Weekend Getaway

Road Trip! By Colin Anderson

Summer is winding down, kids are back in school, and if you’re lucky you used up most of your vacation time on another beautiful, albeit hot, north Idaho summer. A weeklong vacation probably won’t come around again until the holidays, but that doesn’t mean your travel time should come to an end. There is so much to explore in this area, and if you’ve got an extra day off in the coming weeks, why not hop in the car for a good old fashioned road trip and let the Selkirk Loop be your guide.

Rated as one of the best scenic drives in the west by a myriad of publications and online reviews, the Selkirk Loop takes you across North Idaho, Southern British Columbia, and Northeastern Washington. If you complete the full 280 mile loop, you’ll travel through 75 unique communities none of which have a population of more than 10,000. In between the small town charm, you’ll see some of the most dynamic forests, mountain ranges and bodies of water in the northwest. As Sandpoint is at the southern most portion of the loop, it’s a logical place to start your journey.

From Sandpoint head west to Priest River and then cross into Washington. The route takes you along the scenic Pend Oreille River and into the communities of Usk and Cusick. Both lie along the Kalispel Indian reservation, which operates a buffalo ranch and fish hatchery. This is also a great start for bird watchers as osprey and eagles are spotted here along the river.

As you continue heading north through Washington, you pass through Ione, Tiger, and Metaline Falls. These communities showcase the rich logging history of the area which has slowly diminished over the decades. Still there are plenty of stops for history junkies to learn about old mills and logging outfits. While hotels and bed and breakfasts are few and far between, there are plenty of areas to camp, or you can head north towards the Canadian border.

Once you’ve crossed the border, you’re heading toward Nelson, BC, a favorite of many weekend travelers in the area. Nestled along Kootenay Lake and surrounded by mountains, this is a place people keep coming back to again and again. The historic downtown features structures still standing from the early 1900’s, and self guided walking tours provide you with all kinds of fun history. Recreation abounds here with golf courses, nearby ski hills, hiking and biking and plenty of water sports as well. There is great theatre, many wonderful restaurants, and a festival just about every weekend.

Back on the road you head east with the town of Balfour as your next destination. If you’d like to tack on a few more miles to the trip, a drive into Ainsworth hot springs for a relaxing soak or a tour of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park are great side trips. Once you hit Balfour, and in order to complete the loop, you’ll have to travel by boat. Ferries depart for Kootenai 15 times per day, but on busy travel weekends you might have to wait for the next one. Once across, you’ll continue your drive along beautiful Kootenay Lake. If you are not interested in camping, you will most likely stop in Creston, BC for another night on the town. Creston is lined with fruit trees, and the agricultural celebrations go on throughout the year. You’ll find all sorts of delicious food and wines here, or if beer is more your thing, you can tour the Kokanee brewery located just outside town.

As you cross back into Idaho and familiar territory, you’re probably already planning your next trip. With so many opportunities for entertainment, adventure, culture, and dozens of side excursions, your first trip on the loop likely won’t be your last. Probably the best part of this trip is that it’s on your pace and your budget, with only a single tank of gas as your primary expense. You can camp, hike, picnic, and enjoy nature, or find a beautiful lodge and play championship golf or go heli-skiing. The Selkirk Loop is another great example of the reason we choose to call this part of the country home, so go and be reminded why you live here.

To print out a map and more details about these unique communities visit www.selkirkloop.org

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