Your Reason to Visit Northern Idaho: Why Outdoor Lovers Can’t Get Enough
The last two weeks, I had seen a lot of back roads, perfectly manicured pine forests, wetlands, rivers, and small towns. I was, after all, in the Northern Idaho panhandle, a somewhat-remote and less-traveled part of the U.S. This is a place where you will most likely find more moose than fine dining restaurants. I was just coming off a few days in the Silver Valley and heading south towards a small town called St. Maries. Here, I planned to fish and explore the mountain roads in a 4×4—a common reason to visit Northern Idaho, I had my heart set on a good time in the wilderness.
Along the way, I stopped to take in the scenery along the trail of the Coeur D’alenes, one of North Idaho’s most picturesque bike routes. I had just biked it a few days prior and learned that it spans 73 miles across the panhandle. St. Maries may not be on the bike route, but there are a lot of reasons to visit this small and charming town—especially if you like to fish, swim, or explore miles of dirt roads on a variety of off road vehicles. Let’s dig into things to do and why should visit Northern Idaho.
If you’ve been following my blog or YouTube channel, you know that I love Northern Idaho—and I’m sharing another reason I know you will, too! This post may include affiliate links that generate a small commission for me if you click and make a purchase. Thank you for your support of my blog!
Why Visit Northern Idaho?
St. Maries is my favorite part of Northern Idaho, so I’m going to focus on it in this guide. St. Maries is located on the banks of the St. Joe River, which is the highest navigable river in the entire world. The river itself is one of the best waterways in Idaho for whitewater rafting, camping, and hiking, and as it reaches St. Maries near the confluence of Lake Coeur D’alene, it widens and slows to a welcoming and meandering width that’s perfect for fishing, swimming, and boating. Surrounding the town, there are thousands of acres of national forest and private land that’s open for sportsmen to explore.
Here are a few things to do and reasons to love this small town.
Things to Do in St. Maries, Idaho
Go Fishing
Fishing is one of the best things to do in the small town of St. Maries. With easy access to the St. Joe River and Lake Coeur D’alene, anglers can fly fish, troll, or deep lake fish for a number of species. There are also numerous campgrounds along the river which are great for anglers and hikers alike.
My visit to St. Maries started with a day out on the lake with the owner of the Blue Goose (the local sportsmens store). We launched from town and headed downstream into Lake Coeur D’alene. The boat launch is open to the public and, depending on what your water adventure is, you can head downstream to the lake or upstream to areas with more whitewater.
We hoped to catch one of the many species in lake that include chinook salmon, large and smallmouth bass, brown bullhead, and trout. Racing down the river, we soon passed under the Chatcolet Bridge and on to Lake Coeur D’alene, which I rode on my bike just days before. The bridge was once an old swing railroad bridge and has been converted into a bike path. Soon enough, we dropped lines in the water and studied the fish finder as we moved around to some of Craig’s favorite fishing locations on the lake.
If there is one thing any sort of fishing or hunting teaches you, it’s patience. Spot after spot, we caught nothing more than a 4″ smallmouth bass—and several sticks and logs. But I had my eyes set on catching a Chinook salmon. Salmon, at one point, were almost extinct in the lake and brought back from the brink. It’s a story of hope for much of the Northwest, dealing with similar population declines in fisheries. Today was a win for the fish, not the humans, though! We left the lake with just one small bass, but that certainly didn’t put a damper on my experience.
Fishing licenses are offered to both in and out of state residents with just an ID. In St. Maries, you can pick up a fishing license at The Blue Goose Sporting Goods. You will also find a large variety of hunting, fishing, and outdoor gear.
Boat Registrations & Inspections
If you’re coming from out of state, it is important to know that registrations from other states are valid in Idaho for 60 consecutive days. Out-of-state boaters are required to purchase an invasive species sticker before launching in Idaho waters. It’s $30 for motorized boats registered outside of Idaho and $7 for a non-motorized boat.
Any boats launching into Idaho waters will need to stop at one of the boat inspection stations before launching into a different body of water. These are conveniantly located along most roadways and interstates in and around lakes and rivers.
Take to the Mountains on a Side by Side
Another adventure you will love in St. Maries is the opportunity to explore the more than 1,300 miles of public and private forest roads that are open to the public. If you don’t have a Jeep or a dirt bike, you can rent a Polaris side by side—a 2- or 4-seat 4WD off-road vehicle—at the Northwest Outdoor Rental Company in St. Maries.
This is exactly what I did on my second day here. The vehicles come with integrated on screen mapping systems that have preloaded routes for a variety of half-day, full-day, or multi-day adventures. Many people will grab their camping, fishing or hunting gear and head into the mountains for a few days, which is exactly what I would have done with more time!
With just a half-day for exploring, I chose to go to the small town of Avery. Here, you can have lunch, grab an ice cream, or bring your own picnic to enjoy while checking out the old Milwaukee rail car and small town museum. Avery is located up one of the mountain passes. To get there, we took a number of dirt mountain roads through the forest. It was full of spectacular scenery and almost no people. If you have a whole day, you could also drive out to the fire lookout or out to Dismal Lake for a day trip or a camp out.
Check out what you can do in St. Maries with my video below!
Visit Northern Idaho and Enjoy the Spectacular Scenery
Visit Northern Idaho—this place is truly an outdoor lovers playground. With thousands of acres of national forest, hundreds of lakes, and miles and miles of river, waterfalls, and wildlife, St. Maries is just one of several small towns you will want to experience while exploring the wilds of Idaho. If you can’t wait to visit Northern Idaho, or if you’re looking for more suggestions on Idaho, don’t forget to take a look at some of the other places to visit right here.
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