NORTHERN IDAHO

Summary

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Located just outside of Rathdrum, Idaho, this peak offers a variety of trails to choose between. The trail winds up and around Rathdrum Mountain, mainly on old forest roads. Intermittent views of Post Falls, ID, the surrounding mountains and valleys make this trail a favorite.

Trail Stats

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Hike Details

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Rathdrum Mountain Park offers plentiful hiking and a Disc golf course nestled on the lower side of the mountain. In the winter months snow shoeing is rewarding as well. There’s a small story walk hike from the parking lot, starting at the Sasquatch statue. For the main trail you’ll head out of the parking lot exit and immediately turn left onto a closed off road.

A little over half a mile in the trail forks, stay on Storm King Parkway. In the lower section there are a few peek a boo views of the surrounding area and you may see disc golf players on the side of the hills. Around 0.9 miles in the trail once again forks. Veer right to stay on the main trail. It’s at this spot that my husband and I ran into a Moose and her offspring. Very fun to see and happily they were not bothered in the slightest by our presence. When you hit 1.1 miles there’s another split, stay on Storm King (the other is Majestic passage). Continue on the main trail for a total of 3.4 miles where you’ll reach a cell tower. It makes for a great turn around or snack point. If you like to snack with a view walk past the towers thru the overgrowth and there’s a decent view of the valley below.

Should you continue from here the trail heads up. There are many splits in the trail, stay on the main trail. Around 4.1 miles there’s a gate that can easily be walked around. The trail T’s at 4.2 miles. Turn left and around 4.5 miles in the trail really opens up and you’re able to enjoy the views. Albeit, its a hot trek in the heat of summer. Plan accordingly.

At 4.82 miles in the trail splits (again!), turn left. If you turn right you’ll have to scramble to the top. But, having turned left, the trail winds around the backside of the mountain and descends a bit. In the surrounding hills there are many trails that interconnect. You could walk for a very long time if you wanted. Roughly at 5.36 miles the road takes you thru a rock field

To continue up to Rathdrum Mountain you’d take a right turn up a steep hillside roughly 5.8 miles in. As luck will have it this section is brief. You’ll turn left to head to the main road where you’ll again turn right. From here you will stay on the main path and up we go. It’s only about 1.4 miles more. Six miles in there’s another gate to go around.

A little past this spot I ran into a Moose while hiking solo. Surprised both of us. He was kindly enough to take off down the mountainside which allowed me to continue on. They are magical animals to see but keep your distance unless you want to be trampled. Respect their space.

From here the views once again open up and there are innumerable view points to enjoy a snack at, as you can see in the above photo. You’ll follow the main road up, it is lined with orange snow markers. Depending on the time of year the top is covered in one of my favorite flowers, Bear Grass. There are 5 switchbacks leading to the top. My app showed it top be 7.45 miles one way.

The top provides lovely views although it’s often quite windy. It is technically a no trespassing zone. I leave that decision to the hiker. I generally choose to have my well earned lunch just below the summit. The views are plentiful up here.

As this is an in and out trail simply retrace your route to return to the parking lot and enjoy the views. As always watch the time, as hiking in the dark unprepared is generally not enjoyable. We cut it close on our exit one winter and had to hustle in snowshoes to get out while we could still see. The only benefit was the alpenglow on the hills. Truly stunning.