Lone Lake

North Idaho's Lone Lake is a beautiful alpine lake located close to I-90 for easy access. It shares a trailhead access point with the more popular Stevens Lake, and is only a short distance from an access point for the Idaho Centennial Trail.

The route to Lone Lake starts on an old roadbed converted to trail, where the impacts of both timber and mining industry are still highly visible on the surrounding landscape. The trail is short and ascends quickly, and soon enters a recovering forest.

This trail is ideal for summer dayhikes and fall color hikes. Snow tends to linger here, although the trail is usually accessible by early to mid-June. The hillsides around Lone Lake are covered in huckleberry bushes, perfect for late summer treats and spectacular fall colors.

The trail climbs over 1600 feet in just 2 miles and deposits hikers at the outlet stream of Lone Lake with a dramatic backdrop of Stevens Peak towering overhead.

Adventurous hikers can find the climbers' trail leading up the more moderate western slope above Lone Lake and gradually ascending to the ridge where it is possible to hike to Stevens Peak's summit, or even extend the hike down to neighboring Stevens Lakes.