Roman Nose Lakes Dayhike

Check it out

Distance: 4 miles

Difficulty: Mostly easy

Hiking time: 2-3 hours

Season: June through early October

Maps: USGS Roman Nose, plus travel plan map for Bonners Ferry

Info: Bonners Ferry Ranger Station, (208) 267-5561

Dayhiking trip notes

Access: From junction with State Highway 200 at Sandpoint, Idaho, drive north on U.S. Highway 2/95 toward Bonners Ferry 28-1/2 miles. Just north of golf course, (and just south of Bonners Ferry Ranger Station) turn west (milepost 504.3) toward Snow Creek Recreation Area. Drive 3 miles and turn right on Road 417 toward Kootenay National Wildlife Refuge. Follow West Side Road 2 miles and bear left at end of pavement onto Road 402 (Snow Creek Road).

Drive 9-1/2 miles on Road 402, passing turnoff to Cooks Pass Road, and bear left onto Road 1007. Drive 7-1/3 miles, over Caribou and Ruby passes, and turn right toward Roman Nose Lakes on Road 2667. Go 1/2 mile and bear right at Y. Drive another mile to overflow parking area. Continue 1/2 mile to trailhead, passing campground turnoff en route.

Attractions:

Drive directly to high-mountain lake in Idaho Selkirks and launch scenic dayhike - or backpack - to pristine lakes accessible only by trail. Area, abused and overused in past, restored in 1995. New scenic trail offers dayhikers loop trip for broad look at area. Backpackers may prefer to follow Trail 165 directly to backcountry lakes before dropping packs for off-trail exploration of higher features, such as Roman Nose lookout. Roman Nose 3 (lake closest to parking area) stocked with cutthroat trout. Backcountry lakes hold brook trout. Trails lead through huckleberries, wild rhododendron, mountain ash, elderberry, subalpine fir, various wildflowers and silvery snags, monuments of the great Sundance forest fire of 1967.

Comments:

Once trampled and overused, staging area at main lake was reconstructed in 1995. Old trails re-routed, barren earth rehabilitated, eyesores restored. Camping now restricted to designated campground at Roman Nose No. 3 to help get heavy use off lakeshore.

Boardwalks built over boggy areas at main lake as well as on trails to backcountry lakes, making early-season hiking more enjoyable and reducing impact hikers have on fragile subalpine environment.

From trailhead, explore boardwalk to main lake at elev. 5,891 feet, then return to parking area to head out on Trail 165. Cross footbridge and head uphill.

At first junction, spur trail heads right about 200 yards to overlook of rock cliffs where one can see waterfall spilling out of Lower Roman Nose. However, main trail heads left and uphill short way to another junction. Trail 165 heas right and uphill for shortest route to backcountry lakes. Dayhikers should bear left onto “scenic loop trail” and begin contouring hillside for good views down onto main lake.

Loop trail switches back numerous times, maintaining gentle grade to high point of route at 6,410 feet. Here you can see Lower Roman Nose as you begin switchbacking downhill to another trail junction. Bear right on Trail 165 for shortest route back to trailhead. But to see backcountry lakes, head downhill, where you have a choice to go about 1 mile to upper lake or just less than that to the lower lake. Both are worthy of effort, although upper lake offers more scrambling possibilities.

In clear weather, Roman Nose lookout, at elevation 7,260 feet, will capture your attention. Lookout, established in 1917 and rebuilt in 1955, stands atop stunning granite rock - namesake for Roman Nose area - with face that drops precipitously into Upper Roman Nose Lake.

Backcountry lakes have several small campsites.

Limited parking area at main lake can be full on summer weekends. Parking along road prohibited. Use overflow parking area if necessary and add 1 mile round-trip to your Roman Nose experience.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of Roman Nose Lakes Dayhike area

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Routes: Classic Trips in the Inland Northwest