Beargrass
As streams recede, roads dry out, and everything becomes green again; thoughts turn to
camping and picnicking across Lincoln County's Kootenai National Forest. Besides the many
developed campgrounds, the Forest offers a variety of places to enjoy the environment -
everything from "wide spots" in the road for picnicking nears streams, to
"hike in" mountain meadows camps. A list of National Forest recreation sites and
their facilities can be found on maps provided by the U.S. Forest Service. Most of the
major access roads on the forest parallel streams for much of their route, and the zone
between road and stream can offer an afternoon of whatever you're looking for - just
studying plants or birds, looking for berries, or perhaps sitting on a log listening to
the water. Many elements of the forest come together here along the streams - a great
place to visit.
In addition to many of the lakes on the Forest, there are a few streams which my be
floated in early to middle summer. The Kootenai River may be drifted by the experienced
floater above the Kootenai Falls area and below it to Idaho. The Clark Fork River moves
slowly as it traverses the Forest, but portions of the Yaak and Bull Rivers are usually
navigable by the knowledgeable floater. Althought the water is never warm, some of the
larger streams may also be braved in inner tubes. Remember that much of the land alongs
these streams is private.
Photo by Darwin Paden
Fishing is usually best in June and July on lakes and streams. Flies and small spinners
will often produce catches in nearly any lake or stream.
High country lakes are also the focus of hikers and fisherman in the summer. While the
Cabinet Mountains Wilderness receives a high proportion of this use, there are many other
quality areas on the Forest offering scenery, hiking, and a place to fish, often with few
people. A partial list would include the Vermilion and upper Fisher Rivers, the western
Cabinet Mountains from the Clark Fork to the Kootenai Rivers, the northwest part of Yaak
country, and the northeast corner of the Forest in and around the Ten Lakes Scenic Area.
Robinson Mountain and the Mt. Henry area are also good places to get away from it all, as
is much of the state line country in the Trout Creek-Beaver Creek areas. There are maps
available from the Forest Service that show recreation trails across the Forest and the
road access to them.
A map and brochure of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness is available and will help you plan
a visit to this area. By June, on into July, many newborn critters inhabit the quiet
places away from the beaten track. All through summer the high country flowers are
blooming providing delicate beauty to meadow, forest, and rock ledge. A wild flower
collection made over one season in just the Cabinet Mountains includes over 135 identified
species. Perhaps the best place to find variety is in areas of shallow, rocky soils with
few trees and/or other competitive vegetation.
Photo by Darwin Paden
Often such open areas have burned in the past. One of the familiar plants that favors
old burns is huckleberry. The Kootenai National Forest is known for its fine berry
patches; not only huckleberry, but juneberry, raspberry, Oregon grape, thimbleberry, black
raspberry, and currant. Usually in late August through September, the Forest berry patches
are invaded by people, bears, and birds. While the same huckleberry patch may vary from
year to year, the serious picker can usually find more than enough berries, if not on the
mid slopes of the southern end of the Cabinet Mountains, many of the Clark Fork River
tributaries, or the Yaak River, then almost certainly in some shady higher basin in the
mountains.
Mountain
Huckleberries
As berry bushes and other plants dry out in late summer, the danger of fire increases with every rainless day. Although the role of fire is now more clearly understood, and the capability for managing it is much improved, fire still poses a real threat to many forest resources. Summer storms and their lightning are beyond man's control, but we can prevent wildfires caused by the careless smoker, the unattended campfire, or burning brush on windy days.
This page produced by Kootenet Volunteer, Marge Sullivan