Idaho Panhandle National Forest
Encyclopedia
Idaho Panhandle National Forest is a national forest
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 forest was combined in 2000 from three previous separate National Forests which continue to manage themselves somewhat separately through district offices. The Coeur d'Alene
, St. Joe
, and Kaniksu
National Forests merged to form a 3,224,739-acre
(5,038.66 sq mi, or 13,050.06 km2) forest in northern Idaho (better known as the Idaho Panhandle
). The northernmost portion of the forest shares a boundary with Canada
. Forest headquarters are located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
.
The rivers and lakes in the Panhandle hold some of the best fishing locations in the world.
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Approximately 22.4% of the forest (in the Kaniksu
Kaniksu National Forest
The Kaniksu National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in northeastern Washington, the Idaho panhandle, and northwestern Montana. The Idaho portion is one of three forests that are aggregated into the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, along with the Coeur d'Alene National Forest and St. Joe...
portion) extends into the states of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
(14.1%) and Washington (8.3%). The forest was combined in 2000 from three previous separate National Forests which continue to manage themselves somewhat separately through district offices. The Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene National Forest
The Coeur d'Alene is a U.S. National Forest located in the Idaho panhandle and is one of three forests that are aggregated into the Idaho Panhandle National Forest . Coeur d'Alene National Forest is located in Shoshone, Kootenai, and Bonner counties in northern Idaho...
, St. Joe
St. Joe National Forest
The St. Joe National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the Idaho panhandle and is one of three forests that are aggregated into the Idaho Panhandle National Forest . In descending order of land area St. Joe National Forest is located in parts of Shoshone, Latah, Clearwater, and Benewah...
, and Kaniksu
Kaniksu National Forest
The Kaniksu National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in northeastern Washington, the Idaho panhandle, and northwestern Montana. The Idaho portion is one of three forests that are aggregated into the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, along with the Coeur d'Alene National Forest and St. Joe...
National Forests merged to form a 3,224,739-acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
(5,038.66 sq mi, or 13,050.06 km2) forest in northern Idaho (better known as the Idaho Panhandle
Idaho Panhandle
The Idaho Panhandle is the northern region of the U.S. State of Idaho that encompasses the ten northernmost counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone. Residents of the panhandle refer to the region as North Idaho...
). The northernmost portion of the forest shares a boundary with Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Forest headquarters are located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Coeur d'Alene is the largest city and county seat of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. It is the principal city of the Coeur d'Alene Metropolitan Statistical Area. Coeur d'Alene has the second largest metropolitan area in the state of Idaho. As of the 2010 census the population of Coeur...
.
Wildlife
The Panhandle National Forest contains a wide variety of wildlife. Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Elk, Moose, Coyote, Wolf, Bobcat, Cougar, Wolverine, Black Bear and even Grizzly Bear are seen in the forest. Bird species include 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.
Further reading
- Ferguson, D.E. and A.C. Zack. (2006). Establishment record for the Wellner Cliffs Research Natural Area: Priest River Experimental Forest, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Bonner County, Idaho [RMRS General Technical Report GTR-170WWW]. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.