Caribou Ridge

Stumbling upon the Caribou Ridge Trail will be one of the best finds for you and Fido, especially if you love an extensive hike with great rewards of pawrific views. Following along the ridge of Mt. Coeur d'Alene, you can walk where Caribou used to track, and can enjoy vast views of the Coeur d'Alene National Forest to the east.

First, before you start your venture, you and Fido will have to stop and explore Beauty Creek Campground. The campground features the main parking area and trailhead point before entering the trail, and offers some nice features to take advantage of too. If you and Fido need to, you can enjoy access to restrooms, drinking water, grills with picnic tables, and trash bins to get rid of garbage.

The trail itself begins on the southern edge of the campsite, shaded in dense woods, and follows along Beauty Creek for a short bit. Once on the trail, you'll experience sharp inclines that head up the mountain. The gravel and compacted soil make an even surface to walk on, and keeps a consistent 3 feet wide up the entire mountain. The creek follows along the path for a short time, offering places to fish and swim in the water during the warm summer months.

After that, you'll find up to 4 switchbacks, with overlooks along drop-offs and ledges. Woods cover the trail along the entire length of it until you reach the ridge, where you can enjoy an open space that has views for miles of valleys and mountain ridges. The trail is even open to other wildlife that you and Fido may spot, like woodland caribou, grizzly bears, and bald eagles. To get back to the parking area, you will need to turn back, but on the bright side, it's all downhill from there!

The campsite has 20 camping areas that are dog-friendly, but to stay overnight you will need to pay a fee. If you don't, you are free to go, but don't be fooled. The views alone will have you and Fido scrambling to get back to this serene area in nature.