Summary
The forest covers over 726,000 acres and includes over 1,000 lakes and reservoirs, making it a hub for water activities like fishing, boating, and swimming. Other popular activities include hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.
One of the most unique features of Coeur D'Alene National Forest is the Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes, a 72-mile paved bike path that winds through the forest and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and lakes. The forest is also home to several historic sites, including the Cataldo Mission, which dates back to 1850 and is the oldest standing building in Idaho.
Visitors can also explore the Bitterroot Mountains, which are a part of the Rocky Mountains and offer incredible hiking and backpacking opportunities. The forest is also home to several animals, including moose, elk, bears, and wolves, making it a popular spot for wildlife viewing.
The best time of year to visit Coeur D'Alene National Forest is during the summer months, when temperatures are warm and the water activities are in full swing. However, visitors can also enjoy the beauty of the forest during the fall, when the leaves change colors, or during the winter, when the forest becomes a winter wonderland and offers opportunities for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References