkers who want a quieter, wooded outing without driving too far from town.
Farragut State Park Nature Trails
Farragut State Park offers several easy trails that work well for families, including the 1.2-mile Squirrel Cache Nature Trail and shoreline paths near Lake Pend Oreille. These routes are ideal for casual walkers, birdwatchers, and visitors looking for a relaxed outdoor stop near Athol.
Official link: Farragut State Park
Q’emiln Park – Post Falls
Q’emiln Park offers short scenic walks above and along the Spokane River gorge, with loop options beginning right from the park. The trail system connects with the larger Post Falls Community Forest network and gives visitors an easy way to combine a park stop with a longer hike.
Official link: Q’emiln Park | City of Post Falls
Post Falls Community Forest Trails
The Post Falls Community Forest contains a network of hiking and multi-use trails across a naturally forested area with about 2 miles of Spokane River frontage. Multiple loop options begin from the Riverview trailhead, and the area connects with Q’emiln Park for longer out-and-back or loop hikes.
Official link: Post Falls Parks & Trails
Best Hiking Trails
Mineral Ridge National Recreation Trail
Above Beauty Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene, Mineral Ridge is a scenic 3.3‑mile loop with about 700 feet of elevation gain. The trail includes interpretive signs and rewards hikers with big views over the lake and surrounding mountains.
Official link: Mineral Ridge National Recreation Trail
Pulaski Tunnel Trail – Wallace
This 4‑mile round‑trip hike near Wallace tells one of North Idaho’s most dramatic historic stories, leading to the mine tunnel where Ranger Ed Pulaski saved his firefighting crew during the Great Fire of 1910. It’s a standout choice if you like your walks with both scenery and history.
Official link: Pulaski Tunnel Trail | Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Priest Lake Lakeshore Trail #294
The Lakeshore Trail is one of the Priest Lake area’s best-known hikes, paralleling the lake through forest and brush while crossing five streams along the way. It is considered an easy hike and offers frequent lake views, quiet campsites, and a more peaceful backcountry feel than the busier Coeur d’Alene-area trails.
Official link: Lakeshore Trail #294 | Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Farragut State Park High Point Area
Beyond its easy nature walks, Farragut has longer hiking options with broader views of Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding mountains. The park’s larger trail system makes it a good choice if you want the option of a short walk or a more challenging outing in the same place.
Official link: Farragut State Park
Upper Priest Lake Navigation Trail
The Navigation Trail near Priest Lake is a longer forest hike that follows the shoreline corridor between Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake. It is known for its old-growth forest setting and remote feel, while still being one of the area’s more accessible backcountry day hikes.
Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail – Sandpoint
Closer to Sandpoint, the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail offers an easy walk with water views and quick access from town. It’s a good fit for days when you want to get outside without committing to a longer mountain trail.
Scotchman Peaks Trail
Scotchman Peaks is one of North Idaho’s classic summit hikes and a favorite among experienced hikers looking for a bigger climb. The trail is known for steep grade, sweeping views, and frequent mountain goat sightings in season.
Shadow Falls Trail #513
Shadow Falls is a shorter forest hike in the Coeur d’Alene River area, leading to a scenic waterfall and offering a strong payoff for a relatively short outing. It’s one of several worthwhile Idaho Panhandle National Forest hikes in the North Idaho backcountry.
Outdoor Adventures
Walking & Hiking Trails
Some days call for a flat lakefront walk; other days you want switchbacks, timber, and a ridge with room to look around. Across North Idaho, you’ll find trails that cover both ends of that spectrum—family‑friendly paths, shoreline routes, and mountain hikes where the views feel like a reward. The ones gathered here are a good place to start.
Swimming & Beaches
North Idaho offers plenty of ways to get in the water—from sandy in‑town beaches and park coves to clear mountain lakes with easy day‑use access. On a hot day, that can mean a quick swim close to downtown, an easy family beach with room to spread out, or a quieter stretch of shoreline tucked into the trees. The spots here are some of the better places to cool off in the Idaho Panhandle.
Flat-Water Paddling
Flatwater around North Idaho looks a little different depending on the day and where you decide to put in. It can mean a quiet lake close to town, a winding channel, a sheltered cove, or one of those backwaters full of birds and slow corners. The spots gathered here lean toward calmer water and easy access, with enough variety to keep both locals and visitors interested.
River Floats
Warm days, slow current, and a little bit of adventure without the rapids. Sometimes what you want is a relaxing stretch of water, a good float setup, and enough time to let the day unfold on its own. Around North Idaho, that can mean lazy summer afternoons or longer river runs that still feel relaxed but ask just enough of you to keep things interesting.
Mountain Bike Trails
Mountain biking in this part of Idaho covers a lot of ground—easy forest loops you can lap after work, longer cross‑country miles, and bike parks with lift‑served downhill terrain. Around Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Sandpoint, Kellogg, and Athol, trail systems make it easy to find rides that work for new riders, seasoned locals, and everyone in between.
Rock Climbing
Solid granite and limestone, short walks to sport crags, longer multipitch days, and indoor gyms that run all year make this corner of the map a genuinely good place to climb. In North Idaho, that can mean anything from the Spokane River gorge in Post Falls to the granite towers above Priest Lake, with routes that work for different experience levels and different ways of getting outside.
Whitewater Rivers
Whitewater rafting in North Idaho has a way of surprising you. These rivers blend cold, clear water, forested canyons, and steady wave trains—perfect for those who want more than a mellow float without diving into extreme whitewater. Whether you’re new to rafting or have a few trips behind you, this is an inviting place to see what this corner of the Inland Northwest can offer.
Hooked on North Idaho
North Idaho is a paradise for anglers who love big fish and big views. From glassy lakes tucked into the Selkirks to broad, blue reservoirs framed by forested hills, this corner of the state serves up record catches, quiet coves, and year-round access to public waters—all within easy reach of rugged peaks and small-town charm.