Our Trail Spotlight highlights day trips to multi-day hikes across Idaho. Trail conditions can change quickly- swollen rivers can become impassable, windstorms can knock trees down across trails, and snow can come earlier than expected. Please take these recommendations as a jumping off place and do additional research to understand current conditions and keep yourself safe if you choose to hike this trail. Physical guidebooks and maps are always good to have or check out some online resources like Alltrails.com for updated trail reports. If your trip is as awesome as you hope it will be, please share photos and feedback!

The Monday Hikers recently tackled this loop!
Trail: Viewski Loop
Recommended by: Barbara Sammut, ITA North Idaho Program Specialist
Duration: Open Year-Round / Snowshoe Friendly / Day Use Only / No Overnight Camping
Area: Sandpoint, near Schweitzer Mountain
Difficulty Rating: 1- short hike with 200ft elevation gain, more gain if you also hike down to the waterfall
Road Considerations: This road is good and is paved all the way to the trailhead, 8.6 miles from Hwy 95, up the road to Schweitzer Mountain. Stop at the fire station parking lot and the trail starts right at that parking lot.
Total hiking miles: 1.5 mile loop, 3.5 miles with waterfall side trail
The Hike: This trail is easily accessible and is a great beginner friendly snowshoe in the winter. It starts right from the parking lot partially up Schweitzer Mountain and gives great views on Sandpoint and Lake Ponderay. The snow was deep but the path was mostly stomped in. This could vary based on how recently it snowed and how much traffic there is on the trail. It has a steady ascent until you reach and overlook and then descends slowly until you reach an intersection where you can hike down to see a waterfall. It is a long hike down (about a mile) but well worth it to see the waterfall and hike down a little further to see more of the beautiful creek winding through the snow. From the waterfall, you hike back up and reconnect with the loop. There is less than a quarter mile left of the loop before you reach the parking lot again.

Things to consider: The views may be less visible in the winter on a cloudy day, but the trail will still be beautiful on its own. If you head down to the waterfall from the loop, it’s a steep path back up!
Fun places to visit on your way in or out: You can also visit Schweitzer Mountain and go into Sandpoint for a bite after. Check out the Bluebird Cafe for an amazing croissant!
More info about this hike: You can find more information and reviews of this trail by visiting All Trails’ page on this loop.

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