Spanning the Idaho/Montana border, the Scotchmans are one of the last, and largest, wild areas in our region. We conduct education, outreach and stewardship activities to preserve the rugged, scenic and biologically diverse 88,000 acre Scotchman Peaks Roadless Area. We believe the Scotchman Peaks deserve congressional designation as Wilderness for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations.

Hiking Schedule

HikersUnderVertigo copyThe Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is proud to present our hike series.  Winter and summer, we have a hike for everyone, from easy family hikes to overnight trips for experienced bushwhackers (We also have a selection of snowshoes and hiking poles to lend). Come join us for one of our organized hikes and see first hand why the Scotchmans deserve the protection of wilderness designation.

Group size is limited and reservations are required.  To sign up contact the RetreatFromStarPeak copyhike leader listed.

Below this Hiking Schedule is a map with a key that references the trail heads.   If you can’t make one of these scheduled hikes, be sure to visit our “Self-Styled Hikes” page.

Please Note:  On occasion circumstances force us to change this schedule.  If you intend on joining us for any of these volunteer led Group Hikes, be SURE to sign up in advance and also re-confirm with the hike leader a day or so before the hike in case of any unavoidable last minute changes.

For the 2012 Winter hike series, there is an off-the-schedule opportunity that any winter hiker or wildlife lover might be interested in: help us hunt for wolverines!

We are looking for volunteers who want to do winter hiking in search of wolverines, both in the Scotchman Peaks and in the Selkirk Mountains of northern Idaho. We are teamed with Idaho Department of Fish and Game as well as Idaho Conservation League in a cooperative mustelid survey that will involve all sorts of winter travel, from snowshoes to skis and even snow machines in appropriate places. If you are interested in getting your winter outside time in by helping with this study, write to mustelids@scotchmanpeaks.org for more information. Visit here to learn more or type “wolverine” into our site search box at the top of this page.

Click Here for a more printer friendly version of just the hike schedule

Rating Key: E = Easy M = Moderate S = Strenuous D = Difficult-Experienced Only
Hike Date Rating Hike Name Hike Leader
02/05/12
Sunday		 E-M Ross Creek Cedars Neil and Ann Wimberley

We will hike up the Ross Creek Cedars road 3.5 miles into the Ross Creek Cedars. An overlook on the way provides stunning views. We will wander along a one mile loop amongst the cedars before returning. Beginner level skill, but the overall length makes this suitable only for those with good conditioning.

Round trip: 8 ± miles. Elevation gain, 1200 feet.

Contact: Neil and Ann Wimberley    neil@scotchmanpeaks.org    208-264-5379

02/11/12
Saturday		 E/M Ross Creek Cedars Ladies Only Sandii Mellen

A lady’s day in the great outdoors led by a great lady. Hike to and through Ross Creek Cedars in the quiet of winter. This is an opportunity for first-timers or many-timers. Snowshoes or skis necessary. FSPW has snowshoes to lend. Beginner level skill, but the overall length makes this suitable only for those with good conditioning.

Round trip: 7 ± miles. Elevation gain, 400 feet.

Contact: Sandii Mellen    sandiimellen@gmail.com    208-265-5261

02/18/12
Saturday		 E/M East Fork Creek Ski and Shoe John Harbuck

We’ll follow the perimeter of the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness along the Lightning Creek Road. Depending on how far we can drive we may cross East Fork Creek and then follow its flood plain past the new trailhead, exploring a jumble of trees and boulders. The route will be out and back, total distance dependent upon how far we go before turning around. Cross-country skis or snowshoes will be needed. Bring a lunch.

Contact: John Harbuck    harbuck@norlight.org   

02/25/12
Saturday		 E/M Scotchman’s Winter Bird Highlights (Co-sponsored with Spokane Audubon) Jon Isacoff

This is an all-day trip to the northeast corner of Bonner County and the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Area. The trip will focus on waterfowl on Lake Pend Oreille as well as upland winter birds and rarities in the Lightning Creek area. Be prepared to drive approximately 5 hours round-trip from Spokane and to walk on gravel roads approximately 2-3 miles. Bring WARM clothes, lunch, snacks, and water. Tentatively, we will meet in the Liberty Lake Albertson’s at 7:00AM and also at Sandpoint City Beach at 8:30AM. Contact the hike leader by February 18 if interested. This trip is dependent on weather and road conditions.

Contact: Jon Isacoff    isacoff@gonzaga.edu    509-448-2629

03/10/12
Saturday		 S+ Mount Vernon Jim and Sandii Mellen

This is a great XC ski, with wonderful views of Bull Lake and the Cabinet Mountains. It climbs steadily up on an old gated road past a mine vent from the Troy mine. Skis are required, (Skins/ snowshoes will be needed in some places). This will be an all-day trip and everyone should be prepared for it with layered clothing, food and water. We will go as far as everyone is willing to go.

Everyone should be prepared for any weather conditions, with adequate clothing, food, water, headlamps, skins for skis or snowshoes to change in to. Level of difficulty, “Very difficult.” Round trip, 12 miles. Elevation gain 2,000 to 3,000 feet.

Contact: Jim and Sandii Mellen    jimnsandii@gmail.com    208-265-5261

03/17/12
Saturday		 S Star Peak Sandy Compton or Jacob Styer

This snowshoe hike is quite strenuous and we will probably need every bit of winter sunlight to gain the summit and return to our cars before dark. We will be sticking to the main summer trail for the first 2/3 of the hike, but will probably need to use our off trail route finding skills to reach the summit of Star Peak.

Round trip:10 miles ±. Elevation gain 4140 feet.

Contact: Sandy Compton or Jacob Styer    sandy@scotchmanpeaks.org or jacob@scotchmanpeaks.org   

03/24/12
Saturday		 S+ Goat Mountain Hop Jim and Sandii Mellen

The sixth annual Goat Mountain Hop. Snowshoe (or ski/snowboard if you dare) one of the steepest trails in the region.  Weather permitting, there will be great views of Lake Pend Oreille and Scotchman Peak.  This 4,000 foot actual vertical climb is an extreme adventure for extremely fit folks.

Round trip: 7 miles; Elevation gain: 4,000 ±

Contact: Jim and Sandii Mellen    jimnsandii@gmail.com    208-265-5261

05/05/12
Saturday		 S Scotchman Peak Spring Hike Jim and Sandii Mellen

Snowshoe, ski or snowboard the tallest peak in the Scotchman Peaks and work off the excesses of Cinco de Mayo.  Generally, the trailhead is inaccessible this time of year, adding 2.5 miles each way and 500 vertical (making a total of 4,200 vertical!).   This is for the extremely fit adventurers only!

Round trip, 12 miles. Elevation gain, 4200 feet.

Contact: Jim and Sandii Mellen    jimnsandii@gmail.com    208-265-5261

 

Can't make one of our organized hikes?  Check out our Self-Guided Hikes page for information on several popular trails.  We recommend that you pick up a high-quality (and free) map at one of the local retailers listed on our Maps Page for accurate trailhead listings to locate the appropriate starting point.  Match it up with the hike described above.

More information on each of these trails may be found from the Forest Service or in the book "Trails Of The Wild Cabinets" available from Keokee Press.

Click on the map for a larger view

Map of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness

For additional large sized, high resolution maps that you can download and print visit our "Maps" page