Salmo Priest Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Salmo Priest Loop is in the Salmo Priest Wilderness, a remote area that straddles the far northeast corner of Washington, and the Idaho Panhandle, right up against the Canadian border. The national forests that contain this Wilderness are Washinton's Colville National Forest, and Idaho's Panhandle National Forest.

This is Selkirk Mountains country, with its rugged, forested peaks and temperate rain forested valleys. Salmo Priest Loop travels through the lower elevation temperate rainforest along the South Salmo River. And then it heads to the high country, following the Shedroof Divide, a high ridge of the Selkirk Mountains. Views of the Selkirks in all direstions, are fantastic.

So why is this ridge called the Shedroof Divide? And why is this Wilderness and Loop called the Salmo Priest Wilderness and Loop? Because the Shedroof Divide seperates the Salmo River drainage to the west in Washington, from Idaho's Priest River drainage to the east. Both of these rivers eventually feed into the Pend Oreille River but very far from each other.

With its remoteness, variety of terrain, and beauty, this Salmo Priest Loop makes for an awesome hike/backpack.

Access:
To get to the Salmo Priest Loop trailhead, take (Washington State Highway) WA 20 north, continue on WA 31 to just before Ione, and turn right onto Sullivan Lake Road for 12.8 miles. Just pass the north end of Sullivan Lake, turn right onto Sullivan Creek Rd./Forest Service Road FSR 22. After 6 miles, continue straight on Sullivan Creek Rd as it becomes FSR 2220. Another 13 miles on Sullivan Creek Rd./FSR 2220 brings one to the trailhead, where the road ends.

Water:
There are good water sources for the first 7 1/2 miles. After that there are no dependable water sources, although there are a couple small streams at trail camps, around the 12.7 mile mark that can have water into July.

Dogs:
If your dog is restrained, it is allowed off leash.

Salmo Priest Loop starts on Salmo Basin Trail that is found at a large trail sign at west side of the trailhead.

Salmo Basin Trail #506 (start to 8.9 mile mark)
The trail immediately enters the forest and starts descending down to the South Salmo River. The forest is home to various conifers, lush undergrowth, and beautiful summer wildflowers. It's a relatively steep descent as the trail traverses the very steep, forested hillside. With the hillside steepness, there are frequent views through the tree tops, of the forested far side of the South Salmo River valley. As the trail descends, the wildflowers disappear. The South Salmo River is reached at the 3 mile mark.

No bridge across the South Salmo River. By mid July, it's a "below the knee" ford. There is a good trail camp on the north side of the river. After fording the river, the trail heads east, following the South Salmo River upstream. Still in the heavily forested river valley, the trail climbs gradually. A couple small trail camps are passed. About a mile after the river ford, Crutch Creek, is crossed. Another mile, and a side trail on the right/south is reached. This side trail goes down to the South Salmo River and crosses it, to get to the site of an old trapper's cabin.

Leaving the side trail behind, the trail veers left/north. Still following the South Salmo upstream, the trees thin, and tall, lush, leafy plants join the vegetation mix. At about the 6.5 mile mark, a couple of trail camps are passed. The trail then turns right/east, crosses the South Salmo River, and follows a significant tributary creek upstream, with good water sources into late July at least.

Around the 8 mile mark, the creek has disappeared. Continuing to climb, the wildflowers re-appear, views of the mountains emerge, and at about the 8.5 mile mark, switchbacks begin. After a handful of switchbacks, the trail heads directly to Snowy Top Pass where it ends at the Shedroof Divide Trail. Here, Selkirk Mountains are seen far into the distance, on both sides of the pass.

Shedroof Divide Trail #512 (8.9 mile mark to 15.1 mile mark)
On the east side of Snowy Top Pass, to the right/south, is Shedroof Divide Trail. Go right onto Shedroof Divide Trail to continue this hike. Another mile brings one to just below Little Snowy Top Peak. Here, there's a side trail on the right/west, up to the old Little Snowy Top Lookout.

The trail then descends with some short climbs along the way, for the next three miles. There are great mountain views into the far distance, of the Selkirks to the east. Closer by, the deep Upper Priest River valley is seen below. Towards the end of this descent, near two trail camps, there are a couple small streams that have water into July.

With views of Shedroof Mountain ahead, the trail then climbs for the next two miles to a significant trail junction with Salmo Divide Trail. There is also a dry trail camp at this trail junction.

Salmo Divide Trail #535 (mile mark 15.1 - end)
Follow the trail sign with the arrow to Salmo Pass Trailhead, to find Salmo Divide Trail on the north side of this trail junction, just to the right/north of the trail camp. Continue on Salmo Divide Trail as it climbs a few switchbacks to a high point.

From here, the trail levels off and then descends as it goes through thin forest, beautiful, grassy meadows teeming with wildflowers, and great views of the mountains. After the meadows, the trail returns to the forest and continues descending.

Still in forest, there are views through the trees, of the far side of the South Salmo River valley. Then with only about a mile left, the trail turns into a wide forest road - the old end of FSR 2220. This last stretch is wide open on a steep hillside with views of the forested far side of the South Salmo River valley to the right/north. In places the path narrows where there are washouts and small slides (reason for closed to vehicles now?).

And then the traihead is reached - hike over.

At the lower elevations (the first 5+ miles), the trail runs through lush, mixed conifer forest with thick undergrowth. Cedars and hemlocks abound. As the trail climbs, the trees thin in places, and high, leafy vegetation takes over.

By the 9 mile mark, the trail is in the high country for the rest of this loop. Here, there are grassy areas with an abundance of summer wildflowers - paintbrush, lupines, asters, bear grass, tiger lilies, yellow columbine, and others. Also in the high country, there are stretches of pretty mixed conifer forest, thin enough in many places to see the mountains through the trees.

Deer are around. Bears live here.

Contacts
Land Managers:
USFS - Colville National Forest Office
USFS - Idaho Panhandle National Forest Office