Idaho Panhandle National Forests

Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Revett Lake in Idaho Panhandle National Forest

Location	Idaho-Montana-Washington, United States
Nearest city	Spokane, WA
Coordinates	47°43′N 116°13′W / 47.717°N 116.217°W / 47.717; -116.217
Area	3,220,000 acres (13,000 km²)
Established	1912
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
Website	Idaho Panhandle National Forests

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests are a jointly administered set of three national forests located in the U.S. state of Idaho. Approximately 22.4% of the forest (in the Kaniksu portion) extends into the states of Montana (14.1%) and Washington (8.3%). The IPNF were created in 2000 to administer three separate national forests that continue to manage themselves somewhat separately through district offices. The Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe, and Kaniksu National Forests together occupy 3,224,739-acre (5,038.66 sq mi, or 13,050.06 km²) ^[1] in northern Idaho (better known as the Idaho Panhandle). The northernmost portion of the IPNF share a boundary with Canada. Its headquarters are located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Wildlife

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests contain a wide variety of wildlife. White-tailed deer, mule deer, raccoons, elk, grizzly bears, moose, black bears, coyotes, timber wolves, skunks, cougars, marten, beavers, river otters, bobcats, minks, and wolverines are often seen by visitors.

Bird species include ravens, wild turkey, blue jays, California quail, numerous species of grouse, osprey, golden eagle, bald eagle and numerous types of owls. The rivers and lakes in the Panhandle hold some of the best fishing locations in the world.

Wilderness areas

There are two officially designated wilderness areas within Idaho Panhandle National Forests that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Both lie within the Kaniksu National Forest section and extend into neighboring National Forests (as indicated).

Cabinet Mountains Wilderness (mostly in Kootenai NF)
Salmo-Priest Wilderness (mostly in Colville NF)

References

^ Table 6 - NFS Acreage by State, Congressional District and County - United States Forest Service - September 30, 2007

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

"Idaho Panhandle National Forests". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
"Pacific Northwest Trail". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 2013-11-19.

Protected areas of Idaho

Federal

National Parks	Yellowstone
National Historic Sites & Historical Parks	Minidoka NHS Nez Perce NHP
National Monuments	Craters of the Moon Hagerman Fossil Beds
National Forests	Bitterroot Boise Caribou-Targhee Clearwater Coeur d'Alene Idaho Panhandle Kaniksu Kootenai Nez Perce Payette Salmon-Challis Sawtooth St. Joe Wallowa–Whitman Wasatch-Cache
National Grasslands	Curlew
National Recreation Areas	Hells Canyon Sawtooth
National Wildlife Refuges	Bear Lake Camas Deer Flat Grays Lake Kootenai Minidoka Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production Area
National Conservation Areas	Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey
Wilderness Areas	Big Jacks Creek Bruneau–Jarbidge Rivers Craters of the Moon Frank Church–River of No Return Gospel Hump Hells Canyon Hemingway–Boulders Jim McClure–Jerry Peak Little Jacks Creek North Fork Owyhee Owyhee River Pole Creek Sawtooth Selway–Bitterroot Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds
National Wild and Scenic Rivers	Battle Creek Big Jacks Creek Bruneau Bruneau (West Fork) Clearwater (Middle Fork) Cottonwood Creek Deep Creek Dickshooter Creek Duncan Creek Jarbidge Little Jacks Creek Lochsa Owyhee Owyhee (North Fork) Owyhee (South Fork) Rapid Red Canyon Saint Joe Salmon Salmon (Middle Fork) Selway Sheep Creek Snake Wickahoney Creek

State

State Parks

Wildlife
Management
Areas

Other

Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation

Protected areas of Washington