Length
Highest Point
Located just south of Priest Lake in Idaho, this area offers 10 miles of trails that give visitors plenty of hiking and snowshoeing options. The trail system here starts from the Priest Lake Information Center just off Highway 57.
The Chipmunk Rapids National Recreation Trail is the main artery that traces a path roughly following the Priest River then the upper west branch Priest River. Four named loops stem from this trail, allowing hikers the option to explore different routes and come back for more next time. A map from the Forest Service shows these options.
Highlights of the area include Kaniksu Marsh where moose might be spotted, and a stretch along the Priest River that parallels Chipmunk Rapids. Also keep an eye out for deer and waterfowl that frequent the area.
Most of the trails here are access roads that have been converted, so they are wide and easy to follow. If you choose to hike the entire length of the Chipmunk Rapids National Recreation Trail, you’ll either have to integrate a stretch along Road 2244A, which is open to vehicles, or go out and back on the same trail.
Trailhead
