Things to do are somewhat dependent on the time of year due to our seasonal changes out here. For those who like to be outdoors the question on any day is not what to do but which to do.

Boating

Boating is a big one. We have canoes and kayaks for exploring the Bull River, which you will usually have all to yourself. I often take people up river for a canoe float back to the lodge, a three to five hour trip through some very beautiful country. There are no dangerous rapids so beginners will enjoy this trip as well as the more experienced canoeist. For those who like a little more stability in their boat we also have a fourteen-foot aluminum johnboat with an electric trolling motor if you are allergic to paddles.

We have sailing trips on nearby Lake Pend Orielle (Pond O-Ray) in Idaho. The sailboat is a twenty five-foot Tanzer racing cruiser. It has a cabin with small bathroom and a cook stove and can sleep four people. The lake is about thirty miles long and several miles wide framed all the way around by mountains which just rise up out of the water. The trips are guided by Dave and are subject to weather conditions. There are a few marinas on the lake that offer boat rentals and chartered lake fishing trips.

Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikes are available. We have five mountain bikes and two eighteen-speed road racing bikes available for our guest who looks for some exercise. One popular event is taking a few riders back in the mountains on small gravel forest service roads, dropping them off and they bike back to the lodge. You have more time to see and explore since you are not trying to catch your breath all the time, it’s mostly down hill all the way home.

Hiking

Hiking couldn’t get much better than this. Some trails you can walk to from the lodge. Others require a very short drive to the trailhead. Once again you will see very few people on them if any besides your own group. There are trails to high mountain lakes deep in wilderness areas visible from the lodge. If you’re not familiar with a wilderness area they are large tracts of national forest where no motorized vehicles are allowed nor is logging allowed in them as is in a regular national forest. We have maps available for you and if you like can set up a local guide who is familiar with the forest and animals you may encounter. 

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding is one of the most popular activities here. My neighbor and friend Rus Willis is a licensed Montana Outfitter and has great guides with a high degree of concern for safety while still taking you on a mountain ride you won’t forget. Warning for flatlanders, a three-hour mountain ride is close to a six-hour flat land ride for you as well as the horses. Rus can take as many as six riders not including the guide who will bring the horses saddled right to the lodge. The guides are very experienced at selecting the best horse for you depending on your size and experience level. These horses are very well trained and sure footed in the mountains. Costs for the rides are $20.00 per hour per rider. Well worth the money and highly recommended!

Fishing

Fishing is a favorite here in Montana with our crystal clear rivers and streams.  We will do all we can to help you fish by yourself on the many rivers and streams in our area. You can fish right out the back door on our river our combine a hiking trip with some high mountain lake fishing for cut throat trout. A great day for a father and son team. Don’t forget our small boats, which can be used to fish on the Bull River. Fishing is great here and requires a Montana fishing licensee. The least expensive is for two consecutive days at $24.25, $52.75 for 10 consecutive days or $69.25 for a season. Large rivers are open all year smaller streams usually don’t open until mid to late May.

Photography

Nature Photography, you’re on your own here since we have very little experience in that area except to point the way to places you might find the things you are interested in. For instance, Spring usually brings the Elk herds close to civilization. We have had herds of about forty just across the river every May. Other times of the year you need to be pretty crafty to find them. We’ve had quite a few people through here that photographed Birds and High Mountain Flowers. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Site-Seeing

There are many nearby sights to see! Two of the best are the Ross Creek Cedars and Kootenai Falls. The Cedars is a forest service park, which contains cedar trees over 500 years old. Most old growth trees in Washington, Idaho and Montana were burnt during the 1910 devastating fire, which swept that area. Kootenai Falls is a beautiful falls to the North of us and is on the  Kootenai river where some of the white water shots from the movie "River Wild" were made. This is a great half-day trip with a little hiking involved. Take a picnic lunch.

Glacier National Park is a 21/2 to 3 hour drive from the Lodge. Many guest combine trips to Glacier with their Lodge vacation, either coming or going. There are flights into Kalispel for access to Glacier National Park.

The Bison Range is another wonderful state land set aside for the Buffalo. It is about two hours from here and makes a perfect day trip. In August you might hit the Huckleberry festival in the small town of Trout Creek on your drive.

Sandpoint, Idaho is a resort town about 45 minutes from the lodge, Headquarters for Coldwater Creek .
There are many other interesting shops and boutiques located in Sandpoint as well which often include hand made crafts and different types of  art made by local artists.  Or  you might enjoy attending the outdoor Farmer's Market  where they sell everything from home made food items, baskets, etc to plants and flowers (obviously, this is only available in the Summer months). Sandpoint also hosts a number of different festivals during the warm months. Fun for everyone!

Skiing

Schweitzer Mountain Resort just outside Sandpoint is a great ski resort. They have downhill slopes for everyone from back bowls and advanced black slopes to one of the best beginner’s slopes I have ever seen. It is long and has a new chair ride. It is a major ski area without the lines. They keep up their cross-country trails very well groomed.

The lodge area from Christmas through March has some of the best cross country skiing around but no groomed trails, just follow the forest service roads and trails as far as you want to go for the quietest day you’ve ever experienced deep in the National forest. We have  only a couple of pair of snowshoes you can use but you will need your own skis.

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