Fishing at West Fork Lake Traditional Cache
Fishing at West Fork Lake
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Located near West Fork Lake in the Panhandle National Forest.
Another beautiful high mountain lake in the northern stretches of Idaho. This hike can be done either as a day hike, or as we did, a nice little overnighter leaving plenty of time to do some fishing for dinner. This was the third high mountain lake we traveled to this summer and after visiting the first two, Trout and Big Fisher Lakes, we kicked ourselves for not hiding a couple of caches up there too. This time we went prepared and brought along some goodies for those that want to catch a few trout to feed the hungry hiker.
The lake is a shallow, high mountain lake that is on the larger side for Northern Idaho. It has 2 primitive campsites for the overnight hikers, and if you take the time to scare off the mosquitoes, a trout or two can be caught to put over top the campfire.
West Fork Lake sits below West Fork Mountain, which holds an old, abandoned Forest Service lookout tower. After placing the cache at the lake, we decided to hike to the top before our trip down back to the car and regretted not hiding it on top with the views. So, if you visit the lake, make sure you take the extra time to hike the extra mile up to the top. Your time will be well rewarded. If you arrive in late summer as we did, you may even be rewarded with a few lingering huckleberries as we were. We picked a few and placed them in our water bottle to share with the little ones when we got home.
To get to the lake head north from Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and travel 15 miles on Highway 95 to the junction with State Highway 1. Go 1 mile north on Highway 1 and turn west on Copeland Road. After a mile and a half you will cross the Kootenai River on the Copeland Bridge. Just past that you connect to West Side Road. Travel northwest 9 or 10 miles to where West Side Road makes a sharp U-turn into Smith Creek Road. Between mileposts 7 and 8 bear left at the junction. Follow the sign to West Fork Lake. Continue another 3 miles then bear right at the next junction. There is no navigation sign at this junction, but a sign saying “No stock trailer turnaround” is posted on the tree to the left side of the road. Follow this road for just over a mile to the trailhead of Trail 21. Once on the trail you will hike for 1 mile and come to the intersection of Trail 347 to West Fork Lake. Take a left at the sign and hike another 2.5 miles to the lake. The trail continues past the lake to the top of West Fork Mountain for another 1 mile when it reaches the lookout tower. The trail to the lake takes you through some privately owned land that has harvested for timber in the past, but they did leave a few old growth cedars that still stand along the trail. A couple of the ones we passed where around 8 feet in diameter. The trail starts at 4,100 feet and climbs to 5,770 at the lake and 6,416 at the tower.
The cache is a Rubbermaid container stocked with some items that may help you catch a fish or two along with a few other items that the hiker may find useful. It should be easy to find and can be accessed from the campsite on the west side of the lake without having to go bushwhacking. Make sure to leave you thoughts of the hike and take with you the memories of the wonderful area this is to be in.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Byq snyyra gerr.
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