Snow Lake Trail #185

Dogs Leashed

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

The trails to Snow Lake and Bottleneck Lake 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 an hour 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
- just before FSR 1007 starts, there is a small parking area on the right, and trailhead sign for these trails

Snow Lake Trail is a forest trail that climbs gently for its entire length. A few small creeks are crossed. As the trail climbs the views get better and better.

From the trailhead sign, the path is wide as it enters the forest. The Snow Creek valley, with the creek at its bottom, drops off to the left. As the trail follows the creek upstream, it can often be heard, but rarely seen through the thick foliage. At the 1.5 mile mark a well marked trail junction with Bottleneck Lake Trail #187 is reached. Go straight (left) here to continue hiking Snow Lake Trail.

Soon a small side creek is crossed, followed by crossing Snow Creek at the 2.1 mile mark. Continuing to follow Snow Creek upstream, the creek can often be heard and there are some glimpses of it in the valley below to the right/west. A couple switchbacks aid the climb up the east side of the creek valley. Climbing, nice views of the surrounding mountains emerge, especially when looking down the trail corridor.

At the 3.0 mile mark, the trail turns right/west towards Snow Creek. But just before the creek is reached an unmarked trail junction with a large pole sticking up, appears. Take the left fork here. The trail then immediately turns left, and without crossing the creek, continues to follow it upstream.

After a couple more switchbacks, nearby peaks to the west emerge, including Bottleneck Peak, 6,782 ft., although its massive, nearby shoulder ridges allow only its summit to poke up behind them. Continuing on, as the trail goes higher, there are great views down the Snow Creek valley to distant mountains, by the 3.8 mile mark.

A final, short uphill push brings one to the Snow Lake area. The trail turns right and crosses the wet, outlet creek area (the beginning of Snow Creek), on a sturdy boardwalk. Side trails to the left go to the lake's edge. After the first boardwalk, the trail turns left, goes over a second boardwalk, and almost immediately is at the lake's edge, where it ends.

Conifer forest with dense undergrowth. Summer wildflowers. Deer live here.