North Idaho Cascades
Google ‘waterfalls’ to find hundreds of pages detailing images, videos, travel and every conceivable detail about these often stunning, yet curiously soothing touches of Mother Earth. There have been hundreds of other feature films featuring waterfalls, and one website has 328 videos of waterfalls from around the world. Northern Idaho has just as many awesome slides, some appearing after the spring rains and temperatures begin the annual runoff of winter snow, others are majestic year-round. The waterfalls in northern Idaho run the gamut, from the low Lion Creek Falls that locals call ‘Slippery Rocks,’ to the long tumbles of Copper Creek Falls, dropping 160 feet.
In fact, these cascading Idaho features have long inspired filmmakers. In 1915, “The Waterfalls of Idaho” was filmed by the French film company Pathé Frères, and the majesty of Priest Lake, with its placid waters and surrounding falls, attracted filmmaker Nell Shipman to found her film company there during the same epoch.
Some are virtually inaccessible, requiring arduous treks through primeval forest; others are just off highways and byways, many in state parks, offering a day of picnicking and swimming in the rock-cut pools and creek.
Regardless of your preference, the waterfalls of northern Idaho offer affordable fun, plenty of photography, and an image of the inner Northwest that draws artists and those seeking to renew the spirit of one of nature’s finest features.
Copper Creek Falls is fed by Copper Creek in Boundary County, ID: At an elevation of 3,400 feet, the falls drop more than 150 feet from a bluff to the pool below. Highway #2517 is the most direct route to the falls; tourists can choose to detour from US Highway 95 to Highway #2517, 14 miles northeast of the Scenic Road 1 interchange, or 0.7 miles south of the Eastport border crossing; Travel 2 miles on this rough gravel road to Copper Falls Trail #20. The trailhead is about a mile up the road. There is a short and easy 15 minute hike to Copper Creek Falls.
Copper Creek Falls is fed by Copper Creek in Boundary County, ID: At an elevation of 3,400 feet, the falls drop more than 150 feet from a bluff to the pool below. Highway #2517 is the most direct route to the falls; tourists can choose to detour from US Highway 95 to Highway #2517, 14 miles northeast of the Scenic Road 1 interchange, or 0.7 miles south of the Eastport border crossing; Travel 2 miles on this rough gravel road to Copper Falls Trail #20. The trailhead is about a mile up the road. There is a short and easy 15 minute hike to Copper Creek Falls.
Hunt Creek Falls is fed by Hunt Creek in Bonner County, ID – one of our true rustic treasures, the contrasts of the falls and surroundings are why artists move to northern Idaho. While Priest Lake is among the most beautiful lakes in the country, Hunt Creek Falls is one of Priest Lake’s most beautiful features. With giant black granite, moss covered rocks contrasting with the white waters and tall ferns and cedars, this is a true gem of a swimming area, or just to hike, with the reward of the falls at the end. Towards the top of the falls, the water gushes over rocks into a pool, then splits over a rock in a second drop, and splits around another giant rock. From below, a distinct ‘Y’ shape is visible, joining into a cauldron of a pool below. The falls gain strength through a rock slide that eventually causes a fire hose to shoot out at the end. All in all, very entertaining.
Hunt Creek Falls is a short drive and hike from East Lakeshore Road about 4 miles north of Coolin. From Coolin, travel on Cavanaugh Bay/East Lakeshore Road to Forest Road #23 (just before Mile Post 4 and immediately south of the Hunt Creek Bridge). Turn right onto Road #23 and travel .2 miles uphill to an unmarked intersection (IDL Endowment Lands sign is at the intersection). Turn left onto unimproved logging road. Continue on this trail for about 0.15 miles to an open area in the woods. Park in this area and walk the 500 yards the same way to the falls. An alternative to parking in this area is to continue on the unimproved logging road towards the falls until the road narrows to a point where your vehicle cannot proceed. However, if there are other vehicles in the area where the road narrows, it will be very difficult to turn around.
Lion Creek Falls is fed by Lion Creek in Bonner County. There are many camping and hiking opportunities in and around Upper Priest Lake. This is one of the most popular recreation areas on the east side of Priest Lake with natural water slides that locals call ‘Slippery Rocks’. The colossal slices of granite form a natural architecture of slides, pools and waterfalls. The picnic area provides the perfect amphitheater to watch the antics of children and people at play, but don’t expect large crowds. Sure, it’s often crowded, but just as often, quiet reigns. Spring finds the water too high and cold to play in, but with summer, there are plenty of places to swim. Now, from the nickname comes the cautionary tale. Slipping and falling on granite can be dangerous, so be careful when you’re there.
To go north from Coolin on Cavanaugh Bay/East Lakeshore Road to cross the Lion Creek Bridge, just south of the Lionhead State Park campground entrance. After crossing the bridge, turn right onto State Forest Road #42. Follow the path to where the sewers have been removed. Park in this area and walk the same road for about two miles to an old parking area. From there cross a small creek (Kent Creek) and follow the south side of the creek about 200 yards to the water slide area at Lion Creek. Lion Creek and Kent Creek intersect at a ‘Y’ just above the old parking lot.
The two mile hike will take you to the best area of Slippery Rocks. However, you can see other areas along the hiking trail where Lion Creek flows over granite slabs. Any of these sites are also good recreation areas if you choose not to walk the full two miles.
Moyie Falls is fed by the Moyie River in Boundary County. The scene is amazing and it’s easy to get to it. In a rocky canyon, the Moyie River breaks into granite tiers and steps, plummeting 60 to 100 feet into the upper cascade below an old bridge connecting the gorge, then another 20 to 40 feet down the lower cascades. Take US Highway 2 and exit just west of the Moyie River Bridge at Moyie Springs; drive another 1/2 mile to turn left onto a residential road that skirts a sawmill; continue down this road for 1/2 mile where you will find numerous parking areas that provide perfect views of the falls.
Snow Creek Falls is fed by Snow Lake in Boundary County, ID: Snow Lake is one of our many beautiful alpine lakes and is fed by surrounding streams. There are two falls, one upper, one lower, but the upper one is the one to see. A wooden boardwalk takes you to the very edge of Snow Creek’s roaring upper cascades. The volume of water surprises many, and there are several more falls on the way down to the lower falls. The lower falls drop 50 to 75 feet in multiple thirds as Snow Creek splits. There is a very good trail, with boardwalks and benches. Take US Highway 2/95 south past Bonner’s Ferry for 2.5 miles; turn right at golf course onto Moravia Road, drive another 3 miles; on West Side Road #417, turn right and go 2 miles to a parking lot turnoff.
Upper Priest Falls is fed by the Upper Priest River in Bonner County, ID – Also known as American Falls, to form a distinction from Canadian Falls located higher up, the falls drop 100-125 feet. In a secluded section of Idaho’s Northwestern Panhandle, the hike is formidable, the best times being early summer through fall. Take Scenic Route (SR) 57 for 37 miles from Priest River, ID to Nordman, ID; past Nordman, continue on SR 57 (becomes Granite Creek Road #30 2 miles past Nordman) for an additional 13 miles and take the Stagger Inn Camp entrance road; here continue north on Highway #302 for 1.7 miles, then turn right onto Highway #1013, which then becomes Highway #637; drive approximately 11.5 miles and park at Upper Priest River Trailhead #308 From Trailhead #308, visitors should be prepared for a challenging day hike along a 9-mile trail that winds along the Upper Priest River and ends at the falls. Alternatively, if your four-wheel drive vehicle has high clearance, continue driving another 11 miles along Highway #637 until you reach Continental Trail #28. Walk north on the trail #28 for 0.7 miles and turn right onto trail #308 for the last 1.5 miles to the falls.