Cover photo courtesy of Nicole Aguado

Their first trip together was a life-changing experience.

Nicole and Lydia had never met before they climbed into Lydia’s old van with her daughter Naomi and headed east, deep into the Montana forest, chasing what would quickly become a truly epic and unforgettable adventure. There was no careful buildup or cautious first meeting. Just two women who admired each other’s hiking posts online, trusting a shared love for the outdoors enough to say yes and see what happened on the trail.

They met through the Spokane/North Idaho Hikers Facebook group, the community Nicole started as a place for herself and others to catalog hikes, collaborate with other outdoor lovers, and swap trail ideas. What began as a small local group quietly grew into a network of more than forty thousand members across the Northwest. Nicole and Lydia noticed each other there, drawn to each other’s adventure posts. Two seemingly very different women who admired one another’s solo adventures from afar until admiration turned into conversation.

When Lydia mentioned an upcoming trip and invited Nicole along, Nicole did not hesitate.

That trip brought many firsts.

It was not only Nicole’s first adventure with Lydia. It was her first night roughing it in a Forest Service cabin. The cabin Lydia chose was perched on the banks of Lake Como. The cabin was sparsely decorated and oversized, its big, cold rooms filled with bunk beds and empty space, lit only by oil lanterns that had to be ignited by hand. There was no electricity, no running water, no familiar comforts to lean on. Water had to be hauled from the lake and boiled. Meals were cooked on the hot coals of the wood fireplace. As their first evening together settled in, the cabin creaked from the wind whipping across the cool, early May water of Lake Como. With no modern distractions, conversation was plentiful. What could have felt awkward instead felt natural, two very different people finding common ground over a shared love for adventuring in the great outdoors.

The next morning delivered another first. Midway through a hike around the lake, the weather turned without warning. The light dimmed. Wind rushed hard through the trees. Thunder rolled in fast and close, followed by sheets of rain that soaked everything within minutes, including Nicole and Lydia. With no clear place to hide, they pressed into the forest together and waited it out, cold, uncomfortable, and alert. Fear has a way of stripping things down to what matters. In those minutes under the trees, small talk disappeared, and a deep trust was quickly born.

When the storm finally passed, they finished the hike changed, not by the hike itself, but by what they had endured side by side.

That night, back at the cabin, they warmed themselves by the wood fire. Smoke clung to their clothes. Boots steamed as they dried near the heat. Exhaustion softened everything. By then, the weekend had already done its quiet work. The firsts had piled up, and somewhere inside them, a lasting friendship had taken hold.

What began as a leap of faith with a stranger became the first of many adventures together.

It also became a living example of what Nicole had unknowingly built.

Nicole did not grow up outdoorsy. The mountains were something she admired from a distance, not something she felt called into. That changed later in life, after a friend introduced her to fishing, camping, and the quiet clarity that comes from spending time outside. Hiking followed, first as an outlet, then as a necessity. When life felt heavy, the trail made it lighter. When things fell apart, movement helped put them back together.

In 2018, in the aftermath of a breakup and searching for something that felt grounding, Nicole started a Facebook group. It was meant to be simple. A place for a few friends to share hikes around Spokane and North Idaho. A few friends joined at first. They posted photos. They traded trail names. They encouraged one another to get outside.

Then the group grew.

Slowly at first, then rapidly.

Today, Spokane/North Idaho Hikers includes more than forty thousand members. It has become the largest online hiking community in the region, a living, breathing network of people who ask questions, share knowledge, plan trips, and sometimes find the courage to try something they never thought they would. Nicole never planned to be a community leader. She became one because the need and the desire for connection in the outdoor community were undeniable.

The scale of the group became impossible to ignore during what many members still refer to simply as “the Jeff situation.” A local story involving a man named Jeff inviting ladies to join him for a hike unexpectedly went viral, and almost overnight, Spokane/North Idaho Hikers found itself at the center of the internet’s attention. Membership requests surged into the hundreds per day. People from well outside the region flooded in, many with no interest in hiking at all, but eager to follow the story as it spread across social media and local news.

For Nicole, it was a crash course in just how visible the group had become. Moderation turned into triage. She worked to protect the integrity of the community, filtering out noise while trying to keep the group focused on its original purpose. At the height of the attention, it was clear that Spokane/North Idaho Hikers was no longer just a casual online gathering. It had become a public-facing platform with real reach and real responsibility.

Through it all, Nicole stayed focused on why the group existed.

Connection.

People message her often to say the group helped them hike for the first time. Others say it pulled them out of isolation or gave them confidence to explore alone. Some meet friends. Some meet partners. A few, like Nicole and Lydia, meet people who change their lives entirely.

Nicole often hikes alone. She likes the quiet, the space to think, the way the forest strips life down to its essentials. She plans carefully, checks trail conditions, pays attention to the weather, and trusts her instincts. The wilderness does not scare her. It demands respect, and she gives it fully.

Photography has become part of her process, too. She shoots with her phone, capturing alpine lakes, mountain goats, and ridgelines wrapped in clouds. She does not chase perfection. She chases moments. Her photos are not about proving where she has been. They are about inviting others to imagine themselves there.

Her passion for adventure has taken her far beyond the Inland Northwest. Nicole recently embarked on a solo trip to New Zealand, a trip that confirmed something she already suspected: that she is capable of more than she once believed. She has jumped out of planes, backpacked into hot springs, and adventured across the world, and continues to say yes to experiences that stretch her comfort zone.

Through it all, Lydia remains one of her closest adventure partners. They travel easily together, balancing each other’s differences. They plan trips, improvise when plans fall apart, and laugh at the absurdity that sometimes comes with chasing epic experiences. Their friendship began with trust, was cemented by discomfort, and continues because it just works.

Nicole’s life is now shaped by the outdoors and the people she meets because of it. She dreams of future trips to Iceland, Patagonia, the Swiss Alps, and deeper into the places where cell service fades, and the noise disappears.

Looking back, it is easy to trace the line.

A Facebook group.
A message.
A van headed east.
A cabin.
A storm.
A life-long friendship.

Somewhere between carrying water from a lake and waiting out thunder under the trees, Nicole learned what she had been building all along. Not a hiking group. Not following. A doorway.

People join Spokane/North Idaho Hikers for all kinds of reasons. Some are looking for trail recommendations or current conditions. Others want to learn more about the outdoors, build confidence, or find people to hike with. Many simply want to feel less alone in their curiosity about the natural spaces around them. What they find, often unexpectedly, is a vibrant community, one built on shared experience, mutual respect, and the simple willingness to show up for one another, on the trail and beyond.

Nicole knows that feeling well. Over the past decade, she has evolved from a city girl to a true backwoods adventurer.

——

If you’re looking for some new adventure ideas or some new outdoor-loving friends, join the Spokane/North Idaho Hikers community on Facebook and see where it leads you!

The post How Spokane/North Idaho Hikers Became a Gateway to Adventure and Community appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Chris Maccini 

Cover photo courtesy of Diane Delanoy

It was 29 years ago that Galen Chamberlain first picked up a copy of Rich Landers’ classic guidebook, “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest.” At age 60, he’d just retired from a career in construction and was enrolled in a backpack school course through the Spokane Mountaineers. At the time, Chamberlain was far from an avid hiker.  

“I did a lot of skiing and cross-country skiing, but I never walked any more than a hundred yards in my life if I could help it until their backpack school,” he says. “I remember when I got back to the trailhead after three days, I told one of the instructors, ‘I ain’t never gonna hike again.” 

But while his feet and shoulders may have ached after that first hike, there was something that drew him back to the trail. Soon, he was hooked, and he set himself a goal to hike 500 miles per year. Chamberlain has kept track of every mile of every hike for nearly three decades, a total of more than 14,500 miles. 

Over the years, Landers’ “100 Hikes” became a constant companion. Each time Chamberlain completed one of the hikes in the book, he checked it off, often making notes on the weather, trail conditions and his hiking companions. When he returned to a hike again, he added another mark. Some hikes, like nearby Mount Kit Carson in Mount Spokane State Park (Hike #21), he has done a whopping 96 times. But it wasn’t until many years of hiking that the idea occurred to Chamberlain to try to complete all 100 hikes.  “I just started knocking ’em off,” he says. “And then after I got 50 or 60, I thought, hey, why not shoot for a hundred?” 

The trails in “100 Hikes” are spread throughout Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and British Columbia. In addition to being an active outdoorsman, Chamberlain was also a pilot. He owned a small airplane, which allowed him to fly in and camp at remote airstrips, giving him easier access to some of the more remote hiking areas such as the Cabinet Mountains in Montana and the Eagle Cap Wilderness in Oregon. One by one, he checked them off in his increasingly tattered copy of the guidebook. 

The 100th Hike Attempt to Mortar and Pestle Lakes 

In the summer of 2018, Chamberlain and a group of friends set out to complete the final hike in the book, number 100: Mortar-Pestle Lakes. The hike is located in British Columbia’s St. Mary’s Provincial Park, a remote wilderness area northwest of Cranbrook, BC. As Landers’ description in “100 Hikes” puts it, “This little niche of wilderness is so far off the beaten track, it doesn’t even have an official trail in its 22,650 acres.” Landers describes a steep, sparsely marked “trail” over granite boulders and alpine larch, noting that the area was previously home to a logging operation and “there’s a good chance you will have to seek out the trail to some degree.” He rates the hike “moderately difficult” in the book.   

When Chamberlain and his friends arrived in August of 2018, they knew there was wildfire activity in the area to contend with. The day before their scheduled hike, Chamberlain called BC Parks and asked about the trail’s status. They advised him to check the website in the morning to be sure the area was not restricted. Early the next day, everything looked clear. They packed up and started the drive to the trailhead under smoky skies. They’d driven less than 10 miles outside of Cranbrook when they were met with a blockade. Apparently, a new wildfire had started overnight, and no one had taken the time to update the website. There would be no hiking that day. The group turned around and headed home.  

But Chamberlain was determined to complete the hike one day. This was the final hike he needed to complete his 100-hikes goal, after all. He decided his next attempt would be earlier in the summer to avoid wildfire danger. In 2019, he once again gathered a group of fellow hiking enthusiasts and made the drive up to Cranbrook, BC. As all good outdoorsmen should, they checked the weather forecast beforehand and noted that there was a 20% chance of light rain on the day they planned to hike. Everything seemed to be lining up for a successful attempt. This time, they made the drive into the old logging roads which accessed the trailhead and spent the night at an old horse camp in the area. 

The next morning, it was indeed raining, and the road was in rough shape. But Chamberlain and his friends figured they must be close to the trailhead, according to the directions and rudimentary map in “100 Hikes.” They set out hiking to find the trailhead and complete the hike. After six hours of hiking in the pouring rain, unable to even find the beginning of the trail they were after, they decided to give up. Afterward, Chamberlain wrote across the top of the Mortar-Pestle Lakes page in his “100 Hikes” book, “FORGET IT.” He figured the final hike would elude him forever. 

One More Try 

A few years passed. Chamberlain continued to hike all over the Inland Northwest and beyond, often with friends he met through the Spokane Mountaineers, logging his 500 miles every year. Among his frequent hiking companions were Diane Delanoy and her husband, Ken, active members of the Spokane Mountaineers. Ken had been among the group of hikers turned away in 2018 due to wildfire. So they knew about Chamberlain’s goal of completing all 100 hikes, and they knew just how challenging the final hike had proved to be. When Chamberlain approached Diane and Ken about making one more attempt at the Mortar and Pestle lakes hike in 2025, Diane sprung into action. 

“I went onto Facebook and found a British Columbia hiking group and just kind of searched through their posts trying to find any mention of Mortar Lake,” Diane says. “I came up with one. This gal had been up there. So I contacted her, and she was able to send me the GPS tracking thing that got them to the trailhead.” 

With the local knowledge and GPS data loaded onto Diane’s phone, Chamberlain set out this past September with the Delanoys and another friend, Denise Beardslee, for one final attempt. Following the GPS up the old logging roads, the group was able to successfully locate the trailhead. To their surprise, it was well-marked with signage and a logbook. They camped at the trailhead that night, excited to start up the trail the next morning. When they did, they realized Landers’ trail rating of “moderately difficult” felt like an understatement.  

“Honestly, I thought it was the hardest hike I’ve ever done,” Diane says. “Even though it was less than five miles up and back, it is straight up the whole time. You just climb up, up, up, up, up till you get to a boulder field. And then you’ve got to get through that to the ridge, where we could see the two lakes.” 

The group had planned to camp in the wilderness area another night, but after the grueling hike, they drove out and spent the night at a campground. There, they celebrated Chamberlain’s accomplishment as he checked off the final hike in his weathered copy of “100 Hikes.” As he did, Chamberlain made one edit to Landers’ description: he crossed out the word “moderately” so that the trail rating read, “difficult.”

 

Looking Ahead and Inspiring Others 

Now that Chamberlain has completed all 100 hikes, he doesn’t have another major goal he’s looking to reach. “I’m still doing [the hikes],” he says. “I wouldn’t do them all [again], but there are a few I’d like to do again.” 

Some trails he would like to return to include the Tucannon River-Diamond Peak Loop in the Blue Mountains (#82), and Lookout Mountain east of Priest Lake (#37). Apart from that, he plans to keep hitting that 500-mile-per-year goal for as long as he can. 

And, of course, Chamberlain has a big milestone coming up next summer when he turns 90 years old. He doesn’t have a grand expedition planned, but says he might rent a local grange hall to celebrate with friends or maybe take a kayak trip through Priest Lake’s Thoroughfare.  

For Chamberlain’s friends and hiking companions like Diane Delanoy, Chamberlain is a constant inspiration to continue getting outdoors and having adventures no matter your age. “He really does motivate me,” Delanoy says. “If there’s a backpack or a hike and my husband will say, do you want to go? It’s like, nah, I don’t know. But if Chamberlain’s going, I want to go. Because if he can do it, I can do it. Plus, he always brings the fun.” 

As for Chamberlain’s advice to younger hikers? “Just keep going,” he says. “Do your yoga, do your daily exercises, walk every day. You never quit. You just can’t quit.” 

Chris Maccini is a writer and audio producer based in Spokane. This winter, you can find him on the ski slopes and cross-country trails of Mount Spokane. 

The post At 89, Spokane’s Galen Chamberlain Completes the “100 Hikes” Challenge appeared first on Out There Venture.

Uncrowded and Untamed, Republic-Area Snowmobile Trails Showcase Washington’s Wild Side

Republic sits in that sweet spot for Inland Northwest snowmobiling: far enough from the I-90 corridor crowds to feel like you’ve escaped, but close enough to make a long weekend realistic out of Spokane and North Idaho. In winter, the mountains in and surrounding Ferry County in the Colville National Forest offer different riding options in every direction from town, including over 200 miles of groomed routes, rolling terrain and long tours that are well suited to families and mixed-skill groups—especially riders who want scenic mileage without committing to big, avalanche-prone alpine slopes.

The small Western town of Republic makes an excellent basecamp for exploring different trail systems too. Instead of driving to a single trailhead and being locked into one loop system, you can stage from town and check out several different Sno-Parks and trail networks close to town, tailoring each day to the group, the snow conditions and the vibe you’re after. Most of the trails are on land managed by the U.S. Forest Service with Sno-Park facilities and grooming provided by Washington State Parks.

Pick Your Staging Area: Five Go-To Snowmobile Options Near Republic

Before heading out on the snowy trails, make sure you have a Washington State Sno-Park Permit, which is required at all state Sno-Parks and helps make the facilities and grooming possible (find permit info here). Once you have your permit, make sure to have all of the supplies you’ll need to be self-sufficient for a day out in the winter backcountry.

If you want the simplest “show up, unload, and ride” option closest to town, start with Hall Creek Sno-Park, which provides access to 38 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, including loop options. The Sno-Park, just off of Highway 20 east of Republic, includes a vault toilet and parking suitable for trucks and trailers.

For longer day rides and a bigger network feel, look to Empire Lake Sno-Park north of town, with 57 miles of groomed trails with several loop options and additional ungroomed routes. It’s a go-to choice for groups who want to lay down some miles exploring this mid-elevation terrain with several lakes and frequent wildlife sightings.

Farther east off of Highway 20 over Sherman Pass, the Albian Hill Sno-Park offers a 32-mile groomed route that traverses the Kettle Range mountains all the way to Boulder Creek Road and the Bulldog staging area. This higher-elevation, one trail route typically holds snow throughout the season and makes an excellent out-and-back adventure of any length, especially if you’re trying to keep a group together.

And if your crew is willing to roam a little farther west of Republic, another classic network is the Bonaparte Sno-Park. Featuring 52 miles of groomed trails, it’s the kind of place that can turn into a full day of exploring spurs, viewpoints, and out-and-back routes without feeling like you’re stuck doing the same lap over and over.

One more option worth knowing about is Scatter Creek Staging Area, a smaller, more flexible access point south of town that’s open seasonally as snow cover allows. It’s also notable because no Sno-Park permit is required there (parking availability depends on conditions, and grooming is not guaranteed at staging areas). This is a lower elevation area that also has winter wildlife closure areas that are not open to snowmobiles, so ride responsibly.

Download maps for each of these trails systems at the Republic Regional Visitors and Convention Bureau website here. The site also includes links to the trail grooming schedule for each area so that you can time your trip around ideal conditions.

Staying Safe and Having Fun Snowmobiling around Republic

Snowmobiling always comes with real risk, and conditions can change fast. But the Republic area tends to shine for riders who want to keep things fun and limit exposure to avalanche terrain and challenging riding. Many of these routes follow forest-road style corridors and lower-angle terrain that can feel more approachable than steep, high-consequence mountain zones. It’s a good fit for family groups, newer riders building confidence, and anyone who’d rather make the day about views, fresh air, and steady cruising than about hunting down powder in aggressive terrain.

Make Republic Your Snowmobiling Basecamp

The best way to do this trip is to give yourself at least two ride days so you can sample different systems. Make it a choose-your-own-adventure: one day ride a shorter network to warm up and dial in the group, then spend another day on a longer system where you can stretch the mileage. Because the Sno-Parks are spread around the region, you can also chase the best snow. If one side of the range got wind-scoured or warmed up at lower elevations, pivot to another staging area instead of forcing it.

Back in town, Republic’s small, friendly main-street energy makes the off-sled hours feel like part of the experience, not just downtime. It’s easy to fuel up, grab a hot drink, swap route ideas with locals, and plan the next day—without the resort-town crowds or traffic. That’s what Republic delivers best—wild Northeast Washington scenery, uncrowded trail time, and an authentic winter sledding experience you can’t fake.

Republic has several lodging options for winter visitors looking to set up basecamp for a night or more in the winter wonderland of this historic town. Learn more about winter adventures in Republic and find lodging and other amenity info at the Republic Regional Visitors and Convention Bureau’s website.

(Sponsored by the Republic Regional Visitors and Convention Bureau)

The post Snowmobile Trails and Sno-Parks around Republic, WA appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Brad Naccarato 

The first snowflakes of the 2025-26 season have already started accumulating at area resorts. Stoke is high, and the general feeling is that this could be another stellar year in the mountains. If you’ve made the decision to finally upgrade your ride or style, local shops stock some of the hottest new gear of the season. These are a few of their season favorites. 

Solnix (Spokane on North Division)     

Solnix (previously Shred Sports) continues to grow both its hard- and soft-good lines offered throughout the store. With a full-service ski and snowboard tech center already in place, they’ve got big plans for next year to add a rental fleet.   

If you’re looking to upgrade your skis this year, take a look at the Armada ARV. “Armada is really killing it this year with their all-mountain ski lineup,” said Solnix sales associate Dax Murrell. “It’s a versatile one-ski quiver with tip and tail rocker that moves easily from groomers to powder.” The ARV is offered in 95, 100, or 106 millimeters at the waist. The men’s ski retails for $699 and the women’s for $599. 

On the snowboard side of things, the patented new FASE step-in binding system is taking the snowboard world by storm. It’s now being utilized by several binding manufacturers for the 25/26 season. One of those leading the pack is the ROME Katana. “It’s like a standard highback, two-buckle binding, but with the added advantage of being able to slide in or out of it super quick,” said Murrell. The Katana uses a hinging high back mechanism that enables the user to step-in without completely disengaging the buckles. “There are no drawbacks like with the old step-in systems of snowboarding’s early days. You still have the great edge control of a standard high-back binding, but now the ease of use that comes with a step-in system.” The Katana retails for $429. 

Need some new goggles? Oakley is charging hard this year with its 50th anniversary collection. “Oakley has what it calls the ‘perfect lens’ with zero distortion and an enhanced field of view,” said Murrell. “They also use Switchlock tech, so you can swap out lenses super quick based on conditions.” The Oakley Line Miner Pro goggles retail for $317 and come with two sets of lenses.  

Alpine Haus (North Spokane and South Hill) 

Alpine Haus is celebrating the one-year anniversary of their new Northside location, in addition to the 10^th anniversary of the current owners taking over and revitalizing the long-standing Alpine Haus shop on the South Hill. Alpine Haus continues its tradition of investing in future skiers and riders with the ever-popular bargain season-lease program for $159 for kids or $259 for adults.  

Looking for a different type of snowboard boot? The Union Reset Pro might scratch the itch. “The Reset is really a revolutionary new boot in that it’s built to last 100 plus days, much like a ski boot, with a durable outer shell and BOA tech for a locked-in fit,” said store manager Chad Ohman. “They’re a higher price-point boot, but they’re handcrafted in Italy and are fully heat moldable,” he added. The Reset Pro comes in at $649.  

On the ski boot front, Armada is making waves with its new AR One freeride boots. “It’s similar to the old Full-Tilt style boots, but it utilizes a ‘slingshot’ buckle across the ankle that operates through a cable pulley at a 45-degree angle, locking you tight into the heel pocket,” said Ohman. “With Salomon and Atomic under the same parent company, Armada was able to lean on a lot of tech from their sibling companies in the development of this boot.” The AR is offered in a 90/100/110/120/130 flex. Prices range from $450-$875.  

Most people overlook socks, but you don’t want to look past Le Bent’s line of Pro-Series socks. “Le Bent uses traditional merino wool, but, instead of blending it with polyester, they use bamboo, which gives them an amazingly soft feel,” Ohman said. “They recently surveyed 120 of the best boot fitters around the country and 100 of them said Le Bent was their go-to sock.” Le Bent offers several cushion levels ranging in price from $42-$44. 

Escape Outdoors (Coeur d’Alene) 

Nestled in the heart of the Village at Riverstone, Escape Outdoors has been supplying Coeur d’Alene’s skiers and riders with stylish, high-end outdoor apparel and accessories for the last 17 years. Founded locally in 2004, Escape also operates a Bellevue, Wash., location.  

As one of the oldest outdoor apparel manufacturers in the world, Helly Hansen has been outfitting adventurers since 1877. They know a thing or two about what works. As one of the region’s only Helly dealers, Escape’s assistant manager, Ashley Taylor, is hyped for their new Legendary Pant for women. “It’s a breathable, lightweight, waterproof pant that’s just a great all-around ski piece for ladies,” said Taylor. “The best part though is the PrimaLoft insulation that gives you that extra bit of warmth on those super chilly days,” she adds. The Legend retails for $205.  

Norrona, a Norwegian-based company, has been a rising star in the American outdoor apparel industry. While they might not be on most American’s radar yet, they’ve been a big player in the Northern European market for decades. “We just started carrying Norrona this year and I’m very excited about their Lofoten Pro Gore-Tex Freeride Jacket,” Taylor said. “It comes in some really unique colorways and it’s also got all the bells and whistles—zip-off powder skirt, pit zips and a helmet-compatible hood.” With an elite level of 3-layer Gore-Tex protection, the Lofoten retails for $899.  

On the accessory side of things, Autumn’s new winter beanie collection has been a best seller at Escape. “Autumn has a really diverse collection with lots of cool patterns to choose from. They are super comfy and super popular,” said Taylor. Autumn’s new winter collection of beanies retails from $24-$28. 

Ski Shack (Hayden) 

Ski Shack has been serving the Hayden community and well beyond for almost 50 years. A full-service ski and snowboard shop, they also have rental and demo options available. You’ll also find a large assortment of soft goods and accessories packed into their eclectic shop on Government Way. 

Year after year, Nordica always hauls in the ski-test awards with the Enforcer line-up. This year is no exception. “They did a slight re-design on the ski, making it a little lighter and a little more flexible,” said ski tech Carson Dowell. “It’s the most versatile and advanced all-mountain ski that Nordica has ever made, and it continues to dominate the market,” he added. New for this year, the Nordica Enforcer now comes in waist widths of 89/94/99/104. It retails from $849-$899. 

For snowboards, Dowell is pretty high on the new Nitro Alternator. “It’s a lot of value for the money. It’s got an 8 flex, with a big spooned-out nose, so it’s more of an all-mountain board but still rides really good in powder,” he said. As the region’s only Nitro dealer, Ski Shack has the Alternator listed at $579.  

2-Wheeler & Ski Dealer (Hayden) 

2-Wheeler has been a staple in the Nordic gear department for folks over in Hayden for decades. For this upcoming season, the shop is not carrying any new in-line Nordic products, but they still have a great selection of skis, boots and bindings from last season.  

If you’re looking for a whole new setup, it’s hard to beat Rossignol’s BC 65 ski/binding combo. “Rossi’s BC 65 is our bestselling setup because it works great for on-track snow but will go anywhere off-track you’re willing to take it,” said assistant manager Pat Hutchins. “The waxless Positrack base makes it super grippy for small climbs when you need it,” he added. The BC retails for $399 (with Nordic bindings).  

If you’re going to spring for new skis, you might as well go all-in and grab a new pair of boots like the Rossignol BC X5 women’s or BC X6 men’s boot, designed specifically to pair with the BC line of skis. They retail for $199 and $225, respectively.  

Gear Garage (Coeur d’Alene) 

Located in the heart of downtown Coeur d’Alene, Gear Garage has become the go-to place for used ski and snowboard equipment but they also sell and demo new equipment and are the area’s only dealer for Icelantic skis and Never Summer snowboards.  

Owner Matt Dingman is super excited about the shop’s new demo ski packages they now have in stock. “We’ve got a ton of Völkl, Nordica and Blizzard demo skis on the wall this year. These are this year’s models and many of them have only been on snow a handful of times, and some are brand new,” said Dingman. “You’ll save up to 30% off with these models since they are considered used by the manufacturer since they’ve been mounted,” he added. Prices range from $479-$1,039 (price includes a mounted demo binding). 

Alpine Shop (Sandpoint) 

Serving Sandpoint since 1966, Alpine Shop operates both a downtown store and a mountaintop location in Schweitzer Village. Both shops offer full-service ski and snowboard tuning as well as custom boot fitting.  

If you’re looking for that groomed snow, all-star performer, the Stökli Stormrider 88 has been one of the shop’s bestselling skis. “It’s a pure hand-made Swiss ski that’s nimble, versatile, and really knows no speed limit,” said general manager Andre Bircher. “It loves to run on the groomers, but really can be skied anywhere,” he added. The Storm Rider retails at $1,439. 

If battery-powered, heated accessories are your thing, Alpine Shop has several new offerings from Thermic, one of the pioneers of heated footbed technology. “Thermic now has rechargeable, heated base layers, glove liners and socks. These are the kinds of things that really come in handy on those cold January days,” he said. Thermic’s heated gloves retail for $339. 

Outdoor Experience (Sandpoint) 

This downtown Sandpoint shop has always been the city’s primary Nordic ski shop. They also offer a full line of winter apparel from many of the industry’s top manufacturers. On the hard goods side, they are strong believers in the Rossignol BC setups, which have always been big sellers. 

On the soft goods side of things, Outdoor Experience sales associate Hank Graves loves the new Deviator Hoody from Outdoor Research. “It’s a super breathable, fast-drying midlayer, but can be used as an outer layer on nicer days,” he said. “It’s a very versatile soft-shell piece that’s well suited for the aerobic demands of backcountry skiing.”  

If you want to match the bottom with the top, then you’ll want to grab the Deviator Wind Pants as well. “These are athletic, softshell wind pants. Together, these two make for a killer combo that’ll have you covered in all but the most extreme conditions,” Graves added. The Deviator Hoody and Pants retail for $229 and $139, respectively.

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Stories connect us. That’s nothing new. But I’ve been thinking about the way stories connect us to place, specifically outdoor places, and the use of telling stories that are anchored in the natural world.  

When I’m outside, it usually starts with movement. Stories unravel as I walk with a friend on the trail, muscles at work. But stories also come to me at times of sitting: particularly around a fire (the oldest of storytelling places), or under a pine tree covered with snow, breaking for cold sandwiches after snowmobiling in the backcountry, feeling alive and alert just for existing in that remote, snow-bright place. 

Perhaps we’re at our most story-ready when we’re outside because we’re away from television and traffic, already looking to connect with something transcendent. Maybe we crave stories when we’re outside because the world feels bigger there, where the snow-muffled silence is both beautiful and hard to sit with, where we feel small on the face of a mountain. Maybe we go to these places to find stories, to sharpen the ones we know or are still discovering. To go into the wilds and come back with fresh-foraged tales.  

I have certain places that are story-anchored: an alpine lake and set of trails in the Cascades always bring up stories of past backpacking trips. If you’ve connected deeply enough with a place, I’ll bet you’ve cached the threadworks of stories there, too. I believe places can hold stories in a near-physical way, like how a familiar creek crossing or a wave of fireweed in bloom might trigger your story recall with their place-based cues. We could call these “story cairns.” Why follow them?  

The stories of the outdoors that we tell are bigger-than-us stories. They’re of-the-earth and environment stories. They’re stories that show we’re paying attention. And those stories are worth megaphoning these days. Grounding those tales on a set of skis, sleds or snowshoes makes them ring specific to our outdoors community.  

Each time we put together this magazine, we’re rounding up those stories that feel megaphone-worthy. Stories of celebration, mishaps and near-misses—all the things that amaze and surprise us when we go out into this complicated world.  

In this issue of Out There, we look back at the making of “Ski Flakes,” the regional ski videos that started at Schweitzer in the ‘90s, to consider how storytelling can both shape and preserve a culture. We share the adventure of an 89-year-old who bagged the last trail on his 100-hikes list, a story of perseverance. And, for the first time, we’ve included a handful of poems, a storytelling form that might be considered a journey in its reading.  

In each of them? A celebration of the ways you can get out there this winter in pursuit of the connections that make us human. 

• Lisa Laughlin, managing editor 

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There was a time in a previous life when I traveled to faraway places, because my only real responsibility was a basil plant I could easily replace. The wide, wild world of Patagonia and the Himalayas and the Alps awaited me, and Greta Thunberg hadn’t yet dismantled the guiltless glamor of air travel.  

Then I became a parent and I had to have a real job and live in the same place like a grown-up. I hear the nomad life is en vogue again among parents, but it wasn’t an option for me (single mom and all that). I needed to find a place where I could meet the needs of my wild-wilderness heart and still show up for work on Monday.  

Having grown up off-grid and bordering state land in North Idaho, I was remotely aware of the abundance of public lands here. We harvested moss to stuff between the logs in our cabin and picked enough thimble berries to make pies so sour, only cups of sugar could help. Our creek water was “clean” because no one lived above us to contaminate it—although I just assume we got immune to giardia as the thing dried out every summer and we never filtered a drop of it. 

It was not until I returned to North Idaho as an adult that I had the opportunity to explore a backyard as rugged, majestic, challenging, humbling, and untamed as any other place in the world I had been. Only now, these places were accessible within a few minutes’ drive to a trailhead.  

As a working parent on a budget, the country to which my child and I had access allowed us the most fantastic family adventures I could have hoped for. We traipsed to Harrison Lake for alpine scenery when my kid’s legs were too short for long distance. We hiked into Caribou Lake when it was frozen over and camped in the snow. We summited peaks together, splashed in crisp lakes, saw fish and bears and mountain goats and a world of wonder that shaped our lives and healed unthinkable wounds.  

We went hunting for mushrooms and huckleberries, learned how to orienteer with map and compass, and explored the streams and lakes of the Panhandle National Forest until our two-person family grew to four and we just got a bigger tent. The foundation of our new family was built on stewardship of the lands and resources we use, and a recognition that we are of and reliant upon nature. 

The memories made through the connection to these places remain the silken strands in the tapestry of our family. They are the stories we share at the dinner table. Accessibility to and preservation of these lands is how we cultivated our values of conservation and our reverence for the wild places. Which is exactly why a framed map of the Kaniksu National Forest, replete with pins in the places we’ve been, still adorns our dining room wall.  

Ammi Midstokke is the Literation columnist at Out There Venture. She considers public lands her backyard. She hopes you do, too. 

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Cover photo by Kari Medig and courtesy of Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism

The mountains are calling, and I must go. But with a family? You bet. Whether you’ve got tots or teens, the Nelson and Kootenay Lake region has a hiking trail for you.  

Located naturally off the beaten path between the Rockies and the Coast, the hiking is just as impressive as in Banff or Whistler, but without the crowds. Most visitors use Nelson as their base to explore the region. Multiple lodging options suit every budget and taste, ranging from waterfront resorts to family-friendly campgrounds.  

Stroll along historic Baker Street and go beyond window shopping for your recreation needs. Local shops offer a curated selection of top brands and the latest gear. If your hiking objectives are toddler-sized, grabbing a few treats can help keep the kids motivated on the trail. For the grown-ups, stock up on local produce, organic goodies and in-house meals at the Kootenay Co-Op, the largest independent cooperative grocery store in Canada.  

For those with wee ones, micro adventures can be the way to go. Hiking close to town has the advantage of being “out there” while still being able to easily pull the chute if things go sideways. The network of trails immediately above Nelson feature fun little bridges and water features with just enough elevation gain for a kiddo-sized challenge.  

Sproule Creek is a popular family-friendly hike just 10 minutes from Nelson. Offering one of the few genuinely flat trails in the area, it follows a gentle stream under a lush canopy. It’s an ideal hike for hot days, shoulder seasons and during the autumn when the leaves perform their colorful ritual. The out and back is up to 9k (5.5 miles) with 200m of elevation gain.  

Mention hiking in Nelson, and you’re sure to hear about Pulpit Rock and Lions Bluff, the most popular trails in town. Located a short drive over the iconic Big Orange Bridge, it’s common to find children (and parents) huffing up these steep trails. A sense of accomplishment and great views are guaranteed, and it’s a quick trip back to town to celebrate. Both trails are about 3.5k (2 miles) round trip with over 300m of climbing.  

The Kaslo River Trail is another great family option, weaving through the shady forest with hidden sculpture surprises to keep kids curious. The twin crimson covered bridges add to the appeal, creating a 3.5k (2 mile) fairy-tale-like kids’ loop with the trailhead only a block from downtown. Or, connect with the scenic waterfront trail, passing the skate park and playground to add another kilometer and link with the main street. The trail is snow free for most of the year, but is particularly scenic in October, when the charming town of Kaslo becomes radiantly beautiful.  

If you’re looking for a day trip that isn’t all about hiking, head across Kootenay Lake on the free ferry to discover the Pilot Bay Provincial Park trails. Watch for osprey and admire the fjord-like views between Balfour and Kootenay Bay on the boat. Choose from the super-short hike to the lighthouse or explore the easy low-elevation trails from early spring to late fall. And don’t miss a stop in Crawford Bay, a small community with a variety of unique artisans (the kids will feel like they’ve stepped into a Harry Potter set at North Woven Brooms).   

From the lakeshore to the alpine, Kokanee Glacier/Creek Provincial Parks have trails for everyone. Nearly 10k (6.2 miles) of mellow pathways meander through the peninsula at the region’s most popular family campground. Feel the intensity of the spring runoff from the Canyon Trail, head to the beach via the Grassland Trail, or count the spawning salmon from the main trails near the visitor center in the fall.  

Drive up the forestry road for some of the best hikes around, including Kokanee Old Growth Cedars. The trail may be short (1.5k and 100m of elevation) but the trees are enormous. See if your family can bear hug one of these ancient giants (probably not!).  

Continue to the end of the road for 15 minutes to the main trailhead toward the alpine. Gibson Lake Loop Trail is an easy 1.5k circuit, or, lace up your hiking boots and head towards Kokanee Lake and beyond. Patience and snacks are your best friends; the trail climbs 400m over 5k (one way), passing through dense forest before offering sweeping views of the mountainous terrain as you approach the lake. From there, it’s a cruisy 3.5k (2 miles) to Kaslo Lake campground, or the Kokanee Glacier Cabin. Maintained by the Alpine Club of Canada, it’s regarded as the most luxurious (and affordable!) public hut in the country, complete with showers, flush toilets and power. It’s the perfect base for exploring alpine trails or just relaxing in the comfort of the hut with kids. 

Renowned for its deep powder in the winter, Whitewater Mountain Resort continues to open its terrain to summer activities. Ascend the summit face for panoramic views towards Valhalla Provincial Park, or head up the Silver King side below the iconic Ymir Peak. Families with older kids can continue on, following the ridgeline and connecting to White Queen, then looping back to the start for a full-day adventure. Fuel up at Hummingbird Lodge, serving some of Whitewater’s famous pow chow from Thursday through Monday through the end of the summer season.  

For the more dedicated adventurers, Monica Meadows offers a true wilderness experience. The long forestry road near Meadow Creek takes you way up to the trailhead at 1,800m (6,000 feet), letting you spend more time hiking in the glorious alpine plateau. Lakes, wildflowers, waterfalls and glaciers provide plenty for the kids to see. Head there in the early fall for golden larches and a chance to witness the first dusting of snow. The 10k (6 mile) out-and-back hike climbs over 650m and is a two-hour drive from Nelson. 

From towering cedars to quiet creeks, serious summits to backcountry huts, the hiking trails in the Nelson and Kootenay Lake region offer a memorable outdoor experience for any family. 

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Idaho’s Silver Valley is a fall adventure hub, where crisp mountain air and golden leaves set the stage for everything from biking iconic rail trails to exploring historic mines. This stretch of the Idaho Panhandle offers a perfect mix of outdoor recreation, small-town charm, and history. Whether you’re chasing the thrill of a race, pedaling through tunnels and trestles or along the Coeur d’Alene River, or hiking to alpine lakes to earn that post-hike craft beer, there’s no shortage of ways to soak up the season. Here are nine adventures to inspire your fall trip to North Idaho’s Silver Valley.

Go for a Hike and Check Out Local Craft Breweries

Spend the day hiking one of the many trails in the Bitterroot Mountains above Silver Valley, and then hit up one of the valley’s craft breweries. Take your pick from these favorite Silver Valley–area hikes. Once you’ve worked up a thirst, pay a visit to Wallace’s City Limits Brew Pub, Wallace Brewing, or Radio Brewing in Kellogg.

• Stevens Lake near Lookout Pass: This 4+-mile round-trip hike climbs 1,600 feet and includes some steep sections of trail. It’s considered a challenging hike, but the subalpine lake and mountain views are worth it.
• Blossom Lakes Trail: Heading out from Thompson Pass, the 6-mile round-trip hike to Lower Blossom Lake climbs just over 1,100 feet, making it a moderate-to-difficult trek. The lush forest can make for great fall colors if you time it right.
• Revett Lake: This 4-mile round-trip hike into the high country climbs 500 feet in elevation from the trailhead at Thompson Pass but is considered an intermediate hike on a well-worn trail that’s great for hikers of all ages and abilities. Highlights include the beautiful lake, towering Granite Peak, and a waterfall.
• Pulaski Tunnel Trail: A little over a mile from downtown Wallace, the Pulaski Tunnel Interpretive Trail—the site where Ed Pulaski found his crew of 45 men trapped and surrounded by the August 1910 wildfire—is a 4-mile round-trip hike with historical signs. With around 800 feet of elevation gain, this hike is rated as an easy-to-moderate trail.
  
  

Riding the NorPac Trail near Lookout Pass. Photos courtesy of Carol Corbin

Explore Lesser‑known Idaho Panhandle Rail Trails by Bike

If you are looking for a new rail-trail route to ride this fall, spend a few days exploring the Old Milwaukee Railroad Trail, Northern Pacific (NorPac) Trail, or the Route of the Olympian. These routes offer quiet gravel or mixed‑surface rides through forest and mountains and are best ridden on mountain or gravel bikes. Find routes and other information at Friendsofcdatrails.org.

Photo courtesy of the Historic Wallace Chamber

Ride the Sierra Silver Mine Trolley and Tour a Real Mine in Wallace, Idaho

Ride an open‑air trolley through Wallace’s historic district up to the Sierra Silver Mine. Retired miners lead you into a sideways cut in the mountain. The tour typically runs through mid-October.

Bike the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

The 73‑mile paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes unfurls across evergreen forest, autumnal wetlands, and river corridors, offering a quiet, wildlife‑rich ride through fall color. You can roll directly from your Wallace lodging, pedaling east toward Mullan or west through Silver Valley. Out‑and‑back rides are popular, or you can arrange a shuttle. Deer, elk, swans, moose and other wildlife are often spotted along the way.

Take a Walking Tour of Wallace, Idaho Mining Museums and Historic Sites

Wallace, Idaho, has multiple museums and historic sites in town that you can explore on foot, as well as a walking tour of the many buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Museums include the Mine Heritage Exhibition, Northern Pacific Depot Museum, Barnard-Stockbridge Museum and Wallace District Mining Museum.

Moose along the Coeur d’Alene River. Photo courtesy of Bradley Bleck

Tour the Crystal Gold Mine in Kellogg, Idaho

Step back into Idaho’s mining past with a visit to the Crystal Gold Mine in Kellogg, the first hard-rock gold mine in Idaho that opened in the 1880s. After being abandoned for nearly a century, the mine was opened to the public for guided underground tours. Visitors will see veins of gold and other minerals still visible in the rock, learn about early hard-rock mining methods, and hear the mine’s story. Kids especially enjoy the chance to pan for gold and gems at the end of the tour. Tours typically run through the end of October.

Ride the Route of the Hiawatha

This stellar 15‑mile rail‑to‑trail ride includes seven sky‑high trestles, 10 tunnels, and a spectacular journey under the Bitterroot Mountains via the 1.66‑mile Taft Tunnel. It is typically open through late September. Lookout Pass offers trail passes, bike and gear rentals, and shuttles to simplify logistics so that you can focus on riding this historic route.

Scenic gondola rides run into September. Photo courtesy of Silver Mountain Resort

Take a Scenic Gondola Ride at Silver Mountain Resort

Silver Mountain offers the longest gondola ride in North America. Just off I-90 in Kellogg, the scenic ride travels over three miles as it climbs 3,000 feet up the mountain to the Mountain House Lodge. The ride takes 20 to 30 minutes each way, and you’ll want to plan time for a hike and fall huckleberry picking. The gondola runs on a few weekends in September before closing down for the season.

For more trip planning ideas and information including lodging options in North Idaho’s Silver Valley, visit the Historic Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Run the Jackass Half Marathon and 5k on Oct. 4

The Jackass Half Marathon and 5k Race offers a scenic run or walk along the Coeur d’Alene River on the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. Both courses are point-to-point and mostly downhill between Wallace and Kellogg. The 2025 half marathon and 5K only had a few spots left as of early September but there were spots available for the kids’ race. This is the perfect race for beginners or casual joggers or walkers and a fast course for competitive runners.  

(Sponsored)

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By Trey Nichols 

Imagine that you’ve got a pea-sized pebble in your shoe as you’re out on a walk or a hike. Not real comfortable, is it? Now imagine that you’re running or stepping off a big rock with your pack on with that same pebble in your shoe. Now it’s even more uncomfortable! Thankfully, we can easily remedy this problem by taking the pebble out of our shoe.  

If you’re a runner, hiker or backpacker, you’ve maybe been in a conversation that brought up ground reaction forces (GRF). If you’re like most people who haven’t heard of GRFs and just smiled and nodded your head or changed the subject, you’ll appreciate getting the rundown on GRFs for that next conversation or that next run or hike.  

So, what is a GRF? GRF is the force exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it. GRF is right in step with Newton’s third law of motion—for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In layman’s terms, think of it like this: if your muscles aren’t strong enough to counter the GRF and carry you to that next step, something is going to give. GRF can be up to 2 to 7 times your body weight! In the most extreme sense, your leg may buckle like you just jumped off a high fence. In the more common case, your knee, foot, ankle or hip may get a little extra stress placed on them that could lead to pain or an injury or decreased performance if left unaddressed.  

Just like you can take the pebble out of your shoe, there’s plenty that you can do to counter the GRF on your next run or hike. First things first, you want to make sure that you have the adequate strength to support the activity. There’s a really simple way to test it. Watch your knee as you’re running or stepping up or down on a trail. Does your knee move inward toward your other knee? Or does it stay in line over your second and third toe? If your knee is moving inward, that is often a sign that you are putting more load on it than it can efficiently handle.  

Before you try to buy Forrest Gump’s leg braces, let’s look into how you remedy GRF when you’re running, hiking or backpacking. First, get stronger. A great place to start is with functional movements like squats, lunges, and hip hinges. While you’re not going to squat seven times your body weight, the stronger you are with these movements, the better support your body is going to have while you’re doing those outdoor activities. Runners—in addition to strength training, you’ll want to pay attention to plyometric movements. Some of our favorite plyometric exercises are box jumps, jump rope, jumping lunges, and lateral step-ups (for speed). 

The better you understand and combat GRFs, the better you will enjoy all of your summer adventures and activities after a couple of months, as well as in the years to follow! The stronger you are today, the more you’re going to enjoy tomorrow. 

 
Trey Nichols is a physical therapist at NW Movement Co., where he helps runners, hikers, and backpackers with customized approaches to address pain issues and maximize their activities. This summer, Nichols will be taking his boys for the first time to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, where he and his wife used to guide Peak 7 backpacking trips. 

The post Your Body vs. the Trail  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho’s largest and deepest lake, serves as a stunning natural centerpiece for the Sandpoint area, with summer offering up an abundance of opportunities to explore its waters, trails, and shorelines. Whether you’re paddling quiet backwaters, cruising beneath mountain ridgelines, or hiking to panoramic lake vistas, there’s no shortage of ways to go deep into the heart of North Idaho’s outdoor scene around Sandpoint.

Swimming Spots on Lake Pend Oreille

Sandpoint City Beach sits just steps from downtown and remains one of the top spots for swimming and relaxing by the water. Sandy beaches, wide grassy lawns, and amenities like tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts, horseshoe pits, and a kid’s playground make it a go-to summer gathering place. A boat launch and adjacent marinas add convenience for boaters, and the whole park is easily accessible on foot or by bike.

Other great swimming locations include Sam Owen Campground on the Hope Peninsula, which features inviting shoreline and easy lake access. For those willing to drive farther south, Farragut State Park offers clear water, spacious beaches, and plenty of amenities, including shoreline fishing and boating access.

Top Paddling Spots around Sandpoint

Flat-water paddling on Lake Pend Oreille offers a peaceful way to explore the lake’s many coves and inlets. Launch from Sam Owen Campground to explore nearby Warren, Cottage, and Pearl islands. Nature lovers can head to the Pack River and Clark Fork deltas, where calm, wildlife-rich backwaters provide a chance to spot birds and other wildlife in a more secluded setting.

Sand Creek, which flows gently into the lake near downtown Sandpoint, offers a sheltered paddle route ideal for beginners. You can launch directly from City Beach or other nearby access points and paddle a scenic mile upstream through quiet waters under bridges and past marinas.

Lake Pend Oreille Boating

Lake Pend Oreille is a boating paradise, with multiple public boat launches and marinas available for those with boats to get out on the water. Boat rentals are available in both Sandpoint and Hope, including pontoons, jet skis, and other boats for cruising the lake. Multiple outfitters offer hourly and daily rentals, as well as lessons, guided lake tours, and private charters. Check out all of the rental, tour and outfitter resources at the bottom of this article.

For a one-of-a-kind way to get out on the water, Lake Pend Oreille Cruises offers 90-minute narrated outings aboard the Shawnodese, a classic lake tour boat. Options include history tours, eagle watching, and sunset trips, with departures from City Beach and seasonally from Hope. Dogsmile Adventures provides sailing experiences out of Sandpoint and Bayview for those looking for a more hands-on boating experience.

Walks & Hikes to Beaches and Lake Views on Lake Pend Oreille

The Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail offers an easy and scenic walk along the lakeshore just minutes from downtown Sandpoint. For more of a challenge and pristine experience, head to Lost Lake and Mineral Point near Garfield Bay. The network of trails there includes an easier loop around Lost Lake as well as the more challenging Mineral Point Trail, with big lake views and access to a swimming beach at Green Bay.

Farther afield, Farragut State Park near the lake’s southern end provides over nine miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, along with disc golf, a swimming beach, and a well-equipped campground.

For a short but steep hike to a more secluded lake access point, the Maiden Rock Trail south of Garfield Bay winds down through forested terrain to a cobblestone beach with primitive campsites and picnic areas.

Those looking for a more rigorous alpine trek can head up the Scotchman Peak Trail. With over 3,700 feet of elevation gain, the trail climbs to the highest point in Bonner County. The summit rewards with sweeping views of Lake Pend Oreille and, if you’re lucky, a sighting of the resident mountain goats.

Lake Pend Oreille Marinas, Rentals & Tours

Dover Bay Marina and Resort
Located in the heart of the Dover Bay waterfront community, this full-service marina offers seasonal boat moorage, covered slips, a boat launch, 24-hour fuel, dockside power and water, restrooms, showers, and a market. With 274 slips and deep-water access, it’s a convenient base for lake adventures.

Sandpoint Marine & Motorsports
This outfitter in downtown Sandpoint offers a wide range of rentals, from ski boats and pontoon boats to jet skis and kayaks. Options are available by the hour, half-day, or full day, making it easy to tailor your lake time to your schedule.

Action Water Sports
Operating in both Sandpoint and Hope, Action Water Sports rents pontoon and ski boats, jet skis, paddleboards, and kayaks. They also offer lake tours and lessons, which can be helpful for beginners or families looking for a guided experience.

A Day on the Lake Rentals
With a full-service rental fleet that includes ski boats, pontoons, Sea-Doos, and vacation homes, A Day on the Lake Rentals provides delivery service and flexible options for families or larger groups looking to explore the lake in comfort.

Go Fish! Charters
This Sandpoint-based outfitter offers hands-on fishing trips on Lake Pend Oreille and the Clark Fork River, targeting multiple species in varied settings. They run custom trips year-round, including sunrise and sunset outings.

Long Drift Outfitters
For fly fishing and float trips on the Kootenai River, Long Drift Outfitters leads guided adventures through a scenic, canyon-carved stretch of river. With limited access by land, the float-only sections provide solitude and the chance for a more remote experience.

Sandpoint Seaplane
Offering scenic flights over Lake Pend Oreille and surrounding mountain ranges, Sandpoint Seaplane gives you a bird’s-eye view of North Idaho. With an experienced pilot and decades of flying time, this unique experience combines adventure with perspective.

Bottle Bay Resort and Marina
Tucked away on a quieter arm of the lake, Bottle Bay Resort offers cabin rentals with a private beach, a marina with public gas, and a boat launch. Their on-site bar and grill provides a relaxing spot to unwind after a day on the water.

Plan Your Perfect Summer Getaway to Lake Pend Oreille and Sandpoint

Whether you’re paddling Sand Creek, diving in at City Beach, or climbing to a high ridge for sweeping lake views, Lake Pend Oreille delivers a North Idaho summer experience that’s as deep and varied as the lake itself. From downtown Sandpoint to the remote shoreline coves and alpine peaks, it’s a place worth exploring on water and on foot. Combine days on the lake with Sandpoint’s vaunted culinary and entertainment opportunities for a weekend or multi-day visit; discover those, plus an array of lodging choices, at VisitSandpoint.com.

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