Idaho Panhandle National Forest

Idaho Panhandle National Forest is located in Idaho, Montana, and Washington. More specifically, the forest is located in the east-central part of the Columbia Plateau, including portions of Idaho's picturesque mountain ranges like the Cabinet, Selkirk, Coeur d'Alene, and Bitterroot mountains. To access the forest facilities, you can use several different roads including the I-90, ID 3, ID 57, ID 200, US 2, US 10, US 95, and US 95A. 

The closest city to the National Forest is Spokane in Washington, but there are several other metropolia, urban and civic areas close to the forest including Wallace, Coeur d'Alene, Avery, and Kellog. The National Forest was established in 1912, consists of a total of 3.2 million acres of land and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Idaho Panhandle National Forest also consists of the Coeur d'Alene and parts of Saint Joe and Kaniksu national forests. 

When you get to the forest, you will find several areas of interest including Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area, Emerald Creek Garnet Area and two designated wilderness areas including Cabinet Mountains Wilderness and Salmo-Priest Wilderness. Some of the other amenities in the forest include dispersed camping, 42 campgrounds, 11 cabins, scenic drives, picnic sites, and trails (1984 miles). 

Recreational activities that are popular at the forest include rafting, camping, prospecting, fossil hunting, snowmobiling, mushroom collecting, mountain biking, horseback riding, swimming, boating, hiking, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, rock hounding, berry picking, fishing, hunting, OHV riding, and wildlife viewing. 

You can enjoy most of these facilities and amenities with your dog. That said, if you bring your dog into the forest, you have to make sure that you maintain complete control of your dog. It is recommended that you have brightly colored bandanas or dog collars as well as bells to be sure that your dog is easily identifiable. It is definitely important to keep your dog leashed, and you should stay on well-traveled roads.