From Whitefish, I went further north all the way to less than 10 miles from the US-Canadian border before turning toward the Kootenai River. Finding campsites along the river was decently easy; there are campsites every 10-15 miles or so. I picked one close enough to my next adventure and turned it in for the night.
One of the most popular forms of fishing is float fly-fishing around this area of Idaho and Montana. I couldn’t help but jump on the ship as well, literally too. My guide, who worked at the National Forest Service, was incredibly knowledgeable of the stretch of the Kootenai River we were paddling. Even this newbie caught quite a few rainbow and cutthroat trout; many of them are around 14 inches long. The guide service I used, Dave Blackburn’s Kootenai Angler, is happy to take newcomers onto the river as well. If you like fishing, eating trout, or simply having a scenic float. Be sure to come fishing here! Be warned though, this year the bees and wasps are extra aggressive. One Yellow Jacket that was hidden in my beer managed to bite inside of my mouth. Ouch!!
Following the Kootenai River, I took a quick pit stop at the Kootenai Falls. There is also a suspension bridge by the falls if you are interested in trying it out. Not for me this day though! I continued to Spokane to enjoy some of the finer things in life, like wines and museums.
The next stop on the list is Coeur d’Alene. Famous for the lake the city is so named after (or vice versa). Due to work, I didn’t do any of the floats or float planes on the lake but enjoyed a nice quick dip and a stroll. As usual, I would recommend hitting the Museum of Northern Idaho for a read of the local history. When I was visiting in September, the museum had a temporary exhibition on the Prohibition period in Idaho. Very interesting content.
It’s time to head back down south. From Coeur d’Alene, I passed by Lewiston then pivoted to follow the Salmon River through the Nez Perce reservation, to the lake town of McCall. The drive along the river to McCall was gorgeous. You can also stop by some of the stops that mark important events in the recent Nez Perce people’s history, including the Nez Perce Flight of 1877. Unfortunately, I passed by the battlefield at night, so had to make up the historical knowledge by doing some extra readings.
The town of McCall is quite popular with the city folks of Boise. Many have vocational homes in the area. Not only there is a recreational alpine lake, but there is also plenty of hiking in the area to keep you occupied. In the winter, there are even ski hills near the town, and you can finish the day with a hot soak in the nearby hot springs. When I was visiting, there was even an ultra-marathon race happening in the area. As usual, you can also try fly-fishing in many of the reservoirs and streams nearby as the water level allows.
The Payette River flows southward out of Payette Lake. Following it will take you to the densely populated parts of the Treasure Valley – Boise. I arrived in Boise on the day of the Pride celebration, so the city was extra festive. A stroll downtown is a must for this afternoon coupled with some people-watching.
To my surprise, Boise has quite the craft scene with craft beers, ciders, and even wines from the Eagle Foothills region.
I didn’t indulge for I need to drive out of the city for some sleep. Waking up to the first light, right off the old Oregon Trail I hit up my last spot on this trip – The Thousand Springs Reserve.
There are so many springs in the Thousand Springs Reserve, as the name suggests. Guided by Instagram and Google maps, I kayaked toward the most famous one, Blue Heart Springs. The water is a nice and cool fifty degrees no matter how hot the sun is, perfect for an end-of-the-trip dip to wash away the fatigue of the trip. A perfect ending to a month of explorations around the mountains, rivers, and lakes of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.
