Mount Pend Oreille Summit Spur

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Mount Pend Oreille Summit Spur is reached by hiking Pend Oreille Divide Trail #67 deep in the backcountry of Idaho's Cabinet Mountains. Accessed by about a 1 1/2 hour drive over forest service roads, the fun begins at Trestle Creek Road #275, 12 miles east of Sandpoint on Idaho 200. Trestle Creek Road is a well marked left/north turn off of ID 200 when driving east from Sandpoint. From here:
- go 12 miles on Trestle Creek Road #275
- then veer left onto Lunch Peak Road #1019 for 4 miles
- then park in the parking area, without driving up to the Lunch Peak lookout tower

Mount Pend Oreille Summit Spur is found at a signed trail fork along Pend Oreille Divide Trail #67, 3.1 miles from the parking area. Stay to the right/east here, to hike to Mount Pend Oreille's summit.

The trail follows the ridge, just below the ridge crest to the east. This is a fairly open area with great views into the distance, to the left/west. Forested hills, valleys, mountains, and Lake Pend Oreille can all be seen on a sunny day. To the right, the grass and talus covered ridge rises steeply to its crest.

This spur trail climbs continuously, and rather steeply in places, until it reaches the small summit plateau after about 0.4 miles. The summit plateau has a few hardy trees perched on its rocky, grassy "table top". Remains of an old lookout greet one upon reaching the plateau. The trail then turns right/east and heads to the summit block, a low rock outcrop at the east end of the summit plateau. Getting there, sheer cliffs drop off on the left/north side of the trail - luckily, on the right is a gentle grassy slope giving plenty of room to stay away from the cliffs.

There are awesome, 360 degree views up here. Selkirk Mountains to the west, Cabinet Mountains to the east. Lake Pend Oreille to the southwest, Pend Oreille Divide ridge going north, and more. This is a great place for lunch.

Grass stewn with rocks, boulders, and talus. Stands of subalpine firs, a few larches, and one or two whitebark pines.