Sandpoint OR Bonners Ferry to Thompson Falls more scenic? (Coeur d'Alene: house, cabinets)

[Grumbler]

Looking into a scenic road trip btw US-95 and I-90 this coming summer.

Have been to Thompson Falls before via Couer d'Alene River Road out of Enaville.
That was a very scenic and winding road although one has to keep an eye out for
deer on Prichard Creek Road.

Highway 200 btw Sandpoint, at least on the map, appears to be more interesting as
it's usually parallel to Lake Pend Oreille and the reserviors.

Highway 2 btw Bonners Ferry and Troy doesn't although Highway 56 aka Bull Lake Rd
near Troy and the Highway 200 jct goes by Bull Lake.

BTW, the more curves the better.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Definitely Highway 200. If you're going west, drive up 93 from Missoula to 200 and head west. It is a jaw-dropping experience, especially west of Plains.

There aren't many good river views (Kootenai River) on Highway 2 east of Bonners Ferry, although you get some spectacular glimpses, especially west of the Kootenai Falls. On 200 you're driving along the Clark Fork River as well as Lake Pend Oreille with some of the most awesome views in the entire Northwest. (But I'm biased! ).

Highway 56 has breathtaking views of the eastern Cabinets as well as Bull River and Bull Lake. We love doing the loop from Clark Fork to 56, then up 56 to Troy, west to Bonners on 2, south on 95 to Sandpoint, and back on 200 to CF (or the other way!). A nice day trip with photo stops. But it isn't convenient as a way to get from 90 to 95. You don't have a view of Bull Lake from 200, but you get a nice view of the Bull River flowing into the CF River. (Feel free to check out my albums of Clark Fork and NW Montana.)

Have fun!

[Cnynrat]

I've done the drive from Thompson Falls to Sandpoint. It is spectacular! It was part of a motorcycle trip from Tijuana to Kamloops B.C., and I remember that portion of the ride as among the 2 or 3 outstanding segments. Our route was about 2,400 miles, and all but about 200 miles were two lane roads. Rt 200 has great scenery and endless curves!

Off topic, but that was the first time I visited Sandpoint. This was Labor Day weekend of 1990. My buddy and I had dinner at what is now Trinity (I think it may have been called Edgewater back then). We sat out on the lawn under one of the cottonwood trees that still stand there. I was admiring the view of the marina, city beach, the lake, and the mountains on the far side of the lake. I turned to my friend and said "I could live here." I remember that moment as clearly as if it were yesterday.

My wife and I had met earlier that year in April of 1990. 27 years later she and I moved to Sagle.

Dave

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

The CDA River road, Thompson pass loop is one of my favorite rides. Both hwy 200 and Bull River are beautiful and worth a drive. Part of 200 runs along the N. side of Lake Pend Oreille, and it's spectacular. But the really nice part is only a couple miles long. Bull River Road runs through some pretty impressive mountains and is probably 20 miles or so of really pretty riding. If you do 200, I recommend stopping in Hope at Ice House Pizza. Great food and views from the patio. On Bull River Rd, the Halfway House is a nice stop. Not so much for the view, but the food and atmosphere are good. Can't go wrong with either. For more curves, I'd say Bull River. Plus it's in Montana so the speed limit is more civilized.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by Grumbler

Looking into a scenic road trip btw US-95 and I-90 this coming summer.

Have been to Thompson Falls before via Couer d'Alene River Road out of Enaville.
That was a very scenic and winding road although one has to keep an eye out for
deer on Prichard Creek Road.

Highway 200 btw Sandpoint, at least on the map, appears to be more interesting as
it's usually parallel to Lake Pend Oreille and the reserviors.

Highway 2 btw Bonners Ferry and Troy doesn't although Highway 56 aka Bull Lake Rd
near Troy and the Highway 200 jct goes by Bull Lake.

BTW, the more curves the better.

Guess I just read your post, and didn't pay enough attention to the title! So you're going east. The views are still great on 200 along the Clark Fork River to the 93, although I think they're a little more stunning going west. I think you should definitely go 200 along Lake Pend Oreille, stop in Hope and have pizza , and continue to 56. What you might consider doing is allow yourself a side trip up 56 to the Cabinet Mts overview and the Ross Creek Cedars--that's about 15 miles north--and then come back to the jct and continue on 200 east.

[Grumbler]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

Definitely Highway 200. If you're going west, drive up 93 from Missoula to 200 and head west. It is a jaw-dropping experience, especially west of Plains.

We actually rode east on Hwy 200 from Thompson Falls to the US-93 jct then went south to
the Val-U-Inn in Missoula for the night. It's a scenic road but wished if it had more curves!

There aren't many good river views (Kootenai River) on Highway 2 east of Bonners Ferry, although you get some spectacular glimpses, especially west of the Kootenai Falls. On 200 you're driving along the Clark Fork River as well as Lake Pend Oreille with some of the most awesome views in the entire Northwest. (But I'm biased! ).

In addition, that would mean a longer trip up US-95 from Sandpoint to Bonners Ferry which
does have its share of traffic due to being the main north/south road to/from Canada!

Highway 56 has breathtaking views of the eastern Cabinets as well as Bull River and Bull Lake. We love doing the loop from Clark Fork to 56, then up 56 to Troy, west to Bonners on 2, south on 95 to Sandpoint, and back on 200 to CF (or the other way!). A nice day trip with photo stops. But it isn't convenient as a way to get from 90 to 95. You don't have a view of Bull Lake from 200, but you get a nice view of the Bull River flowing into the CF River. (Feel free to check out my albums of Clark Fork and NW Montana.)

Perhaps a side trip north to Ross Creek Falls on 56 from Hwy 200 would be well worth it then?

[Grumbler]

Originally Posted by Cnynrat

I've done the drive from Thompson Falls to Sandpoint. It is spectacular! It was part of a motorcycle trip from Tijuana to Kamloops B.C., and I remember that portion of the ride as among the 2 or 3 outstanding segments. Our route was about 2,400 miles, and all but about 200 miles were two lane roads. Rt 200 has great scenery and endless curves!

I've family in Kamloops, BC although we've only been there once as part of a driving loop
from Vancouver to Banff via Hope. The Canadian Rockies east of Kamloops are spectacular!

Sandpoint to Thompson Falls it is then! As a motorcyclist am almost always on the 2-lane
roads and avoid the freeways as much as possible.

Off topic, but that was the first time I visited Sandpoint. This was Labor Day weekend of 1990. My buddy and I had dinner at what is now Trinity (I think it may have been called Edgewater back then). We sat out on the lawn under one of the cottonwood trees that still stand there. I was admiring the view of the marina, city beach, the lake, and the mountains on the far side of the lake. I turned to my friend and said "I could live here." I remember that moment as clearly as if it were yesterday.

We passed by Sandpoint in 1988 while enroute to New Meadows for the night from Banff. I
got a speeding ticket from the ISP for doing 65 in 55. Cost me $37. Those Idaho towns next
to scenic lakes aren't as affordable as they once were after being discovered. :/

[Grumbler]

Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake

The CDA River road, Thompson pass loop is one of my favorite rides. Both hwy 200 and Bull River are beautiful and worth a drive. Part of 200 runs along the N. side of Lake Pend Oreille, and it's spectacular. But the really nice part is only a couple miles long. Bull River Road runs through some pretty impressive mountains and is probably 20 miles or so of really pretty riding. If you do 200, I recommend stopping in Hope at Ice House Pizza. Great food and views from the patio. On Bull River Rd, the Halfway House is a nice stop. Not so much for the view, but the food and atmosphere are good. Can't go wrong with either. For more curves, I'd say Bull River. Plus it's in Montana so the speed limit is more civilized.

Did you ever do Old River Road on opposite side btw Enaville and Babbins Jct? Looks to be a
narrower road and might not be as smooth as CDA River Road.

Is Bull River Rd a more enjoyable ride south or north of Bull Lake?

Haven't been north of Plummer on US-95. Any tips on riding btw Plummer and Sandpoint so
we can avoid as much traffic as possible?

[elousv]

Originally Posted by Grumbler

Haven't been north of Plummer on US-95. Any tips on riding btw Plummer and Sandpoint so
we can avoid as much traffic as possible?

You can go around Lake Coeur d'Alene instead of 95 (which is straight). At Plummer take the 5 to St. Maries, then the 3 north, then 97 up to the 90. Fun ride in a sports car.

[Grumbler]

Originally Posted by elousv

You can go around Lake Coeur d'Alene instead of 95 (which is straight). At Plummer take the 5 to St. Maries, then the 3 north, then 97 up to the 90. Fun ride in a sports car.

Have done Plummer to St. Maries to Cataldo then I-90 to Kingston. We decided not
to take 97 that day as, despite being a winding and scenic route, there's too many
homes and driveways on 97.

We could've followed E. Canyon Rd/Riverview Dr btw Cataldo and Kingston instead
of I-90 but didn't check the map beforehand. We were riding from Clarkston, WA to
Missoula, MT that day.

US-95 btw Plummer and Sandpoint probably the best bet as other routes would be
more time consuming.