Hiking in North Central Idaho

 

Hiking is one of the best ways to get outside. It might seem like it’s just walking, but actually there’s a little more to it. Before you go out on a hike, it’s important to be prepared.

The first thing you need to do, of course, is decide where you’re going.  You should get a map of the trail.  This is really helpful because it tells you how far you will go, and if the trail branches, it can tell you which way you should go.  Another great thing about having a map is that you can use it to know exactly where you are on the trail, just in case there’s an emergency.



There are a lot of great sights to see while you're hiking

Speaking of emergencies, you should always tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to be back.  You also want to make sure you have the right gear.  This would be appropriate hiking shoes or boots and appropriate clothing (including some extra clothes, just in case it’s colder than you expect or something happens to the clothes you’re wearing – I once slid down a muddy hillside and didn’t have any extra clothes, which kind of ruined the rest of the day).  You’ll also want to bring food and water, a first aid kit, a compass along with your map (if you’re in the woods, a GPS might not always work), a flashlight, a whistle, and a knife or some other similar tool.  There are some more suggestions, as well as reasons why these ones are important, at http://www.americanhiking.org/resources/10essentials/.



Don't forget to take pictures!

Most of the time, you’ll be fine and won’t run into any problems. Even on these hikes, though, it is important to have these things along.

You’ll also want to brush up on your hiking etiquette before you head out on the trail.  It’s pretty simple.  Basically, don’t be too loud and don’t block the trail.  If you need a rest, pick a spot where you can get off the trail so that others can get past you.  One of the most important things to me is: don’t litter.  When people are hiking, the last thing they want to see is your plastic bottles and wrappers.  Besides that, you never want to throw away something that can hold water, especially if you’re going on a long hike.  You might run out of the water you brought and have to purify some more, but that won’t help you if you don’t have anything to carry it in.  The website, http://www.americanhiking.org/resources/hiking-etiquette/, has more etiquette standards that you might want to check out.

Hiking is a fantastic pastime, and I highly recommend it.  You just need to be aware and be responsible.

Adventures on Horseback

There are many specific spots in North Central Idaho that are great to visit. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to go see the places that don’t have names. There are several ways to do this, but one of my favorites is on horseback.

Part of why I love to explore on horseback is because I love horses. Another reason is because, as you might have noticed, I love local history. Horses are an important part of local history. Appaloosas were bred by the Nez Perce in this area, which changed the lives of these people. Horses also brought the settlers here and helped them work their farms and get from one place to another.

Another great reason to explore is because riding a horse is faster than walking and horses have greater endurance than people do. This means that you can see more, go farther, and stay out longer than you would if you were hiking.

You can also ride horses just about anywhere. Of course, if you go on private property, you need to ask for permission. However, there really isn’t any need to go on private property. You can ride in most Idaho state parks and national forests. You can even ride alongside the road, although you might want to take some safety precautions, such as wearing clothes that are easily visible.

Finally, even if you don’t have a horse or have never ridden before, there are a number of ranches where you can rent horses and tack and have a guide come with you. These trips will probably be on the ranch’s property, and you’ll get to see places that you wouldn’t be able to see from the road or that the owner of the property wouldn’t let you go on foot.

For your next adventure in North Central Idaho, you just might want to consider taking a horseback ride.

Winchester Lake

North Central Idaho isn’t all mountains and rivers – we also have a few small lakes. Probably the most popular of these is Winchester Lake, which has the town of Winchester practically right on its shores.  The lake is 103 acres and is surrounded by trees.

No matter what outdoors activity you like best, you can probably do it at Winchester Lake.  Of course, there is the obvious fishing.  In addition to regular fishing, the lake is also a popular spot for ice fishing.  In fact, if the ice is good enough, they hold an ice fishing derby each year at the end of January.

Boating is also, naturally, an option here.  Only small, electric motor boats, canoes, kayaks, and other small boats that require physical work are allowed, though.  Canoes, along with paddles and life jackets, are available to rent for a reasonable cost.

Additionally, there is a fantastic campground here.  They’re open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Besides that, there are also year-round yurts that you can rent.

If water isn’t so much your thing and you’d rather stay on land, there are some beautiful hiking and biking trails around the lake.  If you don’t own a bike or just don’t want to have to haul one out to the lake, you can rent one.  In the winter, these trails are great for snowshoeing.

Whether you want to go for an overnight camping trip or a day trip, Winchester Lake is a great choice!

The Corps of Discovery in Idaho

Many of the mountains the Corps of Discovery had to cross
are taller than these.

You can’t go very long in North Central Idaho without coming across a reference to the Lewis and Clark expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery.  Lewis County is named after Captain Meriwether Lewis, as is the town of Lewiston.  Just across the Snake River from Lewiston is its sister-city, Clarkston, Washington, named after Captain William Clark.  Lewis-Clark State College is jointly named after both of them, and throughout the area, you find historical sites related to their journey.

 

The explorers traveled through the region in 1805 on their way to the Pacific Ocean, becoming the first Americans to explore the area.  They passed through in 1806 on their return trip, following approximately the same route as they did the first time.

The Corps of Discovery had to travel rivers like this

They entered Idaho through Lolo Pass.  Before that, they set up a camp that Lewis dubbed “Traveler’s Rest.”  Today, Traveler’s Rest is a Montana state park.

The journey through Idaho was not easy between the mountains, rivers with rapids, and heavy September snow falls.  Today, though, these obstacles post little trouble to travelers and are much of what makes Idaho so beautiful. One way you can enjoy them is by retracing the Corps of Discovery's journey along US Highway 12, which parallels their travels fairly well.  You can even buy interpretive CD’s to listen to as you drive and learn about what happened in the places you are passing.

As you follow this route, you’ll find a lot of brown historical site signs designating a point of interest.  Most of these spots don’t have an interpretive center or anything like that, but it is still fascinating to be there and think about what happened.  If you want to take a road trip in Idaho, I can’t recommend a better one than following the journey of the Corps of Discovery!