Gold Hill Trail #3 - ID Panhandle NF, ID

Overview: Pleasant hike up the north slopes of Gold Hill. Viewpoints offer views of Lake Pend Oreille, Sandpoint, and the Selkirk Mtns.


Hike: Starting from the trailhead parking lot, the trail is signed and begins on the south side of the lot. The uphill starts immediately as the trail heads into the forest. The entire length of the trail is smooth and wide, and the footing is excellent. The first mile or so of the trail switchbacks endlessly up the northeast slope of Gold Hill. While the incline is almost constant, it never really feels steep due to the switchbacks and good trail surface. Glimpses of the lake can be seen through the trees off to the north. Huckleberries grow alongside the trail in mid to late summer, making for a tasty snack.At almost exactly one mile, there is a bench along the trail and some slightly better views of the lake. After the bench, there are a couple more switchbacks, then the trail turns mostly to the south. There are no more views for the next two miles, but the hike through the dense forest is quite enjoyable. Other than the occasional train whistle, it is easy to forget how close to town this trail is located.

Shortly before three miles, there is a nice rock outcropping with excellent views of Sandpoint, the lake, and the southern Selkirk Mountains. Snap a few pics, but there will be even better views pretty soon. As you continue uphill, there will be three more benches along the trail, right around three miles. This spot has the best views of the hike, again facing west-northwest.

After the benches, the trail goes back into the forest for another half mile before topping out at its upper terminus at FS-2642. If you still have some energy, you can continue up to the summit of Gold Hill, which is less than a mile away.

2022-06-06 LindaAnn