International Selkirk Loop Bike Tour

Pedal miles of scenic roads, paved bike trails, pristine scenery, and endless vistas. This is a cycling paradise! Bring your passport: since this trip follows the International Selkirk Loop, you’ll pedal from northern Washington State into southern British Columbia, Canada. Ride beside rivers and lakes and mountains: spectacular Lake Coeur d’Alene; Priest Lake and Lake Pend Oreille, tucked deep in the mountains of Idaho’s panhandle; the Bitterroot, Selkirk and Cabinet mountain ranges. Breathe deep, ride hard and soak up day after day of glorious views.
Itinerary
Day 01
Pedal beside the Pend Oreille River through the million-acre Colville National Forest.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Comfort Inn
Distance
80 miles
Elevation
+3914 ft / -4488 ft
Ability Level
Intermediate
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.
Day 02
Ride across the border to Rossland, British Columbia, home to several Olympic gold medalists.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Prestige Mountain Resort
Distance
60 miles
Elevation
+4600 ft / -2756 ft
Ability Level
Intermediate
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.
Day 03
Pedal along the border to Nelson, British Columbia, see expansive views of the Kootenay Mountain Range.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Prestige Lakeside Resort
Distance
68 miles
Elevation
+4826 ft / -6432 ft
Ability Level
Intermediate
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.
Day 04
Hop a ferry. Then ride alongside Kootenay Lake to the U.S. border and shuttle to Sandpoint, Idaho.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Edgewater Resort
Distance
65 miles
Elevation
+4913 ft / -4753 ft
Ability Level
Intermediate
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.
Day 05
Explore Sandpoint, Idaho. USA Today named it the nation's "Most Beautiful Small Town."
Meals
– Breakfast
Lodging
Edgewater Resort
Ability Level
All Levels
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.
Day 06
Ride south: quiet, scenic roads lead to the beautiful resort town of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Meals
– Breakfast
– Lunch
– Dinner
Lodging
Roosevelt Inn
Distance
65 miles
Elevation
+1877 ft / -1790 ft
Ability Level
Intermediate
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.
Day 07
Ride the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes before heading back to Spokane for your homeward flight.
Meals
– Breakfast
Distance
47 miles
Elevation
+578 ft / -572 ft
Ability Level
Intermediate
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!