Benewah County: Prairie, trails, and river landscapes

Benewah County is home to Heyburn State Park, considered the oldest park in the Pacific Northwest. It encompasses about 5,744 acres of land and 2,332 acres of water. For a trip combining nature and outdoor activity, different landscape and route options are also worth exploring: from protected ecosystems and trails with different permitted uses to a scenic river route.

Prairie and park landscapes

Mary Minerva McCroskey State Park preserves the original Palouse Prairie—an endangered ecosystem that extends throughout the park. The landscapes include views of the Palouse Divide, cedar forests, open stands of ponderosa pine, and trails for a variety of uses. The trail system is open to mountain bikers, motorcyclists, horseback riders, and hikers.

Skyline Drive is a gravel road that runs through McCroskey State Park. It is just over 17 miles long and mostly single lane. Snow conditions are an important consideration in winter; check current conditions before setting out. This helps distinguish driving the road from activities on the trail system.

Trails and route options

The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is a 73-mile paved trail in the Idaho Panhandle that runs between Mullan and Plummer. Along the route are 20 developed access points and 20 scenic rest areas with tables for picnics or short breaks. For cyclists, the paved surface and the two endpoints are useful details; the rest areas also help with orientation along the way.

Comparing it with Skyline Drive helps distinguish the different route types: a long paved trail between two towns on the one hand, and a shorter, mostly single-lane gravel road through a state park on the other. When planning, it’s not just the mileage that matters, but also the surface, route, and—in the case of Skyline Drive—winter snow conditions.

Hiking and nature in the Crystal Lake Wilderness Study Area

The Crystal Lake Wilderness Study Area is in the northeastern corner of Benewah County and encompasses more than 9,000 acres of public land. Activities available there include hiking, camping, sightseeing, hunting, fishing, and berry picking. Crystal Lake is a destination for hikers using the Sheep Springs Campground and the trailhead located just outside the Wilderness Study Area.

The St. Joe River and St. Maries

The St. Joe River Scenic Byway begins in St. Maries and runs 75 miles east along the St. Joe River. The scenic route is also of interest to birdwatchers and anglers. Bald eagles, ospreys, trout, deer, elk, moose, and bears can be found along the route; however, wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

St. Maries Aqua Park provides a boat launch onto the St. Joe River. If you plan to use this access point, check the boat launch conditions before your visit.

History and the market in St. Maries

The Historic Hughes House Museum is housed in a log cabin built in 1902; it opened as a museum in 1990. Access depends on volunteers, so check in advance about visiting opportunities.

One edition of the St. Maries Farmers Market was scheduled for Friday, June 7, 2024, from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Mullan Trail Park. The market offers locally grown, handmade, and homemade products; the selection of vendors may vary. Check current market days and hours before visiting.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: St. Maries, Fernwood, Valley, Shoshone County, Bear Lake County, Canyon, Oneida County, Butte County.

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