Idaho Cross Country & Backcountry Skiing
When snow covers the backcountry of Boundary County, a whole new world is opened up for anyone wishing to venture on cross-country skis or even snowshoes. You can explore hiking trails in the Canuck Basin in the Purcell Mountains or Boulder Creek areas in the Cabinet Mountains, or the magnificent Selkirk Crest. While the Forest Service doesn’t currently groom or maintain cross-country ski trails, they recommend trying roads plowed for ongoing timber sales on the weekends when there’s no commercial traffic. For current information, call the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at 208-267-5561. For groomed trails, try Schweitzer Mountain Resort 37 miles south of Bonners Ferry, where there are 12 miles of groomed cross country trails available for a nominal fee. For more information, phone 208-263-9555 or 800-831-8810. When snow closes the auto tour route at the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, the scenic 4.5-mile route is open for cross-country skiing. For more information, call the refuge at 208-267-3888.

Snowmobiling
Boundary County’s backcountry wilderness is full of wide-open play areas and miles of groomed access trails that can take you from elevations of 2,000 feet to over 7,000 feet. For the thrill of a lifetime and an unforgettable experience, venture into the mountains surrounding Bonners Ferry. Here are some of the most popular areas:

The area around Roman Nose just southwest of Bonners Ferry in the Selkirk Mountains includes the famed Roman Nose peak, standing at 7,200 feet and one of the top destinations for backcountry sledder’s. The Sundance forest fire of 1967 left a wide area open that today offer challenges for every riding ability. Access is made from Naples, 10 miles south of Bonners Ferry via the Ruby Creek and Fall Creek roads; or take the Snow Creek Road four miles southwest of Bonners Ferry.

About 13 miles northeast of Bonners Ferry, in the Canuck Basin area are the beautiful Purcell Mountains, where grand vistas of Canada and Montana can be seen from the high ridges. The best time to snowmobile on Copper Trail is from November to April; access is by the Deer Creek Road or by Copper Creek Campground near Eastport.

Another local favorite is the Smith Creek/Cow Creek area in the northern part of the county. Travel north of Bonners Ferry to Highway 1, and turn west at Copeland. Cross the Kootenai River and follow the Westside Road north to the Smith Creek Road. The Smith, Cow and Grass Creek drainages have wide open bowls and high running ridges.

For more information on snowmobiling in the area, write to the Panhandle Snowcat Club No. 45, Inc. at P.O. Box 900, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805. Or call the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at 208-267-5561, Cal Russell of Boundary Tractor Yamaha at 267-5571, or The Boondocks (Arctic Cat) at 267-3409 - Contributed by Cal Russell

North Idaho Camping
Campgrounds across the county offer an unparalleled outdoor experience and some of the most beautiful scenery around from high mountain vistas to the banks of the Moyie River. The U.S. Forest Service has five developed campgrounds in addition to lookouts for rent. You may also select from a number of commercial campgrounds.

>>Click here to learn more...

North Idaho Fishing & Hunting
Sportsmen will find promising hunting grounds and productive fishing waters in Boundary County. Hunters can take advantage of seasons for elk, deer, bear and moose and other big game as well as several species of birds. The Kootenai Wildlife Refuge, just a few miles west of Bonners Ferry, is a popular site for bird hunting. With more than 400,000 acres of National Forest lands in the county, there is plenty of public lands for hunting game, too.

Fishermen can choose from a variety of fishable waters in Boundary County from 290 miles of streams and rivers to sub-alpine, high mountain and other lakes. The range of species include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, bass, crappie, brook trout, sunfish and whitefish. Small lake fishing with boats is best at Brush, Solomon, Perkins, Smith and Dawson, Bonner and Robinson lakes. Recommended high mountain lakes include Roman Nose, Bottleneck, Snow and Cooks, Two Mouth, Myrtle, Hidden, West Fork and Caribou lakes. Creeks most suitable for fishing include Snow, Myrtle, Deep, Grass, Cow, Parker, Long Canyon, Deer, Canuck and Boulder creeks.

Fly fishing is recommended on several rivers including the Kootenai River and Moyie, where wild trout will challenge and delight the fly fishelman. Other fly fishing waters include Smith, Ball, Trout and Caribou creeks.

For specifics on fishing waters, contact local sports shops or call the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at 208-769-1414 or the department’s wildlife biologist at 208-267-3115.

Hiking
The spectacular beauty of Boundary County can often best be seen and experienced when traveling by foot. Hikers can choose easy walks on a well-established trail or multiple-day treks in the wilderness. In fact, there are more than 300 miles of trails in the Panhandle National Forest land contained in Boundary County. You can explore the Canuck Basin in the Purcell Mountains or Boulder Creek areas in the Cabinet Mountains, or the magnificent Selkirk Crest. For more information, call the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at 208-267-5561.

Mountain Biking
Old Forest Service roads make perfect mountain bike trails when logging is no longer taking place. The Forest Service suggests seeking closed roads to avoid motorized traffic. Mountain bikers are still discovering new trails to cruise that offer a wide variety of backcountry stops. A few areas suggested for exploring are the Snow Creek/Myrtle Creek Loop, Boulder Creek, Clifty Mountain or Katka. Exceptions are any restricted hiking trails developed for foot traffic only or handicapped accessible. For current information, call the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at 208-267-5561.

Swimming
In addition to nearby freshwater areas for swimming; lakes & streams, Bonners Ferry has a swimming pool open to the public during the summer.

Whitewater Rafting & Boating
• Moyie River
For recreational rafting, try the Upper Moyie accessed south of Eastport on Highway 95 at County Road No. 211. The upper reaches of the Moyie have gentle waters, and there are five bridges where the river can be accessed for put in and take out. A good place for recreational rafters to land is at Meadow Creek Campground, open for day use to picnickers and fishermen. Below Meadow Creek Campground and extending south to the Kootenai River, there’s plenty of whitewater action. The lower Moyie River is not suggested for novices. The adventurous kayaker or rafter will find the Lower Moyie to be a thrilling experience. For a guided experience, try local outfitting and guide services available in the spring.

• Kootenai River
The Kootenai is suited to recreational rafting from the Yaak River Campground on Highway 2 in Montana to below the highway bridge in Bonners Ferry. View wildlife, go fishing and enjoy the mountain scenery on this stretch of river. You can also take a power boat on the Kootenai to the Canadian border. If you want to proceed to Kootenay Lake in British Columbia, you must check into customs at the border. Access the Kootenai by the boat ramp three miles west of Bonners Ferry.