Google ‘waterfalls' to find hundreds of pages detailing pictures, videos, trips to, and every conceivable detail about these often awe-inspiring, yet curiously relaxing touches of Mother Earth. There have been other hundreds of feature films with waterfalls, and one website has 328 videos of waterfalls from around the world. North Idaho has an equal number of stunning chutes, some popping up after spring rains and temperatures start the annual runoff of winter snow, others majestic year-round. Waterfalls in North Idaho run the gamut, from the low-slung Lion Creek Falls that locals call ‘Slippery Rocks,' to the long-falling Copper Creek Falls, dropping 160 feet.
In fact, these cascading features of Idaho have long inspired cinematographers. In 1915 "The Waterfalls of Idaho" was filmed by the French film company Pathé Frères, and the majesty of Priest Lake, with its placid waters and surrounding falls, attracted filmmaker Nell Shipman to found her film company there during the same era.
Some are virtually inaccessible, requiring arduous treks through primeval forests; others are right off the highways and roads, many in state parks, offering a day of picnicking and swimming in the pools carved from rock and stream.
No matter your preference, North Idaho waterfalls offer cost-right fun, photo ops galore, and a picture of the Inland Northwest that draws artists and those seeking to renew the spirit to one of nature's best features.
Copper Creek Falls is fed by Copper Creek in Boundary County, ID - At an elevation of 3,400 feet the falls drop over 150 feet from a cliff to pool below. Road #2517 is the most direct route to the falls; sightseers can choose to turn off US Highway 95 onto Road #2517 14 miles northeast of the Scenic Road 1 junction, or 0.7 mile south of the Eastport border crossing; travel 2 miles on this rough gravel road until you reach Copper Falls Trail #20. The trail head is about a mile up the road. There is a 15-minute short, easy walk to Copper Creek Falls.
Copper Creek Falls is fed by Copper Creek in Boundary County, ID - At an elevation of 3,400 feet the falls drop over 150 feet from a cliff to pool below. Road #2517 is the most direct route to the falls; sightseers can choose to turn off US Highway 95 onto Road #2517 14 miles northeast of the Scenic Road 1 junction, or 0.7 mile south of the Eastport border crossing; travel 2 miles on this rough gravel road until you reach Copper Falls Trail #20. The trail head is about a mile up the road. There is a 15-minute short, easy walk to Copper Creek Falls.
Hunt Creek Falls is fed by Hunt Creek in Bonner County, ID - One of our true rustic treasures, the contrasts of the falls and surroundings are what artists move to North Idaho for. While Priest Lake is among the nation's most beautiful lakes, Hunt Creek Falls is one of Priest Lake's most beautiful features. With giant black granite, moss-covered boulders striking counterpoint to the white waters and ferns and tall cedars, this is a true gem of a swim area, or just to hike to, with the reward being the falls at the end. Towards the top of the falls the water gushes over rocks into a pool, splitting then over a boulder in a second falls, and split around another giant boulder. From below, a clear ‘Y' form is seen, coming together in a cauldron of a pool below. The falls gain force through a rock chute that finally make a fire hose spurt at the end. All in all, really entertaining.
Hunt Creek Falls is a short drive and hike off the East Lakeshore Road approximately 4 miles north of Coolin. From Coolin, travel on the Cavanaugh Bay/East Lakeshore Road to Forest Road #23 (Just prior to Mile Post 4 and immediately south of the Hunt Creek bridge). Turn right onto Road #23 and travel .2 miles uphill to an unmarked intersection (IDL Endowment Lands sign is located at the intersection). Turn left onto the unimproved forest road. Proceed on this road for approximately .15 miles to an open area in the forest. Park in this area and hike the 500 yards down the same road to the falls. An alternative to parking in this area is to continue on the unimproved forest road towards the falls until the road narrows to a point where your vehicle cannot proceed. However, if other vehicles are in the area where the road narrows, it will be very difficult to turn around.
Lion Creek Falls is fed by Lion Creek in Bonner County - There are many campgrounds and hiking opportunities in and around Upper and Lower Priest Lake. This is one of the most popular recreation areas on the east side of Priest Lake with natural water slides the locals call ‘Slippery Rocks.' The colossal slices of granite form a natural architecture of slides, pools, and falls. The picnic area provides the perfect amphitheater to view the antics of children and people at play, but don't expect great crowds. Sure, there are often plenty of people, but just as often, tranquility rules. Spring finds the water too high and cold to be played in, but with summer, there are plenty of swimming spots. Now, from the nickname comes the tale of caution. Slipping and falling on granite can be dangerous, so use care when there.
To go drivel north from Coolin on Cavanaugh Bay/East Lakeshore Road until you cross Lion Creek Bridge, just south of the Lionhead State Park campground entrance. After crossing the bridge, turn right on State Forest Road #42. Follow the road to where the culverts have been removed. Park in this area and hike up the same road for about two miles to an old parking area. From there, cross a small stream (Kent Creek) and follow the south side of the stream about 200 yards to the water slides area on Lion Creek. Lion Creek and Kent Creek intersect at a 'Y' just above the old parking area.
The two-mile hike will get you to the best area of Slippery Rocks. However, you may observe other areas along the hiking route where Lion Creek flows over granite slabs. Any of these sites are also good recreation areas if you elect not to hike the entire two miles.
Moyie Falls is fed by the Moyie River in Boundary, County - The scene is awesome, and easy to get to. In a rocky canyon, the Moyie River crashes in tiers and steps of granite, plummeting 60-100 feet on the upper fall under an old bridge that connects the gorge, then another 20-40 feet down the lower falls. Take US Highway 2, exiting just west of the Moyie River Bridge at Moyie Springs; drive another 1/2 mile until turning left on a residential road flanking a lumberyard; continue on this street for 1/2 mile where you will find numerous parking pullouts providing picture-perfect views of the falls.
Snow Creek Falls is fed by Snow Lake in Boundary County, ID - Snow Lake is one of our many beautiful Alpine lakes, and is fed by the surrounding creeks. There are two falls, one upper, one lower, but the upper is the one to see. A wooden walkway takes you to the very edge of roaring upper Snow Creek Falls. The volume of water surprises many, and there are several more falls along the way to the lower falls. The lower falls drop 50-75 feet in multiple tiers as Snow Creek divides. There is a very good trail, with boardwalks and benches.Take US Highway 2/95 south past Bonner's Ferry for 2.5 miles; bear right at the golf course onto Moravia Road, drive anotherr 3 miles; at West Side Road #417, turn right and go 2 miles to a parking turnout.
Upper Priest Falls is fed by the Upper Priest River in Bonner County, ID - Also known as American Falls, to form a distinction from Canadian Falls located farther upstream, the falls drop 100-125 feet . In a lonely section of Idaho's Northwestern Panhandle, the hike is formidable, best times are early summer through fall. Take Scenic Route (SR) 57 for 37 miles from Priest River, ID to Nordman, ID; passing through Nordman, continue on SR 57 (which turns into Granite Creek Road #30 2 miles past Nordman) for 13 more miles and take the entrance road to Stagger Inn Camp; here, proceed north on Road #302 for 1.7 miles and then turn right on Road #1013, which later becomes Road #637; drive approximately 11.5 miles and park at the Upper Priest River Trailhead #308From Trailhead #308, visitors should be prepared to take a difficult day hike along a 9-mile trail that winds along Upper Priest River and ends at the falls. Alternatively, if your four-wheel drive vehicle has high clearance, continue driving for another 11 miles along Road #637 until you reach Continental Trail #28. Hike north on Trail #28 for 0.7 mile, turning right on Trail #308 for the final 1.5 miles to the falls.
To learn more about all the wonderful and sublime waterfalls of North Idaho, visit www.SandpointID.net and click the Guides Tab at the top of the page.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at any time.
Gary Lirette
Realtor, Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty
Host of North Idaho Business & North Idaho Arts & Adventure on KSPT and KBFI
208-610-1384
garyplirette@nctv.com
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