Beauty Bay Overlook

Beauty Bay Overlook is a quick leg stretcher with decent views across Beauty Bay. It is not nearly as dramatic, or popular, as nearby Mineral Ridge, but give it a try anyway: it’s only half a mile and features excellent picnic facilities.
Location
  • Coeur d’Alene Mountains
Rating
1.5 out of 5
Difficulty
Easy
Distance
0.6 miles
Duration
0:14 hours moving time (Hiking)
Elevation Gain
70 feet
High Point
2,682 feet (Hilltop)
Low Point
2,564 feet (Trailhead)
Features
Outing Type
  • Daytrip
  • Trail Type
  • Loop
  • Trailbed
    Asphalt; packed dirt
    Trail#
    Water
  • None
  • Camping
    • Not allowed. Picnic tables and grills (7) and restrooms are at the trailhead
    Conditions
    • Excellent. The first 800 feet are wheelchair accessible
    Administration
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Status
  • Unprotected
  • Maps
    USGS
  • Mount Coeur d’Alene
  • Fees & Permits
  • None required
  • ()
    Open To
  • Hikers
  • Dogs
  • Mountain Bikers
  • (non-motorized)
    Directions
  • From I-90, take exit #22 (Wolf Lodge Bay) and head south on ID-97 for 4.5 miles. The signed entrance will be on the right once you climb to the hilltop; there is parking for 4-5 vehicles.
  • Season
    Year-around
    Resources
      Date
      September 4, 2020

      The first bit of this trail, to the viewing deck, is wheelchair accessible. Views are limited to the Beauty Bay area. From the viewing deck onward, the trail is a packed-dirt singletrack, climbing to the hilltop, but the views really don’t improve. The trail then meanders through the woods with filtered lake views and circles back to the parking lot. Short and quick!

      Alternate Routes

        Things to Consider

          Not so great

            The first section to the viewing deck is wheelchair accessible
            Viewing deck
            View from the deck across Beauty Bay
            View from the hilltop is mostly of forest (view is northwestwards towards Coeur d’Alene)
            The hilltop is fairly open
            On the west side the trail enters forest
            Even from the forest there are some filtered views
            Picnic area at the trailhead