Tour the loops

For motorists with a yen for adventure—and the right vehicle— two loops offer back road discoveries

by Sandy Compton

If you wish to explore the east side of Bonner County, a number of looping, expeditionary routes begin at one of two landmark gas stations in Clark Fork, 25 miles east of Sandpoint on Highway 200. Turn north at the Chevron and follow Lightning Creek Road 419 to Trestle Creek Road 275 and exit ten miles west of Clark Fork on Highway 200. The trip is approximately 35 miles.

Or turn south past the Cenex, cross the Clark Fork River, and enter a world where roads run every which way. Depending on intent and navigational skills, you might come out at Bayview, Silverwood, or Kingston, Idaho; or you can even find yourself in Thompson Falls, Trout Creek or Noxon, Montana. The Clark Fork to Silverwood route, encompassing the aptlynamed “High Drive,” is approximately 50 miles, depending.

Some pro tips: 1.) Fuel up. 2.) Leave the Prius and bring the SUV. 3.) Assure your spare is good. 4.) A free current Forest Ser- vice Motor Vehicle Use Map will save time, trouble and panic attacks. Google Maps won’t. (You can pick one up at any ranger station, or download one here: www.sptmag.com/fsmotormap)

Disclaimers made, there are many things to do along these routes, depending on your energy level and the time you have to invest, of which you might bring plenty. There are myriad opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, huckleberry hunting, peak bagging, swimming, and plain old car-based sightseeing.

The Northern Route

Beyond the private land signs on Road 419 are many semiprivate campsites near the stream. An SUV can get to most, but use caution. Walk in first. Pitching a tent near a creek is therapeutic. Getting stuck is not. Be bear aware. Keep a clean camp and release any bull trout caught.

Many trails begin on this loop. A sampling: Goat Mountain Trail is four miles north of Clark Fork. At Mile 7.5, turn right to East Fork Creek trailhead and hike to Lightning or East Fork Peak. At Mile 9.5 ±, a motorized trail to Porcupine Lake goes to the west, but Lightning Creek has to be forded. At Mile 17, 40-foot Char Falls is on the right, and well worth a visit. At

Mile 18, 419 intersects Trestle Creek Road 275, the route back to Highway 200. Beyond 275 are trails to Lake Darling and Moose Lake. Both are easy hikes to lovely destinations. If you wish to sweat, Trail 52 past Lake Darling climbs to Trail 67 and Pend Oreille Peak, with dazzling views of the Selkirks, Purcell Trench and the West Cabinets.

Road 275 climbs to the divide between Trestle and Lightning, where Trail 120 begins and runs south for several spectacular miles to a trailhead at the end of West Spring Creek Road. Just beyond Trail 120, Road 1091 turns north to Lunch Peak and a USFS rental lookout. Trail 67 begins here and follows the divide north to Calder Mountain and other trails that lead clear to the Kootenai River.

About 1.5 miles downhill from 1091, Trail 56 leads west to Trail 526 which leads to Trout Peak. Then, Road 275 continues in a long drop back to Highway 200.

THE SOUTHERN ROUTE(S)

Decisions, decisions. If you choose the southern route(s), turn right at the end of the river bridge to Johnson Creek and Road 278, the mother road east of Lake Pend Oreille. On its rise

Lakeview, Idaho was established after silver was discovered in the area in 1881 by William Bell. By 1890, there were 1,000 people living there, and by 1895 the town boasted a hotel, post office, schoolhouse, general store and 17 saloons. Today, it is home to around 20 families.