International Selkirk Loop
Colville National Forest, WA

For an excursion into the bygone days of natural land untouched and unpolluted, try the Colville National Forest. Pass quietly through tall emerald stands that tower over the sun-freckled ground vegetation in an incredible 1.1 million protected acres of Ponderosa Pine Country. Rolling hills and valleys strewn with rivers cover this area in northeast Washington. The mountain ranges are the Okanogan, Kettle River, and Selkirk, along with the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. A variety of plants and animals make every glance picture-perfect. In fact, there is a legend of scouts who once mistook a valley for a huge lake because it was so thick with blue camas blossoms. The forest is divided into different management areas. The Salmo-Priest Wilderness offers a spot where hikers can see all kinds of wildlife and few people. Less primitive recreational opportunities include motorcycle trails, snowmobile trails, lakes with boat launches, interpretive trails, and scenic drives.

Indians began hunting, gathering, and fishing in this area about 9,000 years ago. Tribes from as far away as Montana and Yakima came during the salmon runs each year. Paths have been worn into the ridge tops by centuries of yearly migration. After the Indians, white settlers also came to this rich and diverse area. Interpretive trails near Sullivan Lake and Kettle Falls tell the stories of early logging, saw milling, and mining. Specific trails include the Log Flume Interpretive Trail, a half-mile walk among the ruins of a logging operation from the 1920s, and the White Mountain Fire interpretive signs.