Roman Nose Lakes Hike

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Hike the trails of the Roman Nose Lakes area.

This hike covers all the trails here except the Roman Nose Lakes Accessible Trail. In doing so, it takes one from the dense forest to the talus-covered slopes of Idaho's Selkirk Mountains' crest. Nestled below the peaks are two of the cute Roman Nose Lakes. The third lake is viewed from above.

This is an impressively scenic hike with several great viewpoints.

The Roman Nose Lakes are found deep in the wild, scenic Idaho Selkirks backcountry. Going north on US 95, about 22 miles north of Sandpoint and just south of Naples is a turnoff to the left/west onto Deep Creek Loop - take this turnoff. Once on Deep Creek Loop, it can take up to 2 hours to get to the trailhead, as the roads become increasingly rough. From here:
- go 6.3 miles north on paved Deep Creek Loop
- then turn left onto Lions Den/Snow Creek Road for 2.0 miles (this road turns right after the first half mile, and then left to cross the railroad tracks after another 0.9 miles)
- then go left at the Y onto the gravel FSR 402/Snow Creek Road for 9.1 miles
- then veer left onto FSR 1007 for 7.3 miles (this road gets worse and worse as it goes over Caribou Pass and Ruby Pass)
- then go right onto FSR 2667 for 0.5 miles
- then stay right (on FSR 2667) at the Y for 1.0 miles to overflow parking, and another half mile to the trailhead parking

Hiking In (0.7 miles)
From the parking area, on a wide gravel path, head into the forest dominated by subalpine firs. The trail soon crosses the outlet creek of the lower Roman Nose Lake on a sturdy bridge and leaves the gravel behind. The trail winds around in the forest as it gently climbs for the first half mile. The first trail junction with Roman Nose Lakes Trail #165A is passed on the left/south at the 0.3-mile mark, stay to the right. As the trail, climbs the trees get smaller and impressive views open up.

At the 0.6 mile mark, the trail passes Roman Nose Lakes Trail #165A for the second time (stay to the right) as the trail levels off. Almost immediately, an open rocky overlook is reached where one can see far to the northeast, the Kootenai River Valley and Purcell Mountains beyond it. After admiring the views, the trail junction with Roman Nose Lakes Trail #165B that leads to the middle Roman Nose Lake is reached. Go right here, onto Roman Nose Lakes Trail #165B.

Visit Middle Roman Nose Lake (1.0 mile)
The trail descends gradually through the forest and over open rock slabs, to arrive at the middle Roman Nose Lake. At first, in the forest, after about a quarter mile, the trail reaches an open rock slab area at the top edge of cliffs to the right/east. The expansive views to the north and east make this a great place for a break. Nearby forested foothills below give way to the Kootenai River Valley. Beyond the river valley are the Purcell Mountains.

Leaving the viewpoint, the trail re-enters the forest, veers left/west after another quarter mile, and the lake comes into view. This is the middle Roman Nose Lake, a pretty lake set in a high, rocky bowl. About 500 feet later, the trail ends at the lake's edge near its outlet creek.

Return the way you came to the trail junction along the main Roman Nose Lakes Trail #165, and go right.

Visit Upper Roman Nose Lake (1.6 miles)
Continuing on, the trail soon hugs the bottom of a steep talus slope dotted with larches, for a short way before returning to the forest, which is now thinner and a mix of subalpine firs and larches. After about another quarter mile, the upper Roman Nose Lake is reached. Set in a rugged, rocky cirque, this scenic lake is the largest of the three Roman Nose Lakes. The trail then follows the lake's southeast shoreline almost to the far end of the lake, where it fades.

Time to turn around and hike back a tenth of a mile past the trail junction to the middle lake, to the next trail junction. Go right here to continue on the scenic loop.

Scenic Loop (1.7 miles)
Hiking through thin forest, the trail winds around as it climbs the north end of a ridge for almost a half mile. Views to the west showcase rugged peaks and slopes of Idaho's Selkirk Mountains. As the trail climbs, views to the east emerge. After about a half mile, the trail begins descending gradually to traverse the rocky eastern slopes of the ridge. Leaving the views to the west behind, this descent is basically one long viewpoint of the views to the east - the Purcell Mountains in the far distance, the Kootenai River Valley, and the lower Roman Nose Lake. Several gentle switchbacks continue down the mountainside above the lower lake. Gradually, trees, small at first, then larger, surround the trail until it is back in the forest.

Finally, the lower trail junction with the main Roman Nose Lakes Trail #165. is reached. Go right here to return to the parking area.

Mixed conifer forest with abundance of subalpine fir. Larches at higher elevations. Dense undergrowth of bushes. Grasses in open areas. Deer live here.