Plenty Of Places To Stretch Legs Early In Season
Winter has left hikers feeling claustrophobic, with little relief in sight.
The heavy snowpack is reluctant to recede; landslides are blocking access roads; blowdowns are smothering trail systems.
“People are anxious to get up in the woods,” said Pat Hart, trail boss for the Bonners Ferry Ranger District. “But they can’t get there. Virtually every main mountain access road on the district is blocked by snow, landslides, rocks, washouts or blowdowns.”
To make things worse, nearly every state or federal park in the region, as well as the national forests, are reporting budget shortages for trail work.
A lot of trails simply are not going to get cleared.
“We can’t get to most trails because there’s still some snow on the road along the upper Coeur d’Alene River up from the Shoshone Work Center,” said Jack Durell of the Fernan Ranger District. “Trails, roads and campgrounds are clogged with timber. I’ve got approval for an emergency crew, but I could use a small army.”
Most lowland campgrounds, at least, should be cleared by next weekend, he said.
“Stuff is still coming down,” said an exasperated Gary Herron, Riverside State Park manager. “Last week, a perfectly normal-looking pine tree came down for no obvious reason. The winter is still taking its toll.”
Herron has used hundreds of hours of volunteer work to clear park trails already this spring. “And I still need more help,” he said.
Hikers who need a fix this weekend have some options, primarily in the arid areas and river canyons. Heavy runoff is making hikes near waterfalls particularly spectacular.
Unless you like to gamble, however, check with the appropriate agency before heading to any trail or campground next weekend. Changes in access are occurring daily.
Good bets for early-season hikes:
Copper Falls: A half-mile loop trail starting about 1.5 miles from the Copper Creek Campground in the Bonners Ferry Ranger District. The area is accessible from State Highway 34 southeast of Eastport. Info: (208) 267-5561.
Hoodoo Canyon: Blowdowns were still being removed from the Deadman Creek access road this week, but Kettle Falls Ranger District officials said the road should be clear by Memorial Day. The five-mile round-trip hike leads to two lakes. Info: (509) 738-6111.
Sullivan Lake: The popular four-mile lakeshore trail is closed because of a weak bridge, but the two-mile Elk Creek Trail beginning at the nearby Mill Pond recreation site is choice right now, complete with a gushing waterfall. Info: (509) 446-7500.
Steamboat Rock State Park: A nifty five-mile desert trail, still blooming with bitterroots, leads up from the campground and around the top of Steamboat Rock. Info: (509) 633-1304.
Palouse Falls State Park: More than three miles of hiking with spectacular views of 198-foot Palouse Falls begin from the falls overlook south of Washtucna. Info: (509) 646-3252.
Riverside State Park: Most of the park’s main trails have been cleared, at least roughly. But note that the suspension bridge at Bowl and Pitcher is closed, as is the Centennial Trail bridge over Deep Creek. Info: 456-3964.
Wenaha River: A popular early season backpacking area in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness offers miles of hiking possibilities. Landslides have blocked access roads. Last week, the only accessible trailhead was at Three Forks northwest of Troy, Ore. Info: (509) 843-1891.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo