Stevens County: Winter Trails, Landscapes and History

Winter Trails and Summer Activities

Stevens County combines opportunities for outdoor activities with striking landscapes and historic sites. When planning your trip, it’s worth considering the different highlights: groomed cross-country ski trails and snowshoe trails are on offer alongside snowmobile trails, summer activities and cultural history.

At the 49 Degrees North Nordic Center, you’ll find groomed trails for classic and skate skiing, snowshoe trails and access for fat bikes. Rentals and lessons round out what’s on offer. Sand Canyon Sno-Park has 67 miles of snowmobile trails. This gives you a clear choice of different kinds of winter activities: cross-country ski trails, snowshoe trails and fat bike access at the Nordic Center, or snowmobile trails at the sno-park.

A range of activities is also described for the warmer months. In summer, the service roads in the West, Central and East Basins at 49 North can be used for mountain biking. The Nordic trail system, service roads and ski slopes are also available for hiking. These options give you specific ideas if you’d like to focus your trip on biking or hiking.

Forests, Water and a Scenic Route

Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge is a mountainous coniferous forest preserve. Its elevations range from 1,800 to 5,600 feet; the area is shaped by several forest zones, lakes, wetlands and more than 80 miles of streams. It provides habitat for bears, cougars, deer, elk, moose and more than 200 bird species. For nature lovers, the refuge offers a diverse landscape and a wide variety of wildlife.

Colville National Forest is one of Stevens County’s recreational resources. The Sherman Pass Scenic Byway passes through this forest, crossing 5,575-foot Sherman Pass on its way toward Kettle Falls and Lake Roosevelt. The byway follows State Route 20 between Republic and Kettle Falls. The route makes the pass itself a clear landmark when planning a trip that includes both scenery and the journey.

At Kettle Falls Trail, the path runs 0.75 miles to the Colville River; there are opportunities for birdwatching along the way. For a short trail with a specific destination, you can compare this route with Mission Point Trail: It is 0.25 miles long and includes St. Paul’s Mission. Interpretive panels there explain the 9,000-year history of Kettle Falls.

The Kettle Falls area of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area has a boat launch. Alongside trail information, this gives travelers ideas for activities that take in both the water and the landscape.

History and Culture in Kettle Falls and Colville

St. Paul’s Mission is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In the Kettle Falls area, it recalls the Catholic presence as well as the history of the Indigenous people served by the priests. The interpretive panels along Mission Point Trail connect this historic site with a broader view of the region’s history.

Kettle Falls Historical Center is located on the historic Columbia River in Kettle Falls. Colville is also connected with an early chapter in local history: Colville’s first public schoolhouse was built in 1874 and later moved to Keller Heritage Park. Keller House and Carriage House are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Stevens County Historical Society’s Keller Heritage Center is a seven-acre park with a collection of historic buildings and a fire lookout tower.

Northeast Washington Fair promotes agricultural awareness and education through hands-on experiences, exhibits and demonstrations. Together with the historic sites and outdoor activities, it makes for a trip that doesn’t have to focus on just one activity: You can tailor the balance of nature, routes and cultural history to your interests.

Discover more destinations: Kettle Falls, Valley, Northport, Loon Lake, Grays Harbor County, Whitman County, Klickitat County, Whatcom.

Go to the main travel overview: Washington.