STATE LINE RIDGE ROUTE
STATE LINE RIDGE SSHOE & HIKE
EVENT TYPE: Hiking, sshoe backpacking, photography, scrambling, and backcountry skiing
Next two lines are personal GAIA data
DISTANCE: 7.75 miles RT to the prominence, or the Lone Lake descent makes the hike about a 10 mile loop
ELEVATION: From the Stevens Lakes Trailhead 2426verts. From the Freeway parking area it is 2689verts
DIFFICULTY: Moderate to difficult
MAPS: IPNF & Mullan Topo
SUMMER TRAILHEAD: 47° 27'15" N 115°45'58" W
WINTER TRAILHEAD: 47°27'56" N 115° 45' 33" W
RANGER DISTRICT: CDA River Ranger District 208.769.3000
SHOSHONE COUNTY SHERIFF: Call 911 first, or 208.556.1114
IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL FOREST/ALERTS
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ipnf/alerts-notices
DESCRIPTION:
WE HAVE ADDED THE AREAS SHERIFF'S EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER FFOR EACH TRIP WRITE UP UNDER THE RANGER DISTRICT INFO.
IF AN EMERGENCY OCCURS, EVALUATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CALL 911 ONLY IF NEEDED.
SNOW SEASON
The trail to Stevens Lakes, starts the sshoe. Stay on the trail/road until it turns left just below where the official trail begins uphill. This left turn is the only left turn that is not choked with brush.
Walk up Trail #165 for about .4 of a mile and turn left just before the Trail #165 vertical sign.
Follow this logging road up for 7 switchbacks. Follow this road around and below the gigantic ARROW (SEE SCREENSHOT BELOW). As this old road circles the bottom of the ARROW, look for a way to into the center of the ARROW, from the NE side.
NOTE….you can stay on this old logging road as it circles the ARROW, on pops out on the State Line Ridge.
Once centered in the ARROW walk directly up hill to the point of the ARROW.
Before you enter the woods, stop for a break and a snack.
When you are ready to walk again, cut up thru the woods for about .4 of a mile. BE SURE to stay on the faint top of the ridge, or do not allow yourself to drop down either side.
Soon you will pop out of the woods and see Upper & Lower St. Regis Lakes off to then SSE.
Follow the obvious ridge line south, which will undulate several times , before the walk continues along a safe knife edge ridge.
I like to walk out to the prominence to have lunch. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GO FURTHER SOUTH ON THIS RIDGE. ITS WAY TOO DANGEROUS.
This lunch spot requires a short climb to the top, where lunch is with an incredible view.
IF AN EMERGENCY OCCURS, EVALUATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CALL 911 ONLY IF NEEDED.
SNOW SEASON
The trail to Stevens Lakes, starts the sshoe. Stay on the trail/road until it turns left just below where the official trail begins uphill. This left turn is the only left turn that is not choked with brush.
Walk up Trail #165 for about .4 of a mile and turn left just before the Trail #165 vertical sign.
Follow this logging road up for 7 switchbacks. Follow this road around and below the gigantic ARROW (SEE SCREENSHOT BELOW). As this old road circles the bottom of the ARROW, look for a way to into the center of the ARROW, from the NE side.
NOTE….you can stay on this old logging road as it circles the ARROW, on pops out on the State Line Ridge.
Once centered in the ARROW walk directly up hill to the point of the ARROW.
Before you enter the woods, stop for a break and a snack.
When you are ready to walk again, cut up thru the woods for about .4 of a mile. BE SURE to stay on the faint top of the ridge, or do not allow yourself to drop down either side.
Soon you will pop out of the woods and see Upper & Lower St. Regis Lakes off to then SSE.
Follow the obvious ridge line south, which will undulate several times , before the walk continues along a safe knife edge ridge.
I like to walk out to the prominence to have lunch. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GO FURTHER SOUTH ON THIS RIDGE. ITS WAY TOO DANGEROUS.
This lunch spot requires a short climb to the top, where lunch is with an incredible view.
NON SNOW SEASON
Hiking the State Line Ridge is a great way to see an area you have visited many time, from a different point of view.
Please note that this route is being opened up as an emergency road for easy access to the backcountry skiing.
The directions are basically the same as winter, but an experienced hiker can make the south State Line which is also a section of the Idaho Centennial Trail.
However, just south of the tall prominence, the terrain becomes very steep and the rock is steep without any hand holds.
For that reason, I would suggest that you drop down on a critter trail from the very start. This route is safe and gets you to the same back ridge.
Once past the vertical rock features, the ascent to the back ridge is some great hiking/scrambling.
Hiking the State Line Ridge is a great way to see an area you have visited many time, from a different point of view.
Please note that this route is being opened up as an emergency road for easy access to the backcountry skiing.
The directions are basically the same as winter, but an experienced hiker can make the south State Line which is also a section of the Idaho Centennial Trail.
However, just south of the tall prominence, the terrain becomes very steep and the rock is steep without any hand holds.
For that reason, I would suggest that you drop down on a critter trail from the very start. This route is safe and gets you to the same back ridge.
Once past the vertical rock features, the ascent to the back ridge is some great hiking/scrambling.
OPTION #1: NON SNOW SEASON
Follow the above directions to the side of the ARROW, but do not go up into the ARROW.. Continue up this road until it comes to the State Line Road.
FOR GREAT VIEWS:
Turn left and walk over to the south running ridge line. This road/trial will lead you south as it diminishes, to the prominence.
TO GET TO STEVENS PEAK:
As soon as you break out of the woods, look for a faint game trail that drops down and skirts the Start Line Ridge.
HIKING PAST THE PROMINENCE IS TOO DANGEROUS.
Continue south towards the back wall that is the East-West Stevens Peak Ridge.
Once on the back ridge, turn right to Stevens Peak.
Enjoy the views from the summit of Stevens Peak.
From here you can retrace your steps back to the trailhead.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE EASIEST AND SAFEST ROUTE BACK TO THE STEVENS TRAILHEAD
Or you could walk out Willow Ridge to the NNE. Continue hiking the Willow Ridge until you come to Willow Peak. Stop for the views, then walk back towards Steven Peak where you will find a very faint trail on the saddle that heads west down to the Upper Sanctuary and Lone Lake.
FOR GREAT VIEWS:
Turn left and walk over to the south running ridge line. This road/trial will lead you south as it diminishes, to the prominence.
TO GET TO STEVENS PEAK:
As soon as you break out of the woods, look for a faint game trail that drops down and skirts the Start Line Ridge.
HIKING PAST THE PROMINENCE IS TOO DANGEROUS.
Continue south towards the back wall that is the East-West Stevens Peak Ridge.
Once on the back ridge, turn right to Stevens Peak.
Enjoy the views from the summit of Stevens Peak.
From here you can retrace your steps back to the trailhead.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE EASIEST AND SAFEST ROUTE BACK TO THE STEVENS TRAILHEAD
Or you could walk out Willow Ridge to the NNE. Continue hiking the Willow Ridge until you come to Willow Peak. Stop for the views, then walk back towards Steven Peak where you will find a very faint trail on the saddle that heads west down to the Upper Sanctuary and Lone Lake.
DIRECTIONS:
Drive east on I-90 to Exit 69 and turn off the freeway. At the stop sign, turn left , drive over the freeway to the next Stop sign.
Turn right and drive past the Lucky Friday Mine. Continue east on Friday Ave. for .8 of a mile past the Shoshone Park left turn, and continue on Friday Ave. to where the road passes over the freeway. This is the Willow Creek Road.
Drive .9 of a mile to the trailhead.
Turn right and drive past the Lucky Friday Mine. Continue east on Friday Ave. for .8 of a mile past the Shoshone Park left turn, and continue on Friday Ave. to where the road passes over the freeway. This is the Willow Creek Road.
Drive .9 of a mile to the trailhead.
COOL THINGS CLOSE BY:
Upper & Lower Stevens Lakes and Peak, Lone Lake, Lookout Pass Ski Area, the Route of the Hiawatha, the Trail Of the CDA's, Crystal Lake, Graham Mountain, Silver Mountain, and Lower & Upper Glidden Lakes
HAZARDS:
Because most of this route is off trail, you must be careful and use extreme caution on the entire hike or sshoe.
R & P:
The Pizza Factory, the 1313 Club, Muchachos Tacos in Wallace.
In Kellogg visit the Radio Brewery.
In CDA visit the Mexican Food Factory, Franklin"s Hoagies, and the Trails End Brewery on 95 by Fred Meyers.
In Kellogg visit the Radio Brewery.
In CDA visit the Mexican Food Factory, Franklin"s Hoagies, and the Trails End Brewery on 95 by Fred Meyers.
PHOTO GALLERY
SNOW SEASON
UPPER & LOWER ST. REGIS LAKES, STATE LINE RIDGE, STEVENS PEAK & LAKE
THE STATE LINE RIDGE ROUTE
NOTICE THE LARGE “ARROW” CUT INTO THE FOREST.
MY ROUTE TAKES US UP THRU THE ARROW.
AND IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WRITE UP.
THE ROUTE UP THRU THE ARROW
THIS IMAGE SHOWS THE ROUTE AFTER IT BREAKS OUT OF THE WOODS
AFTER YOU GET OUT OF THE WOODS, THE IMAGE ABOVE, IS THE STATE LINE RIDGE
OUR LUNCH SPOT ALONG THE STATE LINE RIDGE
SEE BELOW, PLEASE
THIS IS OUR LUNCH SPOT, SEEN FROM UPPER STEVENS LAKE
PLEASE DO NOT HIKE THE RIDGE PAST THIS POINT,
ITS WAY TOO DANGEROUS, SEE SUMMER ROUTE.
UPPER STEVENS LAKE
UPPER & LOWER ST. REGIS LAKES
THE FIRST LAKE YOU COME TO, IS THE UPPER LAKE
AVALANCES ON STEVENS PEAK'S NE FACE
LOOKOUT SKI AREA FROM THE STATE LINE RIDGE
THE ROUTE DOWN THRU THE ARROW
CHRIS TREKKING DOWN THE ARROW
NON SNOW SEASON
THE VERTICAL ROCKS ARE TOO DANGEROUS TO CROSS, SO DROP TO THE "TRAIL"
CHICWACKIN' FROM THE RIDGE PROMINENCE
AT THE BACK WALL, THE CLIMB UP TO THE RIDGE IS STEEP AND FUN AND SHORT
VIEWS OF THE UPPER STEVENS LAKE & PEAK ARE INCREDIBLE
FROM THE SAME SPOT ABOVE, TURN AROUND AND VIEW
THE UPPER & LOWER ST. REGIS LAKES
THIS FAINT "TRAIL" LEADS TO THE BACK RIDGE THAT STEVENS PEAK IS ON
ONCE ON THE BACK RIDGE, THE VIEW OF THE STATE LINE RIDGE SHOWS THE HAZARDS
ONCE ON THE BACK RIDGE, THE VIEWS OF LOWER & UPPER STEVENS LAKES ARE GREAT
THE PRIZE FOR DOING THIS ROUTE IS THE VIEWS FROM THE SUMMIT OF STEVENS PEAK
LONE LAKE IS ON THE LEFT...LOWER & UPPER STEVENS LAKES ARE ON THE RIGHT
THE EASIEST WAY DOWN IS TO FOLLOW THE WILLOW RIDGE (CENTER)
OUT TO THE WILLOW PEAK AND DROP DOWN TO LONE LAKE AT A SADDLE
ON A MUCH EASIER USER CREATED TRAIL.
