Experience the rush of powder as you take a snowmobiling trip along the International Selkirk Loop and the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway. This area is a perfect place to enjoy a winter getaway. Bring your snowmobile and prepare yourself to be carried away on the trails found in this area of Idaho, Washington, and Canada's British Columbia.
Ride to elevations opening to spectacular views of Lake Pend Oreille as you snowmobile through northern Idaho's backcountry. Two major groomed trail systems can be accessed from the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway and are packed with mountain scenery. You can also glimpse views of Sandpoint and Schweitzer Ski Area as the Cabinet or Coeur d'Alene Mountains surround you. The area surrounding Pend Oreille Scenic Byway offers miles and miles of wilderness to explore on your sled.
If you don't have a sled in tow but still want a snowmobiling adventure, be sure to stop at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, just a mile north from the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway. Climb from the valley floor to an elevation of over 7,000 feet on Schweitzer Mountain, which offers some of the best views in the area. At the resort, take guided tours and discover miles of groomed trails. Afterward, enjoy comfortable lodging and dining. Snow conditions can vary, so be sure to check the resort's snow conditions and trail closures before you set out in the fresh powder.
Once you've had your fill of snowmobiling fun on the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway, continue into the northernmost part of Idaho and beyond on the International Selkirk Loop. Coast along more than 100 miles of snowmobiling trails in Idaho's Bonners Ferry area. The trails are marked and, depending on the weather, groomed. Spruce Lake, Copper Ridge, Deer Creek, and Canuck are some of the favorite trails to hit north of Bonners Ferry. To the south and west of town, you can ride along Snow Creek, Ruby Creek, Ruby Pass, Roman Nose Lakes, Apache Ridge, Cooks Pass, and Dodge Peak. With so many places near Bonners Ferry to snowmobile, you'll certainly find an adventure to match the explorer in you.
Near the heart of your drive are over 400 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and endless play bowls surrounding Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake in Idaho. Businesses in the Priest Lake area are enthusiastic about snowmobiling visitors, so you may even stumble upon a "sled and bed" package that provides you with both a snowmobile rental and lodging.
If you would like to snowmobile along the International Selkirk Loop in British Columbia, the Castlegar Snowmobile Association grooms over 70 kilometers of trails. Check out the Norns, Ladybird, or Goose Creek Trails or travel to the Kootenay Lake area. If you are looking for an uncommon snowmobiling experience and like to make new tracks in new snow, make the area above the east shore of Kootenay Lake a priority for your next trip. Miles and miles of unmarked powder are characteristic of the literally hundreds of mountain trails in the area. Nestled between the Selkirk mountain range on the west and the Purcell range to the east, this area offers large ungroomed staging areas and uncrowded trails. Visit the area and discover views of snow-covered mountains and trees that will take your breath away.
As you follow the Selkirk Loop back across the border, visit Washington's popular Sno-Park areas of Bead Lake, Kings Lake, and North/South Baldy. These parks will give you access to over 132 miles of groomed roads with a variety of terrains to play on.
The U.S. Forest Service produces a snowmobile trail map for the Selkirk Mountain trails that they groom and maintain and a copy can be picked up at the Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint or Priest Lake, Idaho ranger stations. Before you set out on your trip, become familiar with the snowmobiling laws in Idaho and Washington. For Idaho, check out the Dept. of Parks & Recreation for registration, safety, winter travel condition and rider education information. For Washington, review the winter recreation information at Washington State Parks.
The Pend Oreille Scenic Byway and International Selkirk Loop provide access to some of the most beautiful snowmobiling trails found in northern Idaho, Washington, and British Columbia. Stay for just a few days or ride the powder for a week or more. Adventures await you on your snowmobiling trip along these two incredible byways.
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The International Selkirk Loop Overview