International Selkirk Loop Bike Tour

The Selkirk Mountains range – pardon the pun – into eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and southeastern British Columbia. Today: Ride beside the Pend Oreille River as it winds through Colville National Forest – a million-acre-plus legacy from Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency and home to the last remaining herd of caribou in the U.S – and pedal over a pass on your way to Colville, the town. This ride is one of the Top 10 Scenic Routes in the Northern Rockies. Stop now and then for a handful of wild huckleberries while you count the bald eagles and savor the amazing views.

Ride challenging, hilly 60-ish miles north and across the Canadian border today. Just across the border sits tiny Rossland. Thousands of skiers and snowboarders descend on its Red Mountain Resort each winter – some with names you’ll recognize: Dallas Drake, retired NHL Hockey player; Kerrin Lee-Gartner, downhill skier and Nancy Greene, downhill skier and Olympic Gold medalist. Summer finds it full of wildflowers, expansive views and a giant network of technical high alpine singletrack revered by mountain bikers.

Ride 60+ miles today, from Rossland along the southern British Columbia border into the artsy cultural centre of Nelson. Once a silver mining town, then a logging town, Nelson became a haven for well-educated draft-dodgers who were willing to put down roots. Top that off with an extensive network of mountain-bike trails, rock-climbing and bouldering hotspots, and you’ve got a smart, hip and very fit population. Plus a great brewery.

This morning, hop aboard a ferry to sail from Nelson to Creston across Kootenay Lake, tucked between the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges. It’s one of the largest lakes in the province, home to largemouth bass, Dolly Varden trout, and Kokanee salmon. There were no paved roads into this spectacular region until the mid-1960s. Watch for the Boswell Glass House – built entirely of bottles! – and spectacular views of the Kokanee Glacier. This afternoon, shuttle back across the border to Sand Point, Idaho.

Explore Sandpoint today. Riding, hiking, golf, or fishing – take your pick from a bevy of options for things to do on your own. Surrounded by the Selkirk, Cabinet and Bitterroot ranges, Sandpoint is also home to Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, Idaho’s second largest ski resort after Sun Valley. If mountaintops are your thing, shuttle (or pedal) up to the resort and enjoy a complimentary lift-ticket to see the fabulous views from the top. Hike or ride the lift back down. Lunch and dinner are on your own today.

Sixty-five miles of scenic side roads wind south to the idyllic resort town of Coeur d’Alene. Early French-speaking fur traders called the local peoples the Coeur d’Alene (translation: “awl heart,” meaning ‘sharp-hearted’ or ‘shrewd’). Twenty-five-mile long Coeur d’Alene Lake is one of the most spectacular places in the Idaho Panhandle. It’s the perfect place to watch tonight’s sunset.

The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes bike path follows the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way along the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene into the Chain Lakes region and the historic Silver Valley. You won’t have time to ride the whole 73-mile stretch today but the 40 miles you will pedal today are through the most remote and scenic sections. A perfect finish to a fabulous week of cycling!