Roman Nose Lakes Trail #165

Dogs Leashed

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

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

Roman Nose Lakes Trail #165 starts on a wide gravel path on the west side of the parking area.

Heading 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. 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 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 passed at the 0.7 mile mark.

Continuing on, the trail soon hugs the bottom of a steep talus slope dotted with larches, for a short ways before returning to the forest, which is now thinner and a mix of subalpine firs and larches. At the 1.1 mile mark, 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 after a total of 1.4 miles.

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