Blue Creek Bay Loop

The Blue Creek Bay trail combines an extensive network of former logging roads into a roughly six-mile lollipop loop. The trail is well-maintained, easy to hike, and mostly double-track. The forest is more open and interspersed with meadows than most in the inland northwest, making this more suitable for cooler weather than the very shaded Mineral Ridge trail across Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Location
  • Coeur d’Alene Mountains
Rating
2.0 out of 5
Difficulty
Easy
Distance
6.1 miles
Duration
1:49 hours moving time (Hiking)
Elevation Gain
972 feet
High Point
2,810 feet (Ridge)
Low Point
2,105 feet (trailhead)
Features
  • Lake
  • Meadow
  • Outing Type
  • Daytrip
  • Trail Type
  • Lollipop
  • Trailbed
    Packed dirt; decommissioned logging roads
    Trail#
    Water
  • None
  • Camping
    • Not allowed
    Conditions
    • Excellent
    Administration
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Wallace Forest Conservation Area
  • Status
  • County Park
  • Maps
    USGS
  • Fernan Lake
  • Fees & Permits
  • None required
  • (None required)
    Open To
  • Hikers
  • Dogs
  • Horses
  • Mountain Bikers
  • (dogs must be leashed)
    Directions
  • From I-90 take the Wolf Lodge Bay exit (#22) and turn north. Follow the Yellowstone Trail Road (left, gravel road) for about two miles for the upper trailhead or continue and turn south onto the Landing Road which leads to the boat launch. There is plenty of parking at either trailhead.
  • Season
    Year-around
    Date
    September 18, 2016

    The Blue Creek Bay area is conveniently located at the east end of Lake Coeur d’Alene, only a few miles from the city, and most of those are on I-90. The lower trailhead (non-motorized boat launch) offers picnic areas and several docks. The trail commences on the left-hand side of the road (as you approach) and immediately ascends the hill, covered by a dense and lush forest canopy. The trail is well marked with blue blazes. Bear left (straight) when you get to the first marker that seems puzzling. As you continue, the trail meanders through open meadows, crosses Yellowstone Trail Road and leads to the upper trailhead. The trail continues to the right of the trailhead and gets steeper as you go on, with a few switchbacks making the steepest parts easier.

    As soon as you emerge on the ridge, the forest recedes and gives way to open meadows. The trail widens to a double-track as it dissects the meadow. To the left are remnants of an old corral, attesting to the area’s former agricultural and logging uses. The trail continues to ascend, veering off to the left, and then moving into the forest once again, taking the shape of a single track. The shade is welcome on a hot day, but doesn’t last long, as the trail soon crosses the next meadow, morphs into yet another old logging road, and climbs the ridge once again. At the ridgeline, the trail turns almost 180 degrees, and continues slightly uphill, promising the hiker incredible views of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Soon the highest point of the hillock is attained and all hopes for a great vantage point are dashed. It is pretty nonetheless, a park-like setting with trees interspersed with glens and meadows. At the end of this plateau, the main path (old logging road) swerves north and downhill; instead, follow the single-track straight into the woods. The path is unmarked, aside from an arrow pointing south with the label “Ruby Ridge”. It is well-trodden, though, and easy to follow. It also offers the best views of Lake Coeur d’Alene, especially Wolf Lodge Bay and Mineral Ridge. The path drops, following the contour of the ridge. Near the bottom it swerves to the right, picking up another old logging road, which leads to another marked as the “red” trail. Continue upwards on this road and take a left on the “orange” trail after a few hundred yards. The orange trail (also an old logging road) offers occasional filtered views of Lake Coeur d’Alene and Blue Creek Bay. It makes its way uphill steadily, where it joins up with the “blue” trail. Follow this downhill and back to the trailhead.

    Alternate Routes

      Things to Consider

        Not so great

          Parking lot and docks (lower trailhead)
          Blue Creek Bay
          Lower trailhead
          An inviting bench overlooking a meadow in the lower section
          Path leading slightly uphill through meadows
          Crossing the road to the upper trailhead
          A rotting corral
          A pretty stump up on the ridge
          Most of the trail is double track
          Rosehips
          Filtered views of Mineral Ridge and Wolf Lodge Bay
          An overturned tree
          Filtered views of Blue Creek bay
          There seems to be more meadow than forest

          One Comment

          1. Herb Heglund says:

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          Comments are closed.