Idaho Trail #58

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Idaho Trail #58 is the southern five miles of Upper Priest Lake Trail #302. Follow trail signs for Upper Priest Trail 302 when running Idaho Trail #58. Although there are no signs along the trail mentioning Idaho Trail #58, it is shown on maps and in trail guides. This anomaly may be due to Idaho Trail #58 being on Idaho state public lands and the northern piece of Upper Priest Lake Trail #302 on National Forest Service lands.

Idaho Trail #58 is found at a small parking area along East Shore Road about a mile past the Lions Head area. There is a trail sign post, old trailhead board, and room for about three vehicles here.

Follow the faint trail behind the trail post as it descends through an open area. A dirt road is soon reached - go right here to run the Idaho Trail. A few more dirt roads are passed before the trail reaches a trail post sign and enters the forest at about the 0.5-mile mark.

Caribou Creek is soon heard, and then seen on the left. The trail crosses the creek at the 0.7-mile mark and then begins climbing for about a quarter mile. Along the way, it traverses open areas and crosses another dirt road. At the 1.0 mile mark, the trail re-enters the pretty conifer forest and leaves civilization behind.

Surrounded by tall, big cedars, western white pines, and other conifers, the trail soon comes across an unmarked path on the left/west. This path is the Geisinger Camp Spur leading to the Geisinger Trail Camp on the banks of Upper Priest Lake, a worthwhile side trip.

Continuing on in the forest, at the 2.2-mile mark, a creek is crossed, and the trail veers right to climb a few switchbacks along the creek to get to its high point at the 2.7-mile mark. Here, views of Upper Priest Lake to the west finally emerge through the trees. The trail then descends to the shoreline, where there are expansive views of the lake in all directions.

Continuing on, the trail runs along the shoreline. One can see faint strips of what look like sandy beaches ahead, in the distance to the north. Around the 4.3-mile mark, these sandy beaches are reached. They are a short way below the trail on the left. There are even picnic tables, great places for a break. The last sandy beach is at Trapper trail camp, just before Trapper Creek.

Idaho Trail #58 ends at Trapper Creek, but Upper Priest Lake Trail #302 continues north for another 4.4 miles to end at its northern trailhead on a Forest Service Road.

Gorgeous mixed conifer forest, mostly conifers - tall stately cedars, hemlocks, western white pines, and others. Sparse to dense undergrowth depending on the amount of sunlight that gets through the forest canopy. Wildflowers - bear grass, tiger lilies, lupine, paintbrush, wild roses, and many more. Deer live here.

Contacts
Land Manager: Idaho Department of Lands and USFS - Idaho Panhandle National Forests Office