Be Bear Aware

Huckleberries grow in bear habitat in the Panhandle, and there are both black and grizzly bears who depend on the berries for their fatty nutrients and carbohydrates that are crucial for their energy.

“Take your bear spray [when you pick], make lots of noise and stay aware of your surroundings. Look up and around every 10 minutes or so, and if you have a dog, don’t let them run off leash,” said Patrick Lair, public affairs officer for the Idaho Panhandle National Forest Service. “We don’t aim to scare, just remind you to be aware.” map your route

A lot of forests don’t have cell service. Know where you are and where you’re going, even when you’re offline, by downloading a Motor Vehicle Use map from Avenza Maps. These are maps of the entire road system, marking your location with a red dot and putting navigation ease at your fingertips.