North Idaho Wildlife Preserves

Settlers Grove Giant Cedar Trees

Settlers Grove Giant Cedar Trees

Ancient Cedars

Settlers Grove of Ancient Cedars is an Idaho National Forest hiking and biking trail just north of historic Murray in the Silver Valley. The grove contains century-old trees, some with trunks up to 10 feet in diameter.

Take I-90 east from Coeur d’Alene to Kingston Exit 43 (29 miles). Drive the scenic Coeur d’Alene River Road (toward Murray / Thompson Pass)  23 miles north east where you’ll veer right at the fork. Watch for the Settlers Grove turn-off after a couple miles. When the pavement ends, a gravel road takes you 5 miles to the parking lot. A walk on hard packed trials takes you to the grove. A few miles east of Eagle is the Sprag Pole Inn and Museum in Murray where you can have a great meal while you share stories of the day.

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge

The 2,774 acre Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge is located in Boundary County, surrounded by Deep Creek and the Kootenai River to the east and the Selkirk Mountains on the west. Its purpose is to provide resting and feeding habitat for migrating water fowl. The viewing route is approximately four miles and accessible by car, biking or hiking. Open to visitors daily, office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (208) 267-3888

Cougar Bay

Just minutes from downtown Coeur d’Alene, the 88-acre Cougar Bay Preserve is a virtual wildlife nursery on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Cougar Bay attracts migrating and nesting waterfowl, numerous shorebirds, songbirds, moose, beaver, otter and deer. It offers 5+ miles of interpretive hiking trails, canoeing and kayaking, and wildlife and bird watching. Information kiosk and restroom available. (208) 676-8176

View Wildlife

Watch Eagles Soar

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald eagles enjoy Lake Coeur d’Alene as much as we do, arriving in November in their annual migration. A popular place at the east end of the lake is Higgins Point, a paved trail with a viewing area about 1/4 mile from the parking lot.  Information kiosks and a view of the eagles from your car also makes this a fun outing for all ages. Wolf Lodge Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene as well as other numerous locations on Lake Pend Oreille draw the regal visitors. Highway 200 between Sandpoint and Hope is another viewing venue. Waters are rich with salmon that have spawned and died, offering the eagles abundant winter food. The eagles remain in the area until about the third week of January.

Higgins Point Statue

Higgins Point Statue

It takes less than ten minutes to get from Coeur d’Alene to the eagles winter habitat. From I-90 and Hwy 95, go east on I-90 to exit 15-Sherman Avenue, then continue on Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive to Higgins Point.

Special eagle viewing cruises on Lake Coeur d’Alene and Lake Pend Oreille are popular. While the winter months provide views of a large number of eagles, year ‘round these symbols of America can be seen in their natural North Idaho habitat.