RV Trip Lake Pend Oreille, ID / Metaline Falls, Wash

[2porscheguy]

We had a great RV trip through NW Idaho and NE Washington! We stayed 3 nights at Riley Creek on Lake Pend Oreille and another 3 days on the Pend Oreille river at Metaline Falls. Hardly a soul around the second week of September with simply ideal weather! Strangely enough many of the locals didn't know what "un pend oreille" is....it's french for earring!

Beautiful lake but I wish I had my boat! Fantastic campground at Riley Creek,,we had the beach pretty much to ourselves.




We then headed NW to Metaline Falls. We managed to book the two prime spots right on the river...beautiful view and all the firewood that you could burn! A gentleman named Don was very kind enough to let me use his small dinghy for some small mouth bass fishing...that was great! I hooked close to 15...tons of fun..I could have done that all day but...the wives objected to that. We did a cave tour that was really cool. I'd highly recommend it! Overall had a great time...we'll probably be back!

[2porscheguy]

[LWJ]

Lovely!!!

I just came back from a fishing trip on the Lochsa in Idaho and a bunch near Missoula. It was gorgeous! Agreed.

[2porscheguy]

^^^ Beautiful country on less traveled back roads for sure!

We left Calgary and headed for our first overnight in Fernie, BC. We then crossed the border at Kingsgate. The border had maybe 2 vehicles ahead of us so we got through in 25 minutes. We then headed towards Sandpoint on the 2 and then on to Riley Creek on Lake Pend Oreille. We spent 3 fantastic days there. We met a couple of regulars from Spokane and had a great evening with them by the fire...got a bit heated with my buddy when the convo veered to politics..lol! Campfires were just recently permitted there so good timing for sure.

We then headed west on the 2 and then veered north on the 20 at Newport and on to Metaline Falls...hardly any vehicles on the somewhat rough roads but some beautiful scenery was our reward! We stayed at "Mike's" campground and were treated to his two best sites overlooking the gorgeous Pend Oreille River..spectacular! Interestingly enough, although there was a total campfire ban throughout the State of Washington, the campground being on private property was somehow exempt? Not sure how that works but Mike supplied us with all the firewood we could burn...cool!

After 3 great days of hikes, fishing, and a great cave tour we headed north up the 31 to the border at Nelway. Our two vehicles were the only ones there so we got through in 15 minutes and on to our final overnight in Kimberley, BC. I'd easily do that trip again but, alas, there are so many great adventures virtually on our doorstep! Cheers!

[Dantilla]

Stunningly beautiful area of the country!
If ever the opportunity arises-
There are a handful of decommissioned fire lookouts available to stay for a night or two.

Amazing experience. Highly recommended.

This one is in NW Montana, and we were able to drive right to it.
We stayed in another in Idaho with an easy 2.5 mile hike from the nearest forest service road.
About the best way to experience the incredible scenery of the inland northwest.

[Dantilla]

Where is the cave tour?
I'd like to check that out someday.

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

Where is the cave tour?
I'd like to check that out someday.

It's the Gardner Cave tour which is in Crawford State Park. I didn't book the tour myself but it is free but you have to book it well in advance as I believe only groups of 10 people max per tour.

[Seahawk]

Can you PM the details?

I am all over that like a loose ball.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Dantilla

Stunningly beautiful area of the country!
If ever the opportunity arises-
There are a handful of decommissioned fire lookouts available to stay for a night or two.

Amazing experience. Highly recommended.

This one is in NW Montana, and we were able to drive right to it.
We stayed in another in Idaho with an easy 2.5 mile hike from the nearest forest service road.
About the best way to experience the incredible scenery of the inland northwest.

[Seahawk]

Oops.

Nice pics 2PG!

[Superman]

Wonderful, 2PG! Lake Pend Oreille is, as far as I know, still where the US Navy trains its nuclear submarine operators. It is DEEP. And beautiful. As is Lake Coeur d'Alene, my personal favorite.

St. Maries, Idaho is the boyhood home of Pappy Boyington and Superman. A great place to be a boy. Close to the continental divide between Idaho and Montana/Wyoming, it offers some of the finest fly fishing anywhere. A River Runs Through It should have been filmed on the St. Joe River. Above Avery, at Prospector Creek, there is this sign:






The fish can read that sign. Catching fish is not a challenge. The challenge is the size, and the native Cutthroat Trout is the target.






The drive up the river alone is worth the trip. I am biased, but lots of folks who did not grow up there will tell you the same thing. If you fly fish, this is where you want to be. Most of the trucks you see on the road have racks of fishing poles on the hood.

[LWJ]

^^^Supe! Wow. This is like waving drugs in front of an addict.

St. Joe is on the list. What’s funny? I never heard of it until now.

[Seahawk]

Thanks for the PM! Rabbit Hole, arriving!

https://www.firelookout.org/lookout-rentals.html

Found th FB page as well...I ain't sharing

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

Stunningly beautiful area of the country!
If ever the opportunity arises-
There are a handful of decommissioned fire lookouts available to stay for a night or two.

Amazing experience. Highly recommended.

This one is in NW Montana, and we were able to drive right to it.
We stayed in another in Idaho with an easy 2.5 mile hike from the nearest forest service road.
About the best way to experience the incredible scenery of the inland northwest.

Same here Dantilla....please PM me the details....very high coolness factor there fursure!

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

Did you see the submarine base?
It is pretty weird....

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/idaho/id-underwater-navy-research/

We did not but our regulars from Spokane spoke about this and will definitely put it on our list for our next visit! So Lake PO is 1150 feet deep...just wow!.... hard to..ahem...FATHOM that!

And here I thought that our beloved Shuswap Lake in BC was "mighty deep" at a "mere" 800 feet!

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by 2porscheguy

Same here Dantilla....please PM me the details....very high coolness factor there fursure!

Check out Seahawk's link above.
They are usually booked quite a ways out, but my wife found a Facebook group where last minute cancelations are posted.

Some have easy access, some require a hike.
Some are better equipped & maintained than others.

Can't imagine any would be a less than stellar experience.

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by Superman

Wonderful, 2PG! Lake Pend Oreille is, as far as I know, still where the US Navy trains its nuclear submarine operators. It is DEEP. And beautiful. As is Lake Coeur d'Alene, my personal favorite.

St. Maries, Idaho is the boyhood home of Pappy Boyington and Superman. A great place to be a boy. Close to the continental divide between Idaho and Montana/Wyoming, it offers some of the finest fly fishing anywhere. A River Runs Through It should have been filmed on the St. Joe River. Above Avery, at Prospector Creek, there is this sign:






The fish can read that sign. Catching fish is not a challenge. The challenge is the size, and the native Cutthroat Trout is the target.






The drive up the river alone is worth the trip. I am biased, but lots of folks who did not grow up there will tell you the same thing. If you fly fish, this is where you want to be. Most of the trucks you see on the road have racks of fishing poles on the hood.

Wow! Will definitely look into that and will bring the fly rod on our next trip! Incidentally, what would I require as a Canadian resident to fly fish that beautiful body of water? While in Metaline Falls I did ask the campground owner where I could purchase a non-resident fishing license in town...he laughed and told me not to worry about it..hadn't seen a warden in these parts in years! So, with that guys, I'll admit to committing a felonious act on American soil...I should be behind bars!