We welcome all kinds of families to Lochsa Lodge every year looking for adventure and bonding. No matter what season you visit, there are family-friendly activities everywhere you look, and a unique opportunity to put down the screens and reconnect with nature and each other. In this guide, we’ll give you the lowdown on family-friendly activities to enjoy near Lochsa Lodge.
Hike it Out
For littles in the hiking pack all the way to teens who need to get some energy out, hiking is the all-around family-friendly activity. We’ve put together a list of area hiking trails we recommend, so hit the trails prepared and experience the beauty of our stunning natural landscape.
Encourage Your Budding Naturalists
You’re sure to sight all sorts of wildlife on your adventure in North Central Idaho, so bring birding guides, nature journals, and cameras to encourage your kids to engage with their environment. Check out the National Forest Service’s website to print off kid-friendly activities or get your Every Kid Outdoors voucher.
We’re located in big game country, so keep your eyes peeled for elk, deer, moose, and even the occasional bear or wolf. Birds—especially birds of prey—are also a common sight along the Lochsa River and in the towering trees. We’re home to ancient cedars like those in the Devoto Cedar Grove, and in the spring, our high-altitude meadows are covered in wildflowers like camas and lupine.
For the rock hounds, our area is a perfect place to find treasures. Idaho is known as the gem state for a reason, and you may be able to find all sorts of gemstones, rocks, petrified wood, mineral specimens, and even fossils if you have a keen eye and patience.
Hit the Water
From swimming to fly fishing to tubing to boating, our area welcomes you and your family with open arms (and a splash)! During the warm summer months, the crystal clear waters of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest are swollen with high-altitude snow runoff. Dive in yourself: check out the National Forest Service website for information about boating, swimming, and tubing.
For the anglers, the Wild & Scenic Lochsa River offers an opportunity to fish never-dammed waters for bull trout, kokanee, steelhead, and salmon. The season is catch-and-release from December 1 through Memorial Day.
Snowsports for the Win
For families visiting in the cold months, our region offers unparalleled winter adventure opportunities. Snowshoeing is an easy win with little skill or effort needed, even for younger kids, while cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and hot springs adventures are great for older children and teens. Check out our full guide to the winter season in the Lochsa for more detailed tips.
Learn a Little
There are several interpretive trails and centers around our area ready to satisfy your curiosity. What better way to learn about history, science, and our environment than to engage in hands-on activities together as a family?
- DeVoto Cedar Grove: Just 12 miles from Montana, the Devoto Cedar Grove invites you to wander among ancient red cedars on a gentle interpretive trail. This peaceful grove, dedicated to conservationist Bernard DeVoto, offers picnic areas and lovely spots to pause, reflect, and soak up the beauty of the American West.
- Lolo Pass Visitor Center: Completed in the early ’60s, Highway 12 connects Lewiston with Missoula via the spectacular Lolo Pass. At the Idaho-Montana border, the Lolo Pass Visitor Center offers exhibits, a cozy bookstore, and the Glade Creek Trail—a mile-long journey through scenic meadows. This is a must visit stop on any journey through the Lochsa.
- Lewis and Clark Trail: History and nature collide on this 8-mile historic trail accessible from the lodge. Hike between the Wendover/Whitehouse and Whitesands campgrounds, with beautiful views of the Lochsa River as you follow along the historic path of Lewis and Clark.
Live that Mountain Lodge Life
Every family vacation needs a cozy home base to start every day and settle back into every evening. Our Lodge Restaurant, Tavern, Country Store & Mercantile have everything you need to enjoy relaxation back at your cabin. Sit down for a hearty Northwest fresh meal together—on the patio in the summer months, by the fire when it’s cold—and then spend some time playing games together or just watching the stars come out.
Disconnect to Reconnect
If your next family vacation is calling you to the great outdoors, there’s no better hub than Lochsa Lodge. Join us at our historic home-away-from-home in the woods and find out why generations of adventurers have been drawn to Lochsa Lodge.