Cabin Front Entry Elevation

As our first offering, this moderate sized cabin could be used as a rustic cabin retreat, a full time residence, a temporary home, a retirement home, or even as a guest house for in-laws, children or friends.  All of the typical residential features are included for everyday living.

Unlike traditional stock plans or book plans, this architect designed open floor plan comes with well thought out wood interiors, including exposed rustic posts, beams, purlins, rafters, detailed wood paneling, and built-in cabinetry.  Materials are designed for a comfortable rustic cabin, but are flexible per owner preferences.  The energy efficient home also includes large windows to capture the views as well as bring in abundant natural light.

The 1,222 square foot cabin has a smaller footprint, but includes spaces often found in large residences.  The plan consists of a Master Bedroom, a cozy Guest Room with built-ins, an open Entry/Great Room/Kitchen/Dining area, a Laundry Room, a detailed trussed entry porch and adjacent covered porches.

Cabin Floor Plan

Among other energy efficient products and materials in the home, the Great Room includes an efficient wood burning fireplace that exceeds the 75% efficiency standard and qualifies for the Federal Tax Credit program.

Accurate and detailed drawings and specifications speed up construction time and efficiency.  Our detailed plan sets are far superior to standard stock plans or book plans, and include:

• Specifications
• Dimensioned Floor Plans
• Structural Plans
• Exterior Elevations
• Building Sections
• Wall Sections and Details
• Interior Elevations
• Window and Door Schedules
• Electrical Plans
• Finish Plans

Plans are drawn with cad software and can be reversed.  Our plans include the option to customize them, rather than starting from scratch.  We will give you an approximate value before beginning work.

Plans are designed per the latest International Residential Codes.  As many areas have different requirements, the plans may need to be reviewed by a licensed professional in that jurisdiction.

While we have started to delve into the stock plan arena, I would still recommend having a custom home designed for maximum living and cost efficiency.  For more information see Good Quality Architecture Adds Value to Your Home.

Please visit our portfolio for examples of some of our recently completed custom projects.  We do not sell plans of our client’s custom homes.

For more information on our plans please contact us by phone at 208.265.4001, by email, or by filling out your information on our contact page.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.  Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture Blog.

Rustic Mountain Chapel with Trusses

Several options were presented, with a few of them shown here.  Stone and wood are the main materials on the exterior and interior, along with rustic arched timber trusses, beams and/or rafter accents.  A central wood window with cross shaped mullions overlooks a spectacular rock outcropping.  Some of the options include window bench seats and clerestory windows.

Small Hobbit Chapel

Small Mountain Chapel with Window Seat

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture Blog.

Many reduced financial portfolios simply cannot currently pay for large lodge homes.  One of the most popular questions I received before we revamped our website was, “Do you design anything less expensive?”  Cozy cabins and cottages are now in much more demand.

Mountain Cabin

These smaller homes are demanding more efficient use of space, both visually and functionally.  Visually, a home can take advantage of the outdoors by strategically placing windows, doors, materials and landscaping in areas that can seamlessly bring the outside in, and the inside out.  Thoughtful design will make the interior rooms look bigger.  The outdoor “rooms” are also generally cheaper than indoor rooms.

In regards to function, as an example, I’m often asked to design bigger guest rooms.  Some questions I’ll ask are; how long will the guest be staying?  What will they be doing in there besides sleeping?  Can they do without a TV and desk?  Can queen sized beds be used instead of kings?

These questions may help turn a 16×16 room into a more cozy 10×10 room, thus saving 156 square feet per guest room.  Two smaller guest rooms saving 312 square feet, at say $300 per square foot, equals $93,600.  Would the costs be better placed elsewhere in rooms used more often?  The same could be said for having the guests share a bathroom.  Everybody of course has different opinions on this, but the point is architects need to ask these questions to help the home owners save on costs.

On some projects I have considered marine architecture, a great example of space efficiency. Anybody who has been on a well designed yacht can see efficiencies of space at work.  Every cubic foot of these boats is put to good use, whether it’s storage under the seats or cubbyholes above the beds.  Some of the marine concepts can be used in homes as well.

Small Mountain Home

Smaller homes are also more energy efficient and sustainable.  To put it simply, small homes save on energy costs by lowering your heating and cooling bills.  For more information on this please see our blog post on Energy Efficiency.  Smaller homes can also save materials, trees and transportation costs, among others.

Quality, not quantity, seems to be the choice of the new generation, if given a choice between the two.  A smaller home can save more room in the budget for thoughtful architecturally designed details, including coffered ceilings, custom built-ins, wood walls and trim, high end lighting fixtures and appliances, and quality curved windows.  One of the most rewarding projects I’ve designed was a small family chapel on a family’s property.  The exterior matched the rustic mountain style home, while the interior includes exposed beams, wood walls and ceilings, and custom curved windows.  Powder rooms are another example of improving the quality of small spaces at a low cost.

Quality homes also add value over some of the bigger homes.  Resale values are generally increased with better quality, energy efficiencies, etc.  For more information on value, please see our blog post on Good Architecture Adds Value to Your Home.

With today’s lower construction prices, more people today can afford custom designed homes to suit their own tastes.  If homeowners with smaller budgets can compromise on quantity of space, they can enjoy a higher quality home that will last for generations, instead of a spec home that may become quickly outdated.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture Blog.

A unique feature of the fractional ownership will be a concierge type service where someone will completely customize the home to each owner’s preferences prior to their arrival so that everything will be ready for them when they arrive. This service will include filling the refrigerator with food as ordered and getting gear out of storage so owners are ready for action as soon as they arrive.

The new homes that are being built at Mountainside at Schweitzer are employing some green building technologies, and plans call for them to attain some level of LEED certification. Some of the green strategies they will be using include:

• Geothermal hydronic heating and snowmelt
• Structural insulated panels on the Roof
• Reclaimed wood interior finishes
• High Efficiency windows
• Walking distance to the Schweitzer Village and all resort amenities
• Increased development density to maximize open space

The homes in Mountainside at Schweitzer will have excellent views of Lake Pend Oreille and the Cabinet Mountains beyond. They also look out on Schweitzer’s South Bowl, the Sunnyside lift area, and have exterior decks that look down to the village. The design style of the homes being built at mountainside currently is Modern Mountain Rustic, a subdivision of Mountain Architecture.  Some of the features include large rough sawn timbers, stone veneer, predominantly shed or flat roofs, and lots of windows. All of the homes have garages and indoor gear storage, virtual necessities given the amount of snow that Schweitzer gets.

There are more ski-in/ski-out building lots available at Mountainside at Schweitzer, and also at other desirable subdivisions around Schweitzer, including The Ridge at Schweitzer and The Spires.

John Hendricks, AIA Architect and Tom Russell, LEED AP

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho.  For other photos, please see previous mountain architecture projects.

.

Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture Blog.

Please feel free to leave a comment or question!

Interior designers work with architects to create a cohesive whole.

We recommend involving interior designers in most of our projects.  While we often will draw up interior elevations, lighting plans, furniture plans, material specifications and schedules, we like to defer to interior designers for their expertise in refining interior spaces to the highest level of comfort and aesthetic quality. Typically we like to involve them in our initial meetings with the Owner.  In that way we are looking at the project as a team with a cohesive goal in mind, rather than designing the architecture and then trying to make the interior colors and spaces work.

An Interior Designer will help coordinate the Interiors with the Architect and Owner.

Interior designers specialize in choosing color schemes, as well as selecting furnishings, fixtures and finishes. Anyone who has ever attempted to do something as seemingly uncomplicated as selecting coordinated fixtures for a home, or choosing interior finishes that work well together knows that the sheer number of choices is overwhelming.

Researching and shopping for fixtures can be incredibly time consuming, and having someone come to you that knows how to select and source these products is a huge time saver.   I have seen homeowners attempt the task of decorating a large house, only to be overwhelmed and eventually taking over a year to furnish it incompletely.  Interior designers are not free, but they can complete the task in a much smaller amount of time, and can actually save owners on costs.  These cost savings may be in the form of cost discounts, more cost effective fixtures, and “time is money” savings.

Interior Designers can help make a home comfortably suit the homeowner's tastes.

While some homeowners can do a passable job of selecting furnishings and finishes, interior designers have the experience and knowledge to specify coordinating and tasteful products that will enhance any interior space. Finding what you want at a price that fits your budget isn’t always easy, but interior designers are experts at this.  They have a vast knowledge base of what products are available, where to get them, the level of quality, and what other products can be selected to compliment them.

The famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright was so worried that his clients would select inappropriate interior finishes and furnishings that he would often design the furniture, fabrics, light fixtures, and occasionally even the tableware for his client’s homes.  Mr. Wright was an extremist in this sense, but his intention was to see his designs achieve their greatest potential by being adorned with quality, tasteful fixtures and furnishings.  Most interior designers can help achieve this objective with less zealous design autonomy and more input from the client.

An Interior Designer may design the ceilings, cabinets, countertops, plumbing & lighting fixtures, floors, tile walls, towel bars and furnishings, as shown in this Master Bath.

For the projects we design, we recommend that clients consider Jane Scott of Jane Scott Design to help with the design of their interiors. Jane does a great job of designing many of the interiors of the mountain style homes we specialize in, and she has a way with people that makes them feel comfortable and confident in her abilities. We enjoy working with her and our clients appear to as well.

For more on Jane, see the January 2009 issue of Cowboys & Indians Magazine or the March 2008 issue of Spokane/ Couer d’ Alene Living Magazine.

Tom Russell, LEED AP and John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

While it is not the ideal situation, building construction can still be done outside in the winter, even in areas with freezing temperatures and lots of snow. The best scenario for construction work to continue through the winter months is to have the roof on the building, the windows in, insulation done and enough interior work to keep crews busy through the coldest months.  For those not lucky enough to be in this situation, it is still possible to keep the project moving during the winter, but expect progress to be noticeably slower and costs to be higher.

A mountain home ready for some winter interior construction.

Timing construction projects to avoid working in (and sometimes on) the ground during winter is one of the most important scheduling issues. Foundation work is often not feasible in winter because of frozen ground, high groundwater levels, frost heaving, and the danger of concrete freezing before it is adequately cured. If you can’t get started early enough in the fall to get the foundation in and at least partially backfilled, it is advisable to wait until spring before breaking ground.

A building with a foundation completed before winter arrived.

Here are some things to consider that may help avoid having to do outside construction in the winter:

• Start design in the summer or early fall the year before you want to start building. Have a good idea of what you want before getting started, and submit for a building permit during the winter when the building department workload is light so you can have a permit in hand when the snow melts. Spring and early summer is the building department’s peak season, and often leads to sizable delays. Avoid the bottleneck and start early.
• If your project does get a late start, it may be more cost effective to get the foundation and floor framing done, and then seal and tarp everything for the winter. This will give you a good start in the spring, and the cost of construction loan interest early in the project may be less than the added cost of working through the winter.
• It may be less expensive to have more workers or pay overtime during the summer and fall to get the project enclosed than to be paying the extra costs for winter construction.

A home being built through the winter.

If it works out that your project will need to have framing or exterior envelope work done in the winter, it’s not the end of the world. Building professionals in snow country do it all the time, and some even claim to enjoy it. A few things to keep in mind if your project is being built in the winter:

• There will almost certainly be some days lost to weather. Bad weather is inevitable in the winter, and working outside is sometimes just not possible.
• Snow removal is an essential, and will most certainly cost you extra. Review your contract carefully and discuss it with your contractor so everyone is clear on responsibilities and expectations.
• Consider having the wall framing prefabricated. This is becoming more common and is a good alternative to framing outside in the winter.
• Workers and their tools are not as efficient when it’s cold, especially below freezing.
• Some materials require special storage and handling, or don’t work at all when it’s cold. Concrete products, paint, stucco, drywall mud and glues don’t like low temperatures.  Non-chloride chemical accelerators may be used to increase the rate of concrete strength gain, and insulated blankets and heaters can protect the concrete from freezing after it’s first poured.
• Masonry work requires tenting and heat if temperatures will be below freezing during or for a period after installation.
• Temporary heat will need to be provided for workers and to keep some materials warm
• Special care needs to be taken to store materials where they will stay dry and not be damaged or lost under snow.
• Installing materials that are wet or frozen can lead to shrinkage & moisture problems in the future.
• Roofing is difficult in the winter. If it looks like getting the finish roof on isn’t possible before the snow flies, it may make sense to dry in with a durable underlayment or ice and water shield that will last through the winter and keep things dry.
• If siding will be done in the winter, it is a good idea to have it prefinished so it is protected both on the ground and after it is installed.

A winter masonry tent.

One thing I have learned from many years of being in the architecture and home building business, including several winters building homes in the mountains, is that things might take longer than we think they will. If you are planning to build a home in snow country, start the process early and plan ahead to avoid starting construction late in the summer or fall. If things don’t go as planned and it is necessary for your project to continue through the winter, have realistic expectations and make sure to communicate with the contractor about what work is occurring, how it will be accomplished, and if it makes sense to do it in the winter. Most builders want to work through the winter, and tend to be stoic about the challenges it presents. There are definitely advantages to keeping the momentum of a project going, and often the best strategy is to keep working on aspects of the project that can be done efficiently in winter, and save the rest for spring.

Tom Russell, LEED AP and John Hendricks, Architect AIA, NCARB

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho.

.

Please feel free to leave a comment or question!

Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture’s Blog

Before we delve into the differences, it should be noted that one characteristic of both timber frame and post and beam construction is the articulation of the skeleton of a building.  This is achieved by exposing timber or log components as an honest expression of the building frame, giving it a rugged, rustic appearance. When it is thoughtfully designed and carefully constructed, the beauty of timber construction becomes the primary visual element of a building, and additional ornamentation or decoration is unnecessary. Implicit in carefully crafted exposed timberwork is a respect for the material.  This has become a mainstay in true Mountain Style Architecture.

A Timber Frame Kitchen by Collin Beggs

Timber Framing

Timber Framing is a traditional form of wood construction that has origins in early furniture making, and can be traced back to early oriental architecture. Some timber frame buildings erected during medieval times in old Europe are still standing, a testament to the integrity and longevity of this building system.

Timber Frame Bracket

True timber frames rely on tight fitting joinery, the integrity of the materials, and critical geometry to create a self supporting structure.  Because mechanical fasteners were not readily available and had to be hand made until relatively modern times, timber frames were (and still are) held together using wood pegs or wedges. By driving pegs into slightly misaligned holes in mating frame elements, timber framers are able to draw parts together to create surprisingly stiff connections. The real beauty of timber frame joints is often what you don’t see - they tend to be intricate hidden surfaces designed to lock together inside the members.  The New England Barn Company has a great pictorial glossary on timber frame joints.  Timber pegs are usually critical structural links, and hence are made of robust wood species like oak, ash, or maple. Pegs are usually exposed and made prominent to emphasize their importance in the system.

Timber Frame homes can be fun!

Timber framing is a specialty craft that requires careful joinery, specialty tools, and skilled, patient carpenters. Some purist practitioners of timber framing use only hand tools out of respect for the craft tradition. Timber framing tends to be more expensive than timber post and beam construction, though some of the added cost is offset by the fact that a well designed timber frame doesn’t need to rely on shear walls or infill framing to achieve lateral stability.

A Timber Frame Den by Collin Beggs

If you interested in learning more about timber framing, Ted Benson has some excellent books on the subject.

In the Northwest, Timber Frames by Colin Beggs is a premier builder of timber frame homes.  Residing in Sandpoint, Idaho,  Collin is a humble young craftsman with extensive timber framing experience, and will be speaking at the Timber Framers Guild Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York this November.  His topic is “Rampant Evangelism to Expedite the Evolution of Timber Framers into Master Builders”.  Collin notes, “The biggest difference that I find between Timber Framing and conventional construction is the pure joy that the craftsman and client receive when taking part in the process.  Timber Frame raisings are an epic event that define the relationship between community and it’s built environment.”

Timber Frames By Collin Beggs

Post and Beam Construction

Many mountain style homes employ some elements of wood timber construction, either as the main structural system or as accents in the form of trusses, roof supports, brackets, braces, or corbels. Post and beam construction often resembles timber framing, with the important distinction that post and beam construction utilizes mechanical fasteners and often steel plate connectors to join adjacent members together. These connectors may be hidden or exposed in various ways. Wood post and beam frames are rarely used as the only structural system for a building, usually they require additional structural elements like shear panels and infill framing to create a stable structure.

Post and Beam Entrance by Hendricks Architecture

Like timber framing, post and beam construction also requires skilled carpenters to create tight, well crafted joints, but fabrication and assembly tends to be less time consuming and intricate. It often takes a trained eye to distinguish between a true timber frame and well done post and beam construction.  Cost and the desire for authenticity are important factors in deciding which system to use. Timber post and beam construction shares with timber framing an appreciation for the beauty of wood and careful connections, but nods in deference when it comes to purity of tradition and level of craft.

A modern timber post and beam home interior

For more photographs of mountain style homes featuring post and beam construction, see our architectural projects.

There are many builders in the Sandpoint area who build quality heavy timber construction. If you are interested in creating a mountain style timber home, we would enjoy the opportunity to work with you on the design, and can recommend some excellent Contractors.  Hendricks Architecture specializes in the design of timber mountain style homes and cabins.  While it is not the only type of architecture we design, most of the homes we’ve completed are in mountain resort areas throughout the West.  Most of our clients are looking for mountain style homes, often with a rugged, rustic appearance. If you are interested in a mountain home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.

Tom Russell, LEED AP and John Hendricks, Architect AIA, NCARB

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho.

.

Please feel free to leave a comment or question!

Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture’s Blog

Mountain Residence overlooking Lake Pend Oreille

Elements of wood, stone, and natural light flow from the rugged exterior into the interior, adding a sense of connection with nature.  The exterior materials consist of western red cedar horizontal beveled siding, Montana stone with tight joints, and copper accents.  The interior is rustic contemporary, with douglas fir trusses, beams and columns, along with other wood and stone accents.  The home is 5,600 square feet on five steep acres.  The house is perched near the top of a nob, yet the profile is kept low to blend into the site.

Great Room

The home is designed to take advantage of the beautiful mountain and lake views, including Lake Pend Oreille and the Monarch Mountains to the southeast.  The Pend Oreille River, the City of Sandpoint, and the two mile Long Bridge can be seen to the southwest.  To the west and northwest are Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort and the Selkirk Mountains.  The owners are avid snowboarders, and their master bedroom suite is angled forty-five degrees from the rest of the home to look directly at Schweitzer.  On winter mornings a slight raise of the head is all that’s needed to check the snow or weather on the mountain.

The bar is one of many rooms with great views.

The home has four bedroom suites, and includes four and a half baths.  Also included are a home theater, study, game room, bar, wine room, a great room, a circular staircase and a bridge, along with covered and open decks.  Hydronic floor heating heats the residence.  The owners opted for gas appliance fireplaces rather than wood burning.  Air-conditioning cools the upper level in the warmer summer months.  Large overhangs and trellises minimize the summer solar heat gain, and the south and west facing windows have a higher low-E rating of low-E3 glazing.    The exterior has layered flagstone patios and includes a built-in spa and barbecue.  Storm water is managed by retaining swales.

Wine Room

For further information on mountain architecture, please see our previous posts Mountain Architecture and Origins of Mountain Architecture in America.

John Hendricks, AIA Architect, NCARB

Hendricks Architecture, Idaho mountain home architects in Sandpoint.  We specialize in the design of luxury mountain style homes, cabins and other structures.

Porch - photos by Karl Neumann

Remodeling and improving existing homes has taken on a new importance as the practice of cosmetic makeovers and flipping homes has all but disappeared for the time being. I believe that the rapid turnover of houses that was common a few years ago will be replaced by a more long term vision of home, and with that comes the desire to have a home that will meet your functional needs for many years, one that will be affordable to own, and that you can take pride in.

We have received many more inquiries on remodels and additions lately. People are choosing to remodel for a number of reasons:

• Construction costs are low relative to what they have been in the recent past.  
• Government tax incentives are making energy efficient upgrades more affordable.
• Homeowners interested in selling in the next few years are seeing the need to make their homes stand out in a market that is saturated with homes for sale.
• Many people’s net worth has been affected by the current economic conditions, and their plans to build a new home have been put on hold.
• Homeowners who were hoping to build can’t sell the home they live in now, or their equity position in their home won’t provide them enough revenue to build the home they want.
• Quality contractors who used to do only new construction and were booked well in advance are available and willing to do remodel work.
• Bargains in the housing market have allowed buyers to purchase discounted homes in desirable neighborhoods and modify them to meet their needs.
• People like where they live, but find that there are things about their home they don’t like.

A recent home addition under construction, designed by Hendricks Architecture.

In my mind, there are several reasons to consider remodeling an existing home:

• If you like where you live but you don’t like the style of your home, it isn’t performing well, or your space needs are changing.
• Remodeling will improve your enjoyment and appreciation of the home you already live in.
• Some remodel strategies can improve your home’s value in excess of what they cost. Taxable values often don’t reflect the value of these increases.
• Improving the “curb appeal” of your home will likely lead to faster sales and a higher selling price.
• For those interested in a sustainable or green approach to housing, remodeling makes a lot of sense. Reusing and improving an existing structure is often less impactful than building new. The LEED green building rating system for buildings offers several credits for utilizing existing buildings and for material reuse.

Depending on your circumstances, remodeling rather than buying a new home may be a wise choice. Before you decide to remodel your existing home or think about buying a home that will need future upgrades, keep in mind the following:

• A big mistake I see all the time is the Homeowner/ Home Depot remodel. Most people lack the knowledge, equipment and time to do a quality remodel job that looks good and meets safety codes. Discriminating buyers who appreciate thoughtful details, quality craftsmanship, and integrated design can usually tell right away if a project was done by professionals. My advice is to hire an Architect, Interior Designer, and a Contractor who has a lot of remodel experience.
• Depending on the extent of your project, moving out of the house for a period of time may be the only option. If you do decide to stay, be aware that a construction project in an occupied home is always disruptive, usually slower, and will definitely require some sacrifice on your part.
• The payback (in resale value) of some remodels is often less than the investment. Improvements that are less visible (insulation, new windows, re-wiring or re-plumbing) tend to have a lower payback than things like a new kitchen, a bedroom addition, or a new deck. If you are thinking of remodeling to increase your home value, do your homework and a cost/ benefit analysis before deciding how to proceed. This is one area where an Architect can be helpful.
• If you plan on staying put for a while, some improvements may be worth doing simply to increase the enjoyment of your home and how well it functions for you.
• It can be difficult to get a fixed price contract for a remodel project because there are usually many unknowns until the work begins. Depending on the complexity of the project and what is found under the finishes, remodeling can be more expensive than building new. This is another area where an Architect can be a valuable resource. They can help you execute a good contract that is fair to everyone, and watch costs and billings closely to make sure you are getting what you pay for.
• It may be worth offering a contractor financial incentives to finish quickly, or adding a liquidated damages clause (financial penalty for exceeding a set completion date) to your contract.
• Be wary of spending a lot of money to create the nicest home in the neighborhood. The context your home is in will have a lot to do with its resale value.

I have done several remodels for myself, and I have taken part in many remodels as a project manager and as a carpenter. The most important thing I learned from these experiences is that a major remodel is a serious undertaking that requires a lot of planning, a knowledgeable contractor, a flexible budget, and a sense of humor. Hiring skilled professionals will eliminate many of the headaches of remodeling, and will insure better results. It is essential to have good guidance in making decisions and knowing how to get the most for your remodeling dollar. Feel free to contact us if you have questions, or if a remodel project is in your future.

Tom Russell, LEED AP, Project Architect

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

I love summers in Sandpoint. The weather is great, the lakes are warm, and the local events calendar is jam packed with enough festivities to keep everybody busy and active. One of my favorite activities in the summer is mountain biking, and I feel lucky to live in a place that has so much great riding. There is a great variety of mountain bike trails here, and a healthy population of mountain bike enthusiasts to enjoy them. A local cycling club/ advocacy group called the Pend Oreille Pedalers is actively building new trails, so the opportunities for great riding keep expanding.  There are lots of trail guides and they are always looking for new members or people to help with trail building.

Lake Pend Oreille from the Monarchs, with Mineral Point in center background

When I go out riding I am always surprised at how uncrowded and well maintained the trails are. If you have ever ridden in places like Moab or Colorado’s front range, you’ll appreciate the quality conditions and solitude that can be found here, even on the most popular rides. I was in Bend , Oregon a few weeks ago and did a ride that was loose, dusty and rutted from overuse. It was a great trail, but I kept thinking how much more enjoyable it would have been if it was in North Idaho.

From the town of Sandpoint, there are several great rides you can do without ever getting in your car. There is a network of high quality single track trails just west of town in the hills between Pine Street and the town of Dover. Known as Syringa Ridge or Sherwood Forest, the trails there are not well documented, and it is a bit of a local’s secret. Efforts are being made to map it, but I haven’t seen anything public yet. When I first moved here , I enjoyed the adventure of finding my way around there without a map and checking out trails I had never been on. I won’t deprive anyone of the same opportunity by giving away too much about it. If you do go exploring in that area, be aware that there is a lot of private land and access is an issue, so please read the signs and obey parking restrictions.

Gold Hill Trail #3

Gold Hill trail #3 is my favorite. It is a thrilling ride with a sustained 3 mile climb, spectacular views, and a smooth, fast descent on the return trip. There is an expanding complex of trails above the gravel quarry on Bottle Bay Road (another local’s secret area) that connects to the Gold Hill trail #3 and offers a variety of alternatives to explore.

Mineral point has some great trails not unlike Gold Hill in quality and scenery, but noticeably easier on the legs and lungs. My favorite ride there is a 10 mile loop that starts and ends at the fabulous Green Bay beach.

One of the views from Mineral Point

Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort also has some great biking, both lift served and self-serve. Ambitious pedalers can get to the resort trails by climbing the 9 +/- miles to the ski area on a fun single track trail that is accessed from several of the even numbered switchbacks on the Schweitzer road. My favorite rides at Schweitzer  are cross country ski trails in the winter. For those who like to compete, Schweitzer has a mountain bike race series every Wednesday evening in August.

New Schweitzer Mountain Resort Trail

Priest Lake is about an hour from Sandpoint, and has some great trials on both the upper and lower lake. Spectacular views, lots of berries, and nice beaches with crystal clear water are all highlights of mountain biking around Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake.

Upper Priest Lake

Faragut State Park between Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene has a lot of mostly moderate mountain bike trails, and it is also a nice place to camp on the lake. It is a good spot for a family outing, especially if cycling is not the only activity you have in mind. One ambitious ride here worth checking out is Bernard Peak.  I think you will agree - the views are well worth the effort.  All About Adventures hosts a mountain bike race series at Faragut every Wednesday in July.

Partial View of the Southern End of Lake Pend Oreille

There a many more great rides in the Sandpoint area, including some big, epic rides in the Cabinet and Selkirk Mountain Ranges. Information on many of these can be found with a quick internet search. There is currently a Falcon guide to mountain biking in the Spokane Coeur d’Alene area that covers some of the Sandpoint area rides. While there is no formal guide to Sandpoint yet, rumor has it a comprehensive guide is in the works.

Tom Russell, LEED AP, Project Architect

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Please feel free to leave a comment or question!

Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture Blog.