Stormking Parkway

Dogs Leashed

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

To get to the parking area from State Highway 53, at Rathdrum:
- Turn north on McCartney St.
- Then go right onto Oneida St.
- Then go left onto Reservoir Rd.
- And finally go left onto Barrett Dr. that ends at the parking area.

This is a wide, fire road style trail with excellent tread from start to finish.

Stormking Parkway is found across the road from the main parking area, on the left/north. The trail immediately enters the beautiful mixed forest, dominated by tall, stately pines. Much of the trail is a moderate climb as the trail takes one up close to Rathdrum Mountain's summit (which is not readily accessible due to private land). This is a beautiful forest trail with dense undergrowth from start to end. Breaks in the trees reveal the beauty of this area - nearby pine forested hills and distant forested hills.

Stormking Parkway is easy to follow with a few trail junctions along the way. Watch for orange trail signs. The first trail junction (unmarked) is at the 0.1 mile marker - veer left here continuing on the wide Stormking Parkway. At the 0. 65 mile mark is a signed trail junction with Timber Ridge Lane - stay straight here to continue on Stormking Parkway. The next trail junction is with Majestic Passage at the 1.2 mile mark, continue straight here to stay on Stormking Parkway.

Stormking Parkway soon turns west in the forest, as it climbs the lower slopes of Rathdrum Mountain. Its summit is to the right/north and the terrain slopes down on the left. A few small streams flowing down the mountain, are passed. At the 2.5 mile mark a vague (future?) trail is passed on the right - veer left here to stay on the obvious Stormking Parkway. At the 3.1 mile mark an unmarked trail is passed on the left/south.

Continuing to wind along on the forested slopes, the radio tower pops out at the 3.5 mile mark as the trail makes a sharp right turn to head north toward the Rathdrum Mountain summit. There are great views of the summit ahead. Supposedly there is a trail that veers off to the right very soon, but it was no where to be seen (maybe a future trail?) Continuing north toward Rathdrum Mountain's summit, the trail ends at a gate after about another half mile. Time to turn around and go back.

Mixed pine forest with dense undergrowth. Deer and wild turkeys.