The forested mountains and lakes of the Inland Empire make a visit to the region and the Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF) an unforgettable experience. The Selkirk, Cabinet and Coeur d’Alene Mountain ranges frame this vast region of lakes, rivers and valleys. The communities in this region are mostly rural and industries includes recreation, tourism, agriculture, timber and mining.

Recreation opportunities include camping, sight-seeing, hiking, boating, rafting, fishing, biking, picnicking, swimming, horseback riding, OHV riding and hunting. Foraging for forest products such as huckleberries and mushrooms are also popular. Several destination biking “rails-to-trails” adventures are in the area including the Hiawatha and the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s.

Wildlife includes moose, deer, elk, black and Grizzly bear, wolf, cougar, osprey, eagles and a multitude of other bird and small animal species. There is habitat for the woodland caribou near the Canadian border and several animals are known to migrate between Canada, Idaho and Washington.

Summer daytime temperatures typically range from the mid-80’s to mid-90’s F with nighttime temperatures dropping into the 60’s F. Autumn temperatures are cool with frost likely by mid-September. The average rainfall for the months of May through September is 8 inches. Mid-July through September are typically the driest months.

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Bears and mountain lions are present on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. You can see some tips on how to stay safe here: Bear Safety  Mountain Lion Safety

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For more information, visit the Forest Service website.