Hikers Will Love Exploring This Adventurous Trail In The Idaho Panhandle National Forests

If you love hiking through untouched forest wilderness, head to northern Idaho and lose yourself in Panhandle National Forest, stretching out across the Rocky Mountains. With thousands of acres of thick pine forests, white-tipped peaks, and clear mountain streams to explore, it's the perfect place for hiking along the many trails that run through the region, including the historic and scenic Pulaski Trail.

A quieter alternative to more popular national parks like Yellowstone, which takes up a small corner of Idaho's southwest, the Panhandle region is known for its abundance of outdoor activities like hiking and fishing, and for nature lovers looking for a little peace and quiet.

Located just off I-90, the small historic town of Wallace, once known as the Silver Capital of the World, sits in a narrow valley surrounded by the forest, and is the ideal base for setting off to explore the many trails. If you're coming from further afield, Wallace is about an 80-mile drive east from Spokane, which has the nearest international airport, or around 47 miles from the pretty Idaho lakeside town of Coeur d'Alene. To get to the Pulaski Trail, it's just a five-minute drive south to the trailhead, where you'll find a small free parking lot and trail markers leading the way to your adventure.

To understand why Pulaski Tunnel Trail is popular, it helps to know a little of its history. Named after park ranger Edward Pulaski, the trail follows part of the route he took when he led his firefighting crew to safety during the devastating Great Fire of 1910. Surrounded by flames, Pulaski led his 45-man crew into an abandoned mineshaft to escape the blaze, keeping them inside at gunpoint. All the men passed out from the fumes, and all but six of them woke up when the fire had passed, making their way down to safety in Wallace. Pulaski's quick thinking saved the lives of 40 men that day, and the tunnel remains as a lasting tribute to his bravery.

The moderately steep 3.7-mile out-and-back trail runs alongside Placer Creek and through thick forest long since regrown. It's well-maintained with markers that bring the historic events to life, and usually takes between two and four hours to complete. With a rocky uphill start, decent walking shoes are a must, but it's a rewarding hike, especially on a sunny day, with trees providing plenty of shade.

When you get up to the overlook at the top, you can see the sealed tunnel entrance into the old mine shaft from a viewing platform, but the site is protected, so entry isn't allowed. If walking through this beautiful corner of Idaho inspires you to see more of the state, try the 72-mile Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes ,which passes right through Wallace, and sections of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail also cut across this part of the state.

If you'd like to stick around in Wallace longer, you won't be short of things to do. As well as the endless hiking opportunities, nearby lakes are a source of fun and adventure for anglers and kayakers. And now that winter is just around the corner, the mountainsides provide the ideal playground for skiers with Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain Resort nearby, and more than 1,000 miles of snowmobile trails. Although more like a small mountainside town, Wallace is actually classed as a city and one of only four in the U.S. where the whole place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Highlights include the Oasis Bordello Museum, one of five former town brothels, which amazingly closed down as recently as 1988. As the women all fled after hearing of a planned raid on the building, they left everything behind, and it's remained as it was that night, frozen in time.

Or, you could take a Sierra Silver Mine Tour through a real silver mine. After closing in the '70s, the mine was used briefly to teach local kids the mining trade. But as demand for silver dwindled, it eventually closed down.  Finally, before you take a winter road trip through Idaho, join in the celebrations by attending the Home for the Holidays festival. On the first two weekends in December, the whole town gets into the Christmas spirit, and you'll find everything from hayrides, lighted parades, snowflake pageants, and theatre, with Santa himself making an appearance during the fun and games.