Plowboy Mountain Navigation Loop

Dogs Leashed

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

This loop combines two trails - a mountain trail and a lakeshore trail, with a short stretch on a rarely used forest service road. It is primarily a forest hike through the beautiful cedar forest with other conifers, bushes, and wildflowers mixed in. With that said, there are nice views also, especially where the trees thin, and where the terrain provides overlooks.

The Plowboy Mountain Navigation Loop begins and ends at the Navigation Trail #291 trailhead parking area. Follow the parking area access road down to the Beaver Creek Campground entrance and go right onto the unpaved Forest Service Road (FSR) 1341. Take FSR 1341 to Plowboy Mountain Trail #295, then hike over Plowboy Mountain to Navigation Trail #291 which brings one back to the parking area starting point of this loop.

Details:

FSR 1341 (parking area - 2.9 mile mark)
FSR 1341 is a rarely used Forest Service Road that goes through beautiful forest. It climbs very gradually to the Plowboy Mountain Trail #295 trailhead that is marked by a small sign and room for a few cars, on the right. Go right here to continue on Plowboy Mountain Trail #295.

Plowboy Mountain Trail #295 (2.9 - 8.7 mile mark)
Plowboy Mountain Trail is a forest trail. It goes to the top of Plowboy Mountain and then back down the other side. Views are limited, but great :>)

The hike continues here in beautiful cedar forest with other conifers mixed in. The tall, stately cedars block the sunlight from getting through so there is very little undergrowth, but a lot of deadfall (not on the trail though) from the generations of trees that have died off. Climbing steadily on the south side of Plowboy Mountain for the next 2.8 miles, 1,900 feet of elevation is gained as the forest changes. The trees gradually thin and there are less cedars. The sun gets through and bushy undergrowth takes over. Mountains and Priest Lake can be seen through the trees. Additionally, there are a few open spots that provide nice views of Priest Lake and the Selkirk Crest to the east, and the Shedroof Divide to the west.

As the climb eases, the rounded Plowboy Mountain summit area is reached. There is a mix of open grassy areas and thin forest here. At the highest point, there is an open grassy area marking the summit. Here at the summit, there are stone ruins of an old lookout just off the trail to the left/west. The forested ridge to the west is the Shedroof Divide. To the east, trees block the views.

Leaving the summit, the trail immediately returns to the forest on the north side of Plowboy Mountain. Remaining in the forest for its entire descent of about 2,400 feet over 3.1 miles, there are limited but good views to the northeast - Upper Priest Lake, and the Selkirk Mountains. As one descends, less sunlight reaches the forest floor, the undergrowth disappears and cedars dominate again. Plowboy Mountain Trail ends in the forest at the Navigation Camp Access spur and Navigation Trail #291. Go right onto Navigation Trail #291 to head back to the beginning of this loop hike.

Navigation Trail #291 (8.7 mile mark - parking area)
Continuing on, Navigation Trail runs along the west side of Upper Priest Lake for the next 2.2 miles. Initially for 0.9 miles, the trail is a slightly inland from the lake as it climbs and descends over a small rise. Coming down from this rise, the trail moves to the edge of the lake where it stays for the next 1.3 miles. There are gorgeous views, across the lake to the Selkirk Crest along this stretch.

Leaving the lake behind, almost immediately the trail reaches Plowboy Camp Spur- the access spur for Plowboy trail camp. This spur is worth exploring - with its beaches and picnic tables, it's a great place for a break. Upon leaving Plowboy trail camp, the trail runs through the beautiful cedar forest for its remaining 2.6 miles. Surrounded by trees, large and small, it is easy hiking on the soft conifer needles. A few streams and muddy areas are crossed on good boardwalks.

After a total of 13.7 miles of hiking, the trail pops out of the forest into the parking area where this loop hike began.

Beautiful mixed conifer forest, tall stately cedars, hemlocks, pines, and others. Sparse to dense undergrowth depending on the amount of sunlight that gets through the forest canopy. Wildflowers - bear grass, tiger lilies, and others.