In Kootenai Country, Idaho

Oh my goodness, have we died and gone to heaven!  How beautiful this area is - we are 12 miles from the border of Canada in the upper north of Idaho.  Near Bonners Ferry, in a small town called Moyie Springs.  Wonderful, and a bucket list of where we wanted to visit.  Gorgeous!  But first - the drive here....

What a pretty ride we had yesterday.  We left Missoula around 8:30 and headed west bound on Interstate 90, driving along the Clark Fork River.  Very pretty scenery, we jumped off at a small town called St. Regis and headed north along a country road for about 40 miles.  Pristine area, very few homes, but fantastic wilderness.

Clark Fork River - crossed over it many times

Was surprised at how lonely Interstate 90 was!

This wildfire looked like maybe last summer

Small logging businesses in many towns

Again, the Clark Fork River

Road to the Buffalo - Route 200 that we followed

It was 1809 when David Thompson, the first European of record, set foot in present day Sanders County. He was following a well-used buffalo trail that he recorded as the Saleesh Road to the Buffalo. He called the river it followed the Saleesh River. By the early 1900s the road had been renamed the Kootenai Trail and the river Kootenai.

Two different kids of horses

Passed a rally of old/sportster cars

Mangy Moose - we want to see some!

We then picked up Montana Route 200 going westbound and took that for about 100 miles and picked up a route 56 heading north - sorta jig jagged all day.  We continued following the Clark Fork River all along and had peaks of snow capped mountains every now and then.  Amazing that we were only at about 2900 to 3200 feet in elevation, felt like we were on top of the world.  We remarked that the blight of the fir trees does not seem to be evident in this part of the world, thank goodness.

I like how this town says hello!

Passed pretty lakes like Bull Lake and Noxon with people fishing from the banks as well as on dories (flat bottomed boats).  We were on the lookout for moose and deer, did see deer cross on the road way in front of us, thankfully.  Saw wild turkey along the road, lots of birds.

Bull Lake

Stopped in Thompson Falls and tanked up the RV - we were close to the border of Idaho - and still got a thrill at the wilderness.  Came into Moyie Springs where we pulled into a small elementary school and unhooked the RV and car.  We were given instructions to do this - and come into the campground separately we had to drive through 5 switchbacks, dropping down into the Moyie River area. Twin Rivers Canyon Resort is where are for the next month - the Moyie River combines with the Kootenai River (coot-nay) within walking distance in the campground.

Cabinet Mountain range - still snow covered

Fishing boat

We are nestled below Rocky Mountain Douglas Firs, Western Larch (a form of evergreen), Lodgepole pine, White Pines, and Western Red Cedar trees creating a canopy over us.  We have our nose of the RV facing the river, although there is so much greenery we can hear the river but not see it.  Every now and then we hear a speed boat go by.

Yeah!  We are in Kootenai Country!!

Kootenai River

Will stay here until after the 4th and then move closer to Seattle.  We have always wanted to come to this area, we are about 12 miles from the border of Canada - eh?, there are many waterfalls, hiking trails, things to see and therefore decided to stay almost a month.  Upper Montana and this area of Idaho are absolutely beautiful!!  One draw back - no cell service unless we go to town.