Guided hikes
We offer free group hikes in the Scotchmans all winter and summer long! We have hikes for all abilities–from easy family hikes to off-trail bushwhack adventures. All hikes are led by volunteers.
Trail Projects
Each summer, we restore trails in the Scotchmans so that people can continue to explore our wild backyard. We use crosscut saws, Pulaski’s, shovels, and teamwork to care for the trail. Join us for a trail project day to give back to the trails you love.
Events
We host events all year long throughout Idaho and Montana to build community around a love for the outdoors. Family fun in the summer, film festivals in the winter and wild trivia are just a few of the events you can look forward to.
hike: FULL – Little Spar Lake Hike
This hike is currently FULL. Please sign up for the waitlist below. Join us for an epic hike to Little Spar Lake, the largest alpine lake in the Scotchmans! This hike is just under 7-miles with 1,800 feet of elevation gain, and a creek crossing or two. The trail will take us through a canyon of lush, inland temperate rainforest …
hike: POSTPONED – Montana Eagle Experience, Date TBA
Join Friends of Scotchman Peaks and Kaniksu Land Trust for a spectacular Montana Eagle Experience! Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with our Montana Eagle Experience, where Paul and Anne Schnell, Eagle and Raptor experts will share their knowledge, passion and their magnificent birds with us at the beautiful Cabinet View Nature Area in Heron. You’ll learn about their behavior, habitat, and …
event: Trail Project: Star Gulch Overnight
Join FSPW and Kootenai National Forest for a few days of good work on the Star Gulch Trail! We’ll clear downed trees and clear brush. Wear sturdy boots, carry lots of water, dress in long pants, long shirt, hat, sunblock, and bring your own work gloves. This will be a self supported backpack trip. Meet @9:00am and finish the next …
hike: Foraging Hike with Megan & Juli
Embark on a magical journey through the lush forest, as you discover the hidden treasures nature has to offer. Follow your senses and collect wild edibles, vibrant berries, and fragrant herbs. The crackle of leaves beneath your feet and the sweet scent of pine needles in the air makes this foraging hike an unforgettable adventure. Join board member and resident …
hike: FULL – Little Spar Lake Overnight Backpack
This hike is currently full. Please feel free to sign up for the waitlist below. Thank you! Experience the serenity of the wilderness with our Little Spar Lake Overnight Backpacking Adventure. Nestled in the heart of pristine backcountry, this journey promises breathtaking vistas, tranquil lakeside camping, and unforgettable moments under the starlit sky. Our adventure begins at the trailhead, where …
event: Family Campout at Fishtrap Lake
Sanders County 4-H, Friends of Scotchman Peaks and Kaniksu Land Trust are teaming up to host a family campout at Fishtrap Lake! A family campout is a perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy quality time with loved ones in the great outdoors. Imagine roasting marshmallows over a crackling fire, telling stories under the …
event: Trail Project: East Fork Peak #563
Join us on a trail project! You’ll help to clear downed trees, repair tread, enhance trail by trimming back plants, and reduce user-created shortcuts on the trail. Wear sturdy boots, carry lots of water, pack lunch and lots of snacks, dress in long pants, long shirt, hat, sunblock, and bring your own work gloves. FSPW will take care of the …
hike: Moose Lake & Char Falls Hike
The Cabinet Mountains are a wonderfully remote region of North Idaho that’s begging to be explored, and it’s here you’ll find the little-known waterfall known as Char Falls and the beautiful Moose Lake north of the Scotchmans. For a memorable trek through unspoiled scenery, this alpine lake and hidden falls won’t disappoint. Moose Lake Trail is a perfect short, easy …
event: Ladies Trail Project: Star Peak #999
Join us on an all ladies trail project where you can break a sweat, meet new friends, and give back to our wild backyard. Our focus today will be on brushing and trimming back plant overgrowth. We’ll also clear downed trees and repair tread as needed and reduce user-created shortcuts on the trail. No experience necessary for this welcoming day …
hike: Star Peak via Pillick Ridge
Join us for a hike to Star Peak via Blacktail Creek Trail and Pillick Ridge. We will hike up Blacktail Creek Trail 997 then use a hunters trail to make our way up to Pillick Ridge and hiking to Star Peak then down Historic Big Eddy Trail 999 (Star Peak Trail) to Hwy 200. Climbing a little over 4,000 feet, …
event: The Big Burn Film Showing & Hike
114th Anniversary Showing of The Big Burn Saturday, August 17th at 7:00pm, Rex Theater, Thompson Falls, MT In the summer of 1910, the largest fire in American history raged in the Norther Rockies. In the spring of 1905, the first group of fresh-faced graduates of Yale’s Forestry School began to arrive in the bawdy frontier towns of the West. These …
event: Trail Project: Morris Creek Trail #132
If you’re looking for something a little more easy-going in the Scotchmans, Morris Creek Trail #132 has you covered with a modest elevation gain. You’ll travel along Morris Creek through a dense cedar forest filled with berries, mushrooms, wildflowers, and other forest wonders. You’ll help to clear downed trees, repair tread, enhance trail by trimming back plants, and reduce user-created …
hike: Labor up to Spar Peak on Labor Day!
Labor on up to the most beautiful views on top of Spar Peak this Labor day. We will follow cub creek as we ascend to the Ridgeline. Fall colors may already be in view! After a break at the top we will descend back to where we began with an opportunity to enjoy big spar lake at the end. This …
event: Trail Project: East Fork Peak #153
Join us on a trail project where you can break a sweat, meet new friends, and give back to our wild backyard. You’ll help to clear downed trees, repair tread, remove water bars, and reduce user-created shortcuts on the trail. Wear sturdy boots, carry lots of water, pack lunch and lots of snacks, dress in long pants, long shirt, hat, …
hike: Daisy Creek Mine/Archeology Hike
Join Friends of Scotchman Peaks and Erika Scheuring, Archeologist with the Lolo National Forest for a journey back in time to hear the history of the Iron Daisy Mine and see the old cabins of those who lived nearby. This abandoned mine is located in the Coeur d’Alene Mountains of western Montana, a mile and a half south of Prospect …
event: Trail Project: Trail Steward’s Choice
Join us on a trail project where you can break a sweat, meet new friends, and give back to our wild backyard. You’ll help to clear downed trees, repair tread, enhance trail by trimming back plants, and reduce user-created shortcuts on the trail. Wear sturdy boots, carry lots of water, pack lunch and lots of snacks, dress in long pants, …
hike: South Fork Ross Creek Falls
Join FSPW on this wonderful hike on the South Fork of the Ross Creek Cedars. Leave the summer crowds behind as we make our way through the ancient Cedars, following the creek up to a waterfall. The trail is mostly shady and passes through the Sawtooth Fire of 2015. It will be interesting to see the regrowth. Come prepared, the …
event: National Public Lands Day: Trail Project: Morris Creek #132
Join us for National Public Lands Day 2024. This is a big day for Wilderness advocates like FSPW. We chose this location due to it’s easy accessibility, moderate elevation gain, and the work that needs to be accomplished. Join us for the trail work and get rewarded with a BBQ afterwards. It’s a win/win situation. Wear sturdy boots, carry lots …
hike: Scotchman Peak Summit: End Of Season Hike
Join us on our annual end of season hike: Scotchman Peak Summit Hike Our annual fall hike to the summit of Scotchman Peak. At 3.8 miles one way and 3,600 feet of climbing, it’s strenuous, but the views are worth the effort! We’ll go slow as an old goat, so all can join. Some years it snows, some years it …
hike: Star Peak Full Moon Overnight
Hike up on a summer’s day to enjoy a full moon and evening camping on Star Peak. We will set up camp in the evening and descend in the morning after enjoying a beautiful sunrise. We will meet at the trailhead at Noon Mountain Time (11am PT). Share this Page
