Bumblebee-Magee Snowmobile Tour

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Distance: 75 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Riding time: 3 hours

Season: Dec. through March

Maps: Fernan and Wallace district snowmobile trails (Kootenai and Shoshone counties)

Info: Fernan Ranger District, (208) 456-3694; Wallace Ranger District, (208) 752-1221

SNOWMOBILING TRIP NOTES

Access: From Interstate 90 west of Kellogg, take Kingston Exit 43. Head north 5-1/2 miles on Coeur d’Alene River Road, passing Enaville Resort. Turn left at sign toward Bumblebee Campground. Cross bridge over Coeur d’Alene River and continue straight across Old River Road. Depending on snow conditions, trailhead could be here or up Forest Road 209 about 3 miles at Bumblebee Campground.

Attractions: Excellent groomed trail system, passes icefalls, follows snowbound streams of upper Coeur d’Alene River system. Route passes Cascade Lodge, offering fuel, food and lodging accessible only by snowmobile. Lodge grooms link to Lookout Ridge, high-point of tour and good open play area. Route also passes historic Forest Service ranger station at Magee. Wintering deer, elk, moose common sights.

Comments: From trailhead at junction of Old River Road and Forest Road 209, go 3 miles along North Fork Coeur d’Alene River to Bumblebee Campground. Bear left at junction near campground, continuing up river, locally known as Little North Fork.

At 15 miles, bear left at Leiberg Creek junction.

At 20-1/2 miles, continue straight at Honeysuckle Campground junction. (Left would lead 13 miles to Fernan Saddle trailhead.)

At 23-3/4 miles, bear right at Cascade Creek junction toward Cascade Lodge. (Continuing straight would lead to play area at Horse Heaven landing strip.)

At 25-1/4 miles, bear right at junction to Cascade Lodge. (Go straight for shortest route to Cascade Saddle.)

At 26-1/2 miles, come to Cascade Lodge: Fuel, food, beverages and lodging. Ask about grooming of trail to Lookout Ridge. (If not groomed, consider backtracking to last junction and heading up regular system trail to Cascade Saddle.)

At 32-1/2 miles, route peaks at Lookout Ridge, elev. 5,100 feet. Just before ridge, look south toward St. Joe Baldy Mountain. From Lookout Ridge, look west to Mount Spokane and Chilco mountains, north to Selkirk and Cabinet mountains and east to Grassy Mountain and beyond.

At 33-1/2 miles, rejoin main groomed trail system at Cascade Saddle. Left turn would lead back to Cascade Lodge; trail straight ahead would lead to Bunco trailhead and Lakeview. Featured route takes sharp right turn at junction, heading down Trail Creek Road 534 toward Magee.

At 45 miles, featured route turns right, crossing Trail Creek. However, short sidetrip straight ahead to Magee Ranger Station recommended.

From junction, head south. At 49-1/2 miles, continue straight through Tepee Creek junction. (Left would lead to Bumblebee Campground via Stull Saddle.)

At 53-1/2 miles, pass over Leiberg Saddle, dropping into narrow creek bottom to Leiberg Creek junction at 59-1/2 miles.

From here, backtrack down North Fork, past Bumblebee Campground at 71-3/4 miles, to starting point.

Snowmobiles must display Idaho registration sticker and groomer sticker from Kootenai, Shoshone or Bonner County. Stickers - $5 for Idaho residents, $15 for non-residents - available from snowmobile dealers or county vehicle registration offices.

Other useful sources for grooming conditions: Specialty Sales in Coeur d’Alene (208) 667-3571. Cascade Lodge, (208) 773-3469. Old Mission State Park (208) 682-3814.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of snowmobile tour area

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