Northern Idaho's Lake and Mountain Country
Kaniksu National Forest covers approximately 1,619,100 acres of the northern Idaho panhandle, extending into portions of northeastern Washington and the corner of Montana near Boundary County. It forms the northern unit of the combined Idaho Panhandle National Forests administrative unit, occupying the most remote and least visited section of the combined forest. The terrain is anchored on two extremes: the deep fjord-like waters of Lake Pend Oreille to the south and the sharp ridges of the Selkirk Crest reaching toward Canada to the north.
The Selkirk Mountains here are not the dramatic granite spires of the nearby Cabinet Mountains, but they are substantial: forested ridges rising to 7,500 feet, with remote lake basins and a crest that forms the border between Idaho and Canada. The area is known in conservation circles for its woodland caribou habitat, a species whose population has collapsed across the southern Selkirks in recent decades despite significant recovery investments.
Sandpoint, on the southern shore of Lake Pend Oreille, serves as the commercial gateway and is one of the more pleasant small towns in northern Idaho, with a vibrant downtown and strong outdoor culture. The lake itself is extraordinary: 65 miles long, up to 1,150 feet deep, and surrounded by forested mountains that create a landscape more reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest coast than the Idaho interior.
Priest Lake
Priest Lake, in the northern section of the Kaniksu, is a destination in its own right. The 19-mile-long lake sits in a cedar-rimmed valley north of Sandpoint, accessible via US-2 and ID-57. Three developed campgrounds operated by the USFS provide lakeside camping, and the surrounding trails offer hiking into the Selkirk foothills. The Upper Priest Lake, accessible only by water or a short portage trail from the main lake, is an exceptionally quiet destination for kayakers and canoeists seeking genuine backcountry lake camping.
Selkirk Crest
The Selkirk Crest Trail traverses the spine of the range, running from near Nordman in the south toward the Canadian border in the north. This is a multi-day route through terrain that most hikers will find surprisingly remote given its location in a populated region of the Northwest. Roman Nose Lakes, Ball Lakes, and several other lake basins below the crest offer excellent overnight destinations accessible from the crest trail or via shorter approaches from the valley roads.
Best Trails
Selkirk Crest Trail (26.0 miles, multi-day) traverses the length of the Selkirk Crest, visiting lake basins, crossing rocky passes, and traveling through habitat that once supported woodland caribou. The remoteness is real: plan for self-sufficient travel.
Pack River Divide (14.0 miles, out-and-back) climbs from the Pack River drainage to a high divide with panoramic views across northern Idaho into Washington and Canada.
Roman Nose Lakes (9.0 miles, out-and-back) reaches a cluster of alpine lakes below the Selkirk Crest with good fishing for cutthroat and excellent scenery in a relatively compact package.
Ball Lakes Trail (8.0 miles, out-and-back) climbs into one of the Selkirk basin lake systems, offering good overnight camping and fishing options within a manageable day-hike or easy overnight distance.
Priest River Trail (10.0 miles, out-and-back) follows the Priest River drainage through old-growth cedar and fir in the river corridor, a gentle forested walk with excellent fishing access.
Round Top Mountain (8.5 miles, out-and-back) is a ridge-top route with views south across Lake Pend Oreille and north toward the Canadian border.
Permits and Passes
No permit is required for day hiking or dispersed camping in Kaniksu National Forest (as of 2026). Priest Lake day-use parking requires a fee ($5/vehicle as of 2026). Developed campground reservations are handled through Recreation.gov.
America the Beautiful passes are accepted at fee sites. Veterans and permanently disabled individuals may qualify for federal discount passes.
Camping
Priest Lake's USFS campgrounds (Luby Bay, Indian Creek, Priest Lake Campground) are the most popular facilities in the Kaniksu section, filling on summer weekends. Book through Recreation.gov well in advance for July and August. Dispersed camping is available throughout the forest along forest roads; the dispersed camping guide covers applicable rules.
When to Visit
June through October is the hiking season. The Selkirk Crest is snow-free by mid-July in most years. Priest Lake is excellent from late June through September for water recreation. Fall brings spectacular color in the cedar and hardwood drainages around the lake.
Check conditions at checking conditions before you go and practice Leave No Trace principles throughout this remote forest. The Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint Ranger Districts maintain current road and trail condition reports; contact either district before visiting trailheads off primary forest roads, particularly after spring snowmelt or heavy rainfall events.
Getting There
From Sandpoint, take US-2 west to ID-57 north to reach Priest Lake, approximately 45 miles. For Selkirk Crest trailheads near Bonners Ferry, take US-95 north from Sandpoint to the Bonners Ferry area, then follow forest roads east. All crest approach roads are unpaved.
