A Dog Friendly Waterfall Hike Worth the Drive from Coeur d'Alene
Honestly... sometimes the best adventures start with a Sunday drive you didn't really plan.
We headed north out of CDA through Sandpoint and over into Montana, winding mountain roads, gorgeous views the whole way, and landed in Troy to check out Kootenai Falls. If you're looking for dog friendly day trips from Coeur d'Alene, this one earns a spot on the list. The drive alone was worth it, even with two very excited huskies panting directly into my ears for the better part of the trip.
The trailhead is easy to find and well-marked, with a decent-sized parking area, bathrooms (seasonal, closed in late April when we visited), and what looked like a small grill situation that was also still sleeping for the season. No complaints. We were there for the falls.
Here's where it gets interesting.
The trail kicks off immediately with a climb up a high tower over the train tracks, open grate steel steps, all the way up. I'll be honest, this was almost a deal breaker for the boys. Freki and Floki looked at those rows of open grating like I'd suggested something deeply unreasonable. With a little patient coaxing we made it over, and once we were on the other side... worth every hesitant step.
The trails wind right along the river, following a series of waterfalls that are genuinely impressive and genuinely powerful. Wide rocky flats make it easy to get close to the edge, which kept me on alert. Even Freki, who normally considers any body of water a personal invitation, seemed perfectly content to admire from a distance. The current means business.
From there we followed the trail through beautiful, heavily treed terrain all the way to the swinging bridge, where the boys had another moment of quiet negotiation with their instincts. We made it across, and on the other side found wildflowers, swirling rock formations (apparently fossilized algae beds, which is kind of incredible to just stumble across), and a perfect spot to eat our sandwiches.
A few hours of wandering later, two very tired huskies loaded themselves back into the truck and were asleep before we hit the highway.
A few honest notes before you go:
The dangerous current warnings are everywhere, and they mean it. This is a look-don't-touch kind of water experience. Don't plan on letting your dog wade.
The train bridge and swinging bridge are manageable, but know your dog. Some dogs are basically mountain goats. Others have deeply held opinions about grated surfaces and suspension. Neither is wrong. Just go in knowing where yours lands so this stays a fun sniff-adventure instead of a stressful one.
The trails are probably under two miles total. This isn't a big physical day, but don't let that fool you. New smells, new terrain, new everything. Both dogs slept hard the whole drive home. Sometimes mental stimulation does more than miles ever could.
If you're searching for dog friendly hikes near CDA or an easy day trip into Montana with your dog, Kootenai Falls is genuinely worth it. Pet friendly, beautiful, and a little bit wild in all the right ways.
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