With the great reviews and feedback from my first custom bush trip for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, I am back with another from my home state of Idaho. For this adventure, we move from central Idaho to the mountains, lakes and remote wilderness of North Idaho. Straddling the Oregon, Washington and Montana borders, this bush trip will take you crisscrossing the famed Idaho panhandle until you reach your destination just over the border in British Columbia, Canada.
There are 2 ways to enjoy this custom bush trip on your own schedule.
Option 1: Complete this bush trip as an in game experience, just like the bush trips that came with the game. Your progress will be auto saved and you will have the directions, distance, and ETE embedded in the on screen NavLog as well as access to the ‘back on track’ feature. I have also made it so you can fly whichever plane you like as well as added the ability to adjust date, time and weather, something you could not do in the original bush trips designed by Asobo. Additionally, our in-game experience has detailed weather settings to add to the challenge and beauty of your North Idaho Bush Trip.
If you have not flown the original Central Idaho Bush Trip or South Idaho Bush Trip, for a limited time, you can save by bundling all three into one download. This 48-leg bush trip package covers almost 2,000 nautical miles for an incredible 17 hour adventure through the remote Idaho backcountry, flying between beautiful 12,000 foot jagged mountain peaks, over thousands of miles of untamed river and in front of giant orange supermoons, which rise just as the sun sets.
Download the package from the Premium Trips page.
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Central, South And North Idaho Bush Trip BundleProduct on sale$13.99 -
North Idaho Bush Trip For Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020$4.99
Option 2: Simply input the data I provide below into your Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 world map. Please be sure to input the desired date, time, and weather for all of the legs.
For this bush trip, I used weather presets from SoFly called Weather Preset Pro. While you can semi recreate these conditions using the sliders in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, these presets make it so much easier and quicker. Plus, they somehow created weather I couldn’t recreate as much as I tried. For only $6 US, I think it’s well worth the investment, and I believe it will make this bush trip, as well as your free flights, much more enjoyable. I will also be using these weather presets in my future bush trips, so if you plan on flying more with me, I recommend adding the Weather Preset Pro to your community folder.
If you do not have SoFly Weather Presets, I do provide a detailed breakdown of the weather settings in the Premium Bush Trip package.
I completed this bush trip using the XCub, and I suggest you do the same. All times are based off the XCub, so if you choose another plane with a different cruise speed, you will need to rely strictly on visual cues. If you install the bush trip in option one, you have the option to change planes and the in game NavLog will reflect the correct ETE times depending on which plane you choose.
Leg 1: Joseph State (KJSY) to Wind Ridge (66ID)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 6th 2020 4:45AM
Weather Preset Pro – Big And Bold
In Game Preset -Broken Clouds (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version)
Our northern Idaho bush trip actually starts just over the Idaho border, from the town of Joseph in eastern Oregon and quickly takes us to the remote Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. After a casual, long climb, you will be greeted with stunning 360-degree views of the Hells Canyon National Recreation area. If you have completed my exciting Central Idaho Bush Trip, you might recognize this landscape, as it lies just across the Snake River from the Seven Devils Mountains which we flew over in a strong thunderstorm in Leg 6. Gain enough altitude to tackle the high mountain peaks and head north east until you reach the Memaloose landing strip, which lies on some flat land at 6,700 feet in the mountains. This is an optional landing, but it is a beautiful strip that is amazing to take off from, so I highly suggest you land here, take in the view, and continue. Approach the landing from the south and take off facing south as well.
From Memaloose, head east to the small town of Riggins, which lies on a horseshoe bend on the Salmon River.
Turn north and follow U.S. Route 95 northbound along the Salmon River for about 15 miles until the river splits to the left and highway 95 starts to climb north to the right.
To the right of this steep climb up U.S. Route 95 is the famous White Bird Battlefield. In 1877, the U.S military, under the command of Captain David Perry moved to strike the Nez Perce Native American tribe who were sheltering in their winter village, Lahmotta. As the Native Americans rode towards the cavalry carrying white flags of surrender, they were fired upon, which started the battle. The U.S Cavalry suffered heavy casualties and was defeated as the Nez Perce moved on to find safety. When the summit flattens out, you will see Old White Bird Hill Road turn off to the north east.
At this junction, head north east and follow the road for about 3 miles until you see a community of houses as you descend the mountain towards the flat farmlands in the distance.
On the eastern side of this tiny town, tucked into the foothills, is the Wind Ridge landing strip, which lies next to three red roofed buildings.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 65 – Mamaloose Landing Strip | 23.94 NM | 12’4″ |
| 77 – Riggins | 15.88 NM | 8’32” |
| 346 – White Bird Grade | 19.34 NM | 7’58” |
| 12 – Old White Bird Hill Road | 6.94 NM | 3’2″ |
| 22 – Small Town | 2.60 NM | 1’10” |
| 70 – Wind Ridge (66ID) | 3.11 NM | 0’38” |
Leg 2: Wind Ridge (66ID) to Elk City (S90)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 6th 2020 7:00AM
Weather Preset Pro –Low and Breezy (Conditions may be icy. Adjust to temp in the weather panel to help if you fly in cockpit only)
In Game Preset -Scattered Clouds (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version)
A relatively straight shot will take you from Wind Ridge to Elk City via the remote Clearwater River. Once you take off from Wind Ridge, head east over the rounded mountains until you reach the South Fork of the Clearwater River.
Follow the river south and east, keeping a low altitude to get a great view of the winding river. After about 15 minutes, the river will abruptly come to an end.
Turn northeast for just a minute until you see the very unique looking landing strip in the middle of the small town of Elk City. The Elk City landing strip might not look like a landing strip at first, as it has a boomerang shape. You may need to circle the strip a couple of times to find the best angle to stick this tricky landing.
To make the landing even more tricky, the landing strip is such a unique shape that Microsoft Flight Simulator thinks that it is a road, and cars and semi trucks regularly drive up and down the strip.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 75 – South Fork of the Clearwater River | 6.63 NM | 3’8″ |
| 132 – Continue On The South Fork of the Clearwater River | 3.12 NM | 1’31” |
| 87 – Continue On The South Fork of the Clearwater River | 8.76 NM | 4’13” |
| 73 – River Ending | 12.37 NM | 5’54” |
| 48 – Elk City (S90) | 1.86 NM | 1’15” |
Leg 3: Elk City (S90) to Running Creek Ranch (05ID)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 6th 2020 1:00PM
Weather Preset Pro –Scattered Storms
In Game Preset -Storm (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
In 1861, the gold rush struck Elk City, a full two years before the Idaho territory was established. After taking a couple of hours to check out some of the old gold mines, a early afternoon thunderstorm rolls through the region. With the storm high enough and visibility decent, you decide to take the short flight to Running Creek Ranch, which lies on edge of the Selway River, on a horseshoe bend that spits out a small offshoot of the river. Fly southeast until you reach the town of Lightfoot and the old Mullins Airstrip.
From Lightfoot, head east, climbing higher into the afternoon storms, and following the route of the Magruder Corridor Road. The road climbs up to Burnt Knob, one of the most spectacular summits in the southern Clearwater Mountains. An old fire lookout sits on the summit offering an amazing 360-degree view of the Clearwater Mountains.
From Burnt Knob, follow the ridgeline northeast until you begin your descent into a canyon before reaching the Selway River, where you will see an obvious bend and Running Creek Ranch landing strip that runs northeast to southwest. Even through the dirt strip runs almost 3,000 feet long, the landing will be challenging, as approaching from either direction will require a relatively steep descent, which can lead to an afternoon swim in the river if you can’t slow down your bird in time.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 138 – Lightfoot | 7.04 NM | 3’39” |
| 78 – Burnt Knob | 15.62 NM | 8’4″ |
| 13 – Running Creek Ranch | 14.36 NM | 8’16” |
Leg 4 : Running Creek Ranch (05ID) to Boulanger Field (4MT9)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 6th 2020 9:20PM/Clear Skies
After an afternoon exploring the remote Selway River, you are excited to head towards the famed Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The Idaho/Montana border cuts right through this remote area, and your flight path will take you over the state line. With a full moon rising, you decide to take off shortly before sunset, hoping to catch the moonrise as you approach El Capitan.
Upon takeoff, head northeast until you reach Cub Lake.
Turn slightly east and over the ridge you will find Lake Captain.
From Lake Capitan, turn slightly north again. You should see El Capitan and the moonrise out of your right side window. Any photos at this point will be great, but my favorite angle is 1.5nm into this subleg, just northwest of an unnamed lake. Position your plane a good distance from El Capitan as you approach It is time to get that drone camera out! The longer the focal length (zoom) of your camera, the bigger the moon will appear, so make sure to set the zoom between 80-100 to get the dramatic shot you are after.
Once you have your images worthy of hanging in an art gallery, turn southeast and continue onto a close up view of El Capitan.
From El Capitan, head northeast to passing a number of smaller lakes until you reach the large Lake Como, a favorite recreation area for locals from both Montana and Idaho. Cross the lake until you reach the eastern shoreline.
Once you hit land, turn slightly north until you reach US93 where it bends alongside the Bitterroot River.
From the bend in the road, turn straight south and begin your approach to Boulanger Field. The small landing strip will be an interesting landing, since it doesn’t have lights and will just appear as a black spot of darkness in the middle of the town of Darby, Montana. Look for the soccer field to the west of US93 and the dark void before it is your target. The runway runs north/south, so approach heading directly south. After a successful landing, you may need to change the time to daylight to find the runway, as sometimes the trigger to end the leg requires you to come to a stop on the actual landing strip.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 53 – Cub Lake | 15.10 NM | 7’6″ |
| 63 – Lake Capitan | 1.65 NM | 0’48” |
| 56 – Moonrise Photo Location | 1.46 NM | 0’42” |
| 110 – El Capitan | 1.57 NM | 0’51” |
| 48 – Lake Como | 7.50 NM | 3’34” |
| 30 – US93/Bitterroot River | 2.90 NM | 1’18” |
| 164 – Boulanger Field (4MT9) | 4.26 NM | 3’20” |
Leg 5 : Boulanger Field (4MT9) to Brier Patch (4MT8)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 7th 2020 5:35AM
Weather Preset Pro – Big And Bold
In Game Preset -Broken Clouds
You wake up early to thick broken clouds covering the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, whose high mountain peaks serves as your destination for this sunrise flight. Taking off from Running Creek Ranch can be challenging, as you will barely clear the houses that sit at the southern end of the strip. Once airborne, head northwest back to Lake Como, the body of water you flew over last night as darkness descended on western Montana.
Once you reach the lake, head due west past the lake and into the canyon which is sandwiched between El Capitan on the south and Whites Mountain on the north. At the end of the canyon, look for Elk Lake, sitting between to forks of Rock Creek.
From Elk’s Lake turn southwest for just 2nm until you reach Big Grizzly Lake which connect to Little Grizzly Lake and Milepost Lake. At this point, and for the rest of your flight through the mountains ahead, you will straddle the Montana and Idaho border, often going back and forth between the two states.
Turn hard to the northeast and begin your frigid, high altitude flight through the Bitterroot Mountain Range, a large part of the Selway-Bitterrot Wilderness Area. The entire protected wilderness is 1.3 million acres making it the third largest in the United States, excluding Alaska. The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area is directly to its south, and only the Magruder Corridor, a rigged dirt road, separates the two. Together, the two wilderness areas consist of a mind-boggling five million acres. Follow the endless chains of remote alpine lakes that sit between stunning mountain peaks for 28nm until you reach Big Creek Lake, which shape resembles a Par 5 dog leg golf hole, where the far edge of the lake crunches up against a cliff which leads down a valley going eastward.
Slowly descend the valley towards populated, flat farmland and the Biterroot River.
Follow the Bitterroot River for 4 miles until you reach the town of Stevensville.
Turn southeast and begin your approach to the Brier Patch airstrip, a grass strip that sits next too a building. Pass the airstrip and make your final approach on runway 30 facing northwest so you can enjoy the view of the Bitterroot Mountains as you touch down.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 277 – Lake Como | 3.65 NM | 1’33” |
| 255- Elk Lake | 7.45 NM | 3’12” |
| 228 – Big Grizzly Lake | 2.04 NM | 0’53” |
| 356 – Big Creek Lake | 28.07 NM | 13’1″ |
| 11- Bass Lake | 6.54 NM | 3’11” |
| 85- Bitterroot River | 8.43 NM | 4’36” |
| 173- Stevensville | 3.92 NM | 1’58” |
| 118 – Brier Patch (4MT8) | 2.74 NM | 2’17” |
Leg 6 : Brier Patch (4MT8) to Cayuse Creek (C64)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 7th 2020 8:30PM
Weather Preset Pro – Spring Showers
In Game Preset -Storm (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version)
A an afternoon rainstorm has rolled through the Bitterroot Mountains, delaying your planned afternoon takeoff. By 6pm, the storm has begun to dissipate into sporadic showers, making you feel safe in making it to Cayuse Creek, a remote backcountry fly fishing destination.
Upon takeoff, head northwest and ascend into the Bitterroot Mountains, and closer to the storm. After 24nm, you should see the large parking lot rest area of Lolo pass, a mountain pass that sits right on the Idaho/Montana border line.
From the parking lot, turn to the west for the final 20 miles to Cayuse Creek and the USFS landing strip that runs alongside the remote creek. Land on runway 22, into the western setting sun.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 280 – Lolo Pass | 23.73 NM | 10’4″ |
| 118 – Cayuse Creek (C64) | 20.40 NM | 10’0″ |
Leg 7 : Cayuse Creek (C64) to Big Island (ID29)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 8th 2020 6:00AM
Weather Preset Pro – Dense Fog
In Game Preset -Overcast (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
You wake up early in your tent alongside the rambling Cayuse Creek to a thick fog that hangs in the air on this crisp autumn morning. As the fog layer isn’t too thick at ground level, you decide that if you follow the extensive river system to Big Island, you shouldn’t have much difficulty.
Take off from Cayuse Creek heading northeast until you reach the intersection of the North Fork Clearwater River. With the thick morning fog, you will have to fly low, just over the rivers, so you don’t lose your way.
Follow the North Fork Clearwater River west for 7nm to the west until you see an intersection with the Kelly Fork of the river taking a hard 90 degree turn to the right. You will know it’s the right path when you see a campground on the shores to your north, next to the fork. This means you are on the right path, so keep following the original river westward.
Follow the winding river west for about 11nm, making sure to stay low to avoid getting lost in the fog. The river will abruptly turn northward.
Follow the northwest flight path for 6 miles until the river takes a turn to the east.
Follow the north east flight path for 7 miles until the river takes another sharp turn back to the west.
After about 20nm, you will reach another major river intersection, this time at the Little North Fork Clearwater River. The waterway going north to south is Dworshak Reservoir section of the Clearwater River and is considerably wider than the narrow waterways you have been following for the last 40+ miles.
Head south along the wide river until you see a noticeable triangle shape piece of land on the eastern shore. This piece of land separates the main river from an offshoot that turns into Little Silver Creek. Exit the river and fly over the triangle shaped land.
Follow the land parallel to the river until you see the Big Island landing strip, which should be easy to spot by the misplaced ATC tower jutting out of the forest.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 20 – North Fork Clearwater River Intersection | 3.37 NM | 1’39” |
| 257- Kelly Fork Intersection | 9.49 NM | 4’5″ |
| 228 – North Fork Clearwater River | 11.16 NM | 4’46” |
| 319 – North Fork Clearwater River | 6.21 NM | 2’40” |
| 25- North Fork Clearwater River | 6.78 NM | 3’33” |
| 271- North Fork Clearwater River | 11.90 NM | 4’52” |
| 237- Little North Fork Clearwater River/Dworshak Reservoir | 7.53 NM | 3’10” |
| 191 – River Exit | 5.21 NM | 2’24” |
| 118 – Big Island (ID29) | 3.10 NM | 2’8″ |
Leg 8 : Big Island (ID29) to Orofino Mun (S68)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 8th 2020 2:00PM.
Weather Preset Pro – Scattered Storms
In Game Preset – Storm (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
The early morning fog has given way to scattered thunderstorms coming from the west as the mid-afternoon sun peaks through the broken storm clouds. After countless legs in the backcountry, you start to return to civilization as north west Idaho begins to show off it’s impressive farmland. Take off from Big Island and immediately fly southbound over Dworshak Reservoir/Clearwater River. After two waypoint turns that begin to take you westward, look for Dent Bridge, a beautiful suspension bridge built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1971.
From the Dent Bridge, continue west until the Clearwater turns 90 degrees to the south.
Follow the Clearwater south for 6nm until you reach the Dworshak Dam, the third tallest dam in the United States and the tallest straight-axis concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere. Even before construction was finished in 1973, the dam was controversial because it would block fish migration and its reservoir would flood a large portion of the winter range of elk in the Clearwater River basin. Since completion, a steelhead trout fish hatchery and 9,100 acres of protected land for winter habitat of elk and white-tailed deer has helped maintain the wildlife Idaho is known for.
From the Dam, follow the thin river output until it meets back up with the Clearwater River.
Once you hit the Clearwater river, head east for just two miles until you reach Orofino Municipal Airport. After landing, fuel your bird by using the ‘Repair and Refuel’ option. To set this option, go to the Keyboard controls menu and search for ‘Repair and Refuel’ with ‘All’ selected, as this command is not preassigned to the keyboard.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 189 – Dworshak Reservoir | 2.69 NM | 1’15” |
| 210 – Dworshak Reservoir | 3.15 NM | 1’25” |
| 244 – Dworshak Reservoir Bridge | 5.51 NM | 2’20” |
| 266 – Dworshak Reservoir | 4.11 NM | 1’40 |
| 172 – Dworshak Dam | 6.13 NM | 2’53” |
| 221 – Clearwater River | 1.41 NM | 0’37” |
| 93 – Orofino Mun (S68) | 2.16 NM | 1’37” |
Leg 9: Orofino Mun (S68) to Friendly Persuasion Farm (ID94)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 8th 2020 3:00PM.
Weather Preset Pro – Scattered Storms
In Game Preset – Storm (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
After a quick refill of the fuel tanks, you quickly take off for Friendly Persuasion Farm as a wall of rain is quickly approaching from the west. Take off from Orofina Mun and head west along the Clearwater River.
About 13.5 miles along the river, keep following the Clearwater southwest until you see a long bridge at the small town of Arrow, at which point the storm hits you. On the weather icon, set the precipitation to 2 and lightning to 75.
Turn over 90 degrees to the north to follow the much smaller Potlatch River. The river will gradually start heading back to towards the east. About 5 miles in, you will see the town of Juliaetta out of your left window, but keep along the Potlatch river another 5nm until the town of Kendrik. You can’t miss the big K on the hillside behind the town.
At Kendrick, make a hard turn north which will now have you follow Big Bear Creek. You have now entered Latah County, a rural region of only 35,000 residents. The county is known for it’s beautiful farmland, prairies, rolling hills and forests of pine, fir, and cedar. Follow the small river for just over 6nm until it turns eastward.
Follow Big Bear Creek eastward for almost 3nm until it turns back to the north.
Follow Big Bear Creek for 3nm until Sate Highway 8 crosses the narrow water. There is two bridge crossings in close proximity.
From either of the bridge crossings, turn westward and begin your final descent to Friendly Persuasion Farm, a 173 acre property known for it’s 1700′ private landing strip and horse trails.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 261 – Clearwater River | 13.60 NM | 6’31” |
| 236 – Potlatch River | 7.17 NM | 3’16” |
| 15 – Town of Kendrick And Big Bear Creek | 9.72 NM | 4’21” |
| 338 – Big Bear Creek East | 6.07 NM | 2’31” |
| 48 – Big Bear Creek North | 2.78 NM | 1’23” |
| 349 – State Highway 8 | 2.92 NM | 1’16 |
| 247- Friendly Persuasion Farm | 3.77 NM | 2’24” |
Leg 10: Friendly Persuasion Farm (ID94) to Gopher Gulch Field (ID97)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 8th 2020 7:15PM
Weather Preset Pro – Blazing Sun
In Game Preset – Clear Skies (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
As the storm moved through western Idaho, you opted to wait it out by taking an afternoon horse ride at Friendly Persuasion Farm. And not only did the storm move out, but almost clear skies became visible as the storm rolled eastward, leaving you with optimal conditions for your next flight.
Take off from Friendly Persuasion Farm and head northwest towards Moscow Mountain. Pass the mountain and look for Highway 95 which runs north to south, parallel to the Idaho/Washington border to it’s west.
Follow Highway 95 northbound for almost 6nm until you see the Palouse River running close to Highway 95 as it begins to veer eastward.
Turn almost 180 degrees and begin to follow the Palouse River west. Fly low to the ground and take in the beautiful green scenery as you cross over the border to Washington and quickly see the river town of Palouse.
Continue following the Palouse River as it begins to veers north and to the west, past the town of Palouse. After about 6nm, as your plane turns northward again, you will see a large hill to the north, sticking out of mostly flat farmland.
Exit your river path and head to Steptoe Butte, a 3,612 foot quartzite butte jutting out of the Palouse Hills. This is where you will get the famous spring time view of the Palouse Prairie, a region that is well known for it’s farming of barley, wheat, lentils and other crops that explode into a vibrant color show during their initial growth in May and June. And Steptoe Butte is the best place to witness this colorful marvel. So why not deadstick land on the top of the Butte and enjoy the colorful fields trough the telephoto lens on your drone camera?
Once you have gotten some postcard worthy photos, you should easily be able to get airborne, as there is plenty of steady downhill slopes to take off from. Once safely in flight, head northeast and look for the border town of Farmington, which sits in Washington, right in front of some foothills to the east that lie in Idaho.
Turn slightly eastbound and begin your 10 mile descent to Gopher Gulch Field, a dirt airstrip that sits just past Highway 95 and Mineral Creek.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 263 – Highway 95 | 13.09 NM | 5’55” |
| 348 – Palouse River | 5.56 NM | 2’20” |
| 265 – Town of Palouse | 3.31 NM | 1’22” |
| 278 – Palouse River Exit | 5.50 NM | 2’12” |
| 306 – Steptoe Butte | 6.32 NM | 2’28” |
| 55 – Farmington | 10.72 NM | 5’38 |
| 247- Gopher Gulch Field (ID97) | 9.80 NM | 7’37” |
Leg 11: Gopher Gulch Field (ID97) to Sky Island Ranch (ID13)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 9th 2020 8:15AM.
Weather Preset Pro – Dense Clouds
In Game Preset – Overcast (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
After the exciting late afternoon flight and deadstick landing on top of Steptoe Butte, you opt for an easy early morning flight to St Maries, pronounced St Marys. Take off from Gopher Gulch Field and head straight east through the vibrant green rolling hills until you reach the town of Fernwood, which lies on the banks of the St. Maries River.
Turn northwest and follow the St. Maries River for over 10nm until a sharp turn takes you to the northeast.
Follow the St Maries River 4nm to the northeast to Stickney Gulch.
Once you start seeing buildings at the small encampment of Stickney Gulch, you will turn north and follow the dramatic turns in the river until you reach the town of St Maries, where the St Maries River flows into the larger St. Joe River. With just 2,400 residents, this beautiful town in a lush valley was founded in 1889 with the building of a sawmill, as the many rivers and lakes provided easy transportation for the lumber.
From St Maries, turn west and gain altitude until you see the small Sky Island Ranch landing strip, which sits on a hill overlooking Round Lake.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 74 – St Maries River/Fernwood | 16.92 NM | 8’1″ |
| 294 – St Maries River East | 12.43 NM | 5’19” |
| 37 – St Maries River North | 3.99 NM | 1’50” |
| 350 – St Maries | 1.95 NM | 0’51” |
| 260 – Sky Island Ranch (ID13) | 3.70 NM | 2’29” |
Leg 12: Sky Island Ranch (ID13) to Carlin Bay (ID43)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 9th 2020 1:00PM
Weather Preset Pro – Spring Rain
In Game Preset – Rain (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
Early afternoon rain showers has descended upon the Idaho Pandhandle, but you have always wanted to see Lake Coeur d’Alene in a spring storm, so you decide to take to the skies. Take off from Sky Island Ranch and head northwest over the popular vacation lake, admiring all of the recreation boats that are in the lake despite the rain. Follow the lake for almost 13nm, until the lake makes a strong turn to the northeast at East Point.
The rain has started to come down harder and you notice more around the lake, making dangerous flying conditions. You know Carlin Bay is close by, so you decide to land there and wait out the storm. Hug the east coast of the lake for almost 6nm until you see the small Carlin Bay jut out to the east. The upsloped Carlin Bay landing strip is straight ahead, past the bay, on a hill overlooking the lake to the south.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 301 – East Point | 12.87 NM | 5’43” |
| 25 – Carlin Bay (ID43) | 5.81 NM | 3’57” |
Leg 13: Carlin Bay (ID43) to Craik (29MT)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 9th 2020 6:30PM.
Weather Preset Pro – Big And Bold
Built In Preset – Broken Clouds (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
By early evening, the passing rain had cleared, leaving just big and beautiful clouds hanging over the Idaho Panhandle. Conditions look good for the long flight to Craik landing strip, just over the eastern border in Montana. Take off from Carlin Bay and head southwest to East Point, the same point that marked your turn to Carlin Bay in the rain.
From East Point, head southeast for just under 2nm until you reach Harlow Point on the east side of the lake. You will see the Coeur d’Alene River start to form on the land strip between Thompson Lake and Anderson Lake.
Follow the Coeur d’Alene River east as it weaves through flat land surrounded by hills as bodies of water seemingly appear at every turn on either side of the river. At Cove Lake, the Coeur d’Alene River begins tracking north.
Keep following the Coeur d’Alene River northbound along side the Medal of Honor Highway until you reach the small town of Rose Lake, which sits on the shores of the lake of the same name.
At Rose Lake, follow the Coeur d’Alene River eastbound until it intersects with Interstate 90, an east–west transcontinental freeway that is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at 3,020 miles. It runs from Seattle, Washington to Boston, Massachusetts.
Follow Interstate 90 east, where you will see the Shoshone Airport on the north side of the highway.
Keep following Interstate 90 eastbound until you arrive at the town of Wallace, which is visible on the southside of the freeway as it becomes an overpass, running over portions of the town. Founded in 1884, Wallace was once the main town in the Silver Valley, which produced more silver than any other mining district in the United States. During the silver boom, Wallace was also known as the brothel capital of the United States, and the stories of train robberies and its reputation lived up to our Wild West fantasies.
Look for the Burke Road and Canyon Creek opposite of Wallace, on the north side of Interstate 90 and begin to follow the creek and the road north and west. You will begin to lose site of the road as the trees get thicker, but keep on your heading and look for Prospect Creek Road running north to south before turning eastbound.
Follow Prospect Creek Road eastbound until it opens up to the Thompson Falls which sits on the Clark Fork River. In 1883, Thompson Falls was a bustling hub of activity, as town grew to accommodate the men going over the Murray Trail to the gold mines.
From Thompson Creek, head north along the Clark Fork River, until you reach Blue Slide, a visibly larger part of the river that sits on a big bend that juts right up against the base of Cougar Peak.
From Blue Slide, head northwest where you will pass Montana Highway 200 before seeing Craik Landing strip that lies next to Blue Beaver Creek.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 205 – East Point | 5.61 NM | 2’48” |
| 115- Harlow Point | 1.96 NM | 1’3″ |
| 70 – Cave Lake | 8.62 NM | 4’24” |
| 37 – Rose Lake | 6.83 NM | 3’11” |
| 70- Interstate 90 | 5.55 NM | 2’51” |
| 74- Shoshone Airport | 5.92 NM | 3’4″ |
| 97 – Wallace | 11.66 NM | 6’21” |
| 55 – Prospect Creek Road | 13.39 NM | 6’26” |
| 60 – Thompson Falls | 10.85 NM | 5’16” |
| 325 – The Blue Slide | 8.25 NM | 3’24 |
| 274 – Craik (29MT) | 3.46 NM | 2’16” |
Leg 14: Craik (29MT) to Cx Ranch (ID01)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 10th 2020 3:00AM.
Weather – Clear Skies
The afternoon storm has delayed your flight schedule, as you planned on watching the sunrise from the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. As the clouds clear as the night sets in, you decide a moonlit route up the Clark Fork river should be easy enough as the Cx Ranch landing strip is easy enough to find.
Take off from Craix and head east until you meet up with the Clark Fork River and head north until you reach Frampton airport, your half way mark to Lake Pend Oreille.
Continue northwest along the Clark Fork river. In the distance, the moon will be lighting up Lake Pend Oreille, easily making it visible. As you approach the wide opening of the lake, you will fly over the small town of Clark Fork on the east side of the river. Directly opposite, on the west bank of the Clark Fork River, you will see the Cx Ranch landing strip, illuminated by four lights, 3 of which lie on the west side of the runway.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 308 – Frampton Airport | 17.76 NM | 7’52” |
| 284 – Cx Ranch (ID01) | 19.76 NM | 9’34” |
Leg 15: Cx Ranch (ID01) to Fox Creek (45ID)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 10th 2020 6:00AM.
Weather Preset Pro – Morning Dew
Built In Preset – Broken Clouds (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
Beautiful morning clouds and occasional spring showers greet you as you ready your plane for take off from the lakeside Cx Ranch. As the light begins to light up Lake Pend Oreille, take off and head northwest along the eastern shore, until you spot Warren Island.
From Warren Island, continue on the same course, heading to the Northern corner of Lake Pend Oreille, the largest lake in the state of Idaho that was glacially formed during the ice age. Although it is only the 38th largest lake in the United States, depths of up to 1,150 feet make it the fifth deepest lake in the U.S. During World War II, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the southern end of Lake Pend Oreille was the second largest Naval training ground in the world. Today, the lake is home to water loving vacationers who take advantage of the warm summer months and the endless forests in the region. As you take in the splendor, look for Hawkins Point on the north shore.
From Hawkins point, head west until you reach Sandpoint, the largest city in Bonner county with a population of 7,365. Vacation resorts, restaurants, breweries, and even a miniature Statue Of Liberty make Sandpoint a fun and unique vacation spot for those from all over the world.
From Sandpoint, head northwest to one of my favorite ski mountain in Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Resort. While the spring season has melted all of the snow and ski operations have ceased, the climb up the mountain will show you why this ski resort is so popular. With an average snowfall of 300 inches and the largest skiable terrain at 2,900 acres, Schweitzer is one of the best ski mountains in the west.
From Schweitzer, begin your descent southwest. After just over 8nm, you will see the short landing strip of Fox Creek, just before Priest River begins its wild curves.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 303 – Warren Island | 7.99 NM | 3’36” |
| 307 – Hawkins Point | 3.32 NM | 1’23” |
| 251 – Sandpoint | 6.89 NM | 3’3″ |
| 317 – Schweitzer Mountain Resort | 7.05 NM | 2’44” |
| 233 – Fox Creek (45ID) | 8.22 NM | 5’38” |
Leg 16: Fox Creek (45ID) to Cavanaugh Bay (66S)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 10th 2020 9:00AM
Weather Preset Pro – Building Storms
Built In Preset – Storm (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
Storms and wind continue to build, but knowing that your flight this morning will just have you following the shoreline of Priest Lake, you feel comfortable taking off as the Cavanaugh Bay landing strip is easy to find. Take flight from Fox Creek and follow the Priest River north until you see the big bend that takes the river briefly to the west.
Continue following Priest River north until meets with Priest Lake at Outlet Bay. Like other lakes in this region, Priest Lake dates back almost 10,000 years to the end of the last ice age, when the glacier that covered the area receded. In the 19th century, the first white settlers were fur trappers who quickly established trade with the native Kalispel Tribe. After more settlers arrived, so did a group of Jesuit Priests in the 1840s, who the lake is named after today. Continue north along the shore until you reach Kalispel Island just off the western shore. The island is a popular camping location in the spring and summer.
Continue following the western shoreline until you reach the north end of the Priest Lake at Mosquito Bay and the Priest Lake Thoroughfare, the waterway that connects Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake.
Follow Priest Lake Thoroughfare until you reach Upper Priest Lake and continue until you reach the northern short.
Turn 180 degrees and head back to the northeast shoreline of Priest Lake until you reach Priest Lake State Park, a public beach and shoreline.
Turn southbound and follow the eastern shoreline until you see the Cavanaugh landing strip past the many docks and boats on the shore of Cavanaugh Bay.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 318 -Priest River Bend | 5.56 NM | 2’25” |
| 341 – Kalispel Island | 9.35 NM | 4’4″ |
| 353 – Mosquito Bay | 10.13 NM | 4’17” |
| 314 – Upper Priest Lake | 4.28 NM | 1’44” |
| 120 – Priest Lake State Park | 4.78 NM | 2’41” |
| 162 – Cavanaugh Bay (66S) | 13.31 NM | 10’15” |
Leg 17: Cavanaugh Bay (66S) to Boundary Co (65S)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 10th 2020 1:00PM
Weather Preset Pro – Scattered Storms
Built In Preset – Storm In Game Preset – Overcast (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
The building storms have exploded into scattered storms through the region, with no end in sight, so you decide to try to beat the brunt of the storm to Bonners Ferry. Take off from Cavanaugh Bay and immediately begin your ascent east, over the high peaks of the Selkirk Mountains. Once you clear the peaks, descend until you see the Pack River, running north to south.
Turn up the Pack River and stay under the storm as you follow the canyon north. After about 9nm, the canyon will come to an end, with Harrison peak to your west. Climb the hill to the east of Harrison Peak.
Once above the high ridgeline, you should see Myrtle Creek ahead of you. Follow the creek eastward, descending to the Kootenay River Valley and the Kootenay River.
Follow the Kootenay River eastbound for just a minute until you reach Bonners Ferry. In 1863, when scores of prospectors descended on the region in search of gold, Edwin Bonner established a ferry that took the prospectors across the Kootenai River as they made their way across the Wildhorse Trail. Bonner leased the business out just over a decade later, but the town has kept the name to remember its importance in the gold rush.
Once you reach Bonners Ferry, the Boundary Co airport lies on the northeast edge of town.
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 69 -Pack River | 9.00 NM | 4’23” |
| 334 – Harrison Peak | 9.21 NM | 3’58” |
| 360 – Myrtle Creek | 2.50 NM | 1’6″ |
| 80 – Kootenay River | 9.31 NM | 4’58” |
| 89 – Bonners Ferry | 2.22 NM | 1’7″ |
| 22 – Boundary Co (65S) | 2.25 NM | 1’30” |
Leg 18: Boundary Co (65S) to Creston (CAJ3)
Set Date, Time and Weather to June 10th 2020 8:40PM
Weather Preset Pro – Big And Bold
In Game Preset – Broken Clouds (More detailed weather settings located in the Premium Version
I hope you didn’t forget your passport, because your final leg will take you just over the Idaho border and into British Columbia, Canada as a vibrant, explosive sunset bids you a fond farewell from Idaho. Take off from Boundary Co and fly west until you find the Kootenay River.
Fly north along the river for just about 10 minutes, as the colorful light bounce off of the river and bold clouds above. As soon as you cross the border into Canada, you will see the well lit Creston airport on the east side of the river. Once you stick the landing and turn off your bird, head to the nearest Tim Horton’s and get yourself a celebratory donut!
| Heading | Distance | ETE |
| 201 – Kootenay River | 2.31 NM | 1’7″ |
| 326 – Creston (CAJ3) | 21.54 NM | 10’46” |
Thank you for flying the Idaho backcountry with me! I hope you enjoyed your trip. Please sign up for my newsletter to be the first to know of my next bush trip release. And please feel free to contact me at with any questions or future bush trip suggestions.
1 comment
Another amazing jaunt through the Idaho (Montana and BC) back country. The scenery, route, weather and historical context all come together seamlessly. It’s clear that Mike is taking into account feedback from us virtual flyers to fine tune these trips to perfection. Can’t wait for the next adventure!!