The Idaho Panhandle National Forests are a collective of forested areas located in the northern region of Idaho, extending into parts of Montana and Washington. Spanning over 2.5 million acres, this vast expanse offers diverse landscapes ranging from lush cedar groves to rugged mountain peaks.

Established on July 1, 1908 as the Priest River Forest Reserve and later expanded through various consolidations to form what is now known as the Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF), it encompasses three major units: Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe, and Kaniksu National Forests.

A key feature within these forests is Lake Pend Oreille-one of the largest lakes in North America-surrounded by scenic mountains offering recreational activities such as boating, fishing, hiking trails like Mickinnick Trail No.13 with panoramic views at its summit or exploring historic sites including old fire lookouts that dot some mountaintops throughout IPNF's terrain.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests in Montana encompass a diverse and scenic region characterized by its rugged terrain, dense forests, numerous lakes, rivers, and streams. This area is part of the Rocky Mountains' northern reaches with elevations ranging from about 2,100 feet to over 7,000 feet above sea level.

The geography includes steep mountainsides covered with coniferous trees such as pines and firs; valleys that are often lush due to ample precipitation; clear-cut areas evidencing past logging activities; meadows bursting with wildflowers during springtime; cascading waterfalls fed by snowmelt or rainfall runoff.

It's also home to an array of wildlife including elk, deer, bears, and various bird species.

The aquatic systems within this forested landscape support cold-water fish populations like trout, salmon, making it popular for fishing enthusiasts.

The panhandle has several large bodies of water including parts Lake Pend Oreille one deepest natural lakes United States.

The forests now known as the Idaho Panhandle National Forests are located in northern Idaho, extending slightly into Montana and Washington. Their history is rich with various uses by Native American tribes such as the Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai, and Salish for hunting grounds, fishing waters, and gathering areas.

In 1891 Congress established forest reserves to protect land from over-exploitation; this included what would become part of these national forests. The Priest River Forest Reserve was created in 1906 followed by Cabinet (in present-day Montana) and Kaniksu (northernmost parts of today's combined area). These separate entities were later consolidated under U.S. Forest Service management after its establishment in 1905.

Ownership before federal protection varied but largely consisted of public domain lands that had not been homesteaded or otherwise claimed privately. Some tracts may have transferred through railroad grants or private ownership due to mining claims during periods when resource extraction surged-particularly silver mining around Wallace district at turn-of-the-century.

Historical features within the park include remnants from early logging operations which played a significant role prior to conservation efforts taking precedence-the region experienced extensive timber harvesting facilitated by railroads constructed specifically for log transport.

Fire lookouts dotting high points offer historical insight into past fire surveillance methods while also providing panoramic views-a few date back nearly a century like Coolwater Lookout built-in 1929.

Smokejumpers Base Museum near West Glacier showcases firefighting history related directly to aerial wildfire suppression techniques developed throughout mid-20th century-an integral aspect given frequent fires across western landscapes including those found here.

Coeur d'Alene's Old Mission State Park preserves Cataldo Mission-one oldest standing buildings state dating back to 1853 serving both religious cultural hub settlers indigenous peoples alike showcasing intersectional heritage site amidst natural beauty surrounding it alluding complex interactions between different communities time passed on these lands pre-dating current designation status they hold today.