Shorty Peak via Italian Ridge

Situated just a few miles south of the Canadian border, the Shorty Peak lookout tower perches atop 6,500-foot Shorty Peak with commanding 360-degree views across the northernmost parts of the American Selkirks, well into Canada, and eastwards across the Kootenai River Valley and the Purcells. It was refubished in 2005 and can be rented during the summer months.

Location	Selkirk Mountains
Rating	3.3 out of 5
Difficulty	Moderate (uphill)
Distance	6.0 miles
Duration	2:00 hours moving time (hiking)
Elevation Gain	1,360 feet
High Point	6,504 feet (Shorty Peak)
Low Point	5,261 feet (Trailhead)
Trail Type	Out-and-back
Trailbed	Packed dirt, loose rocks, granite slab
Water	There is a spring about two-thirds up, off to the west about half a mile.
Status	Unprotected
Administration	Kaniksu National Forest
Permits	None required
Conditions	Excellent
Camping	You can rent the lookout tower during the summer months. It accomodates 2 persons, featuring 2 twin beds.
Maps	USGS Shorty Peak
Trailhead	From Bonners Ferry head north on US-95 for about 15 miles, then take Highway 1 north for another 2 miles. Turn left onto Copeland Road and head west across the Kootenai valley, about 4 miles. Bear right when the road merges with Westside Road #417 and continue northwest for 9 miles. The road will eventually turn into FR #281 (make sure to stay left around the switchback on the blacktopped road). Continue for another 9 miles , with most of the road blacktopped, though a few potholes and some buckling shouild be expected. When you get to the fork with #655 bear right, taking 655 for 1.5 miles, then make a sharp right at the switchback, taking #282 for 4 miles to the trailhead in the saddle below Shorty Peak. Google Directions (48.940311, -116.689306)
Season	June to November (rental July to September)
Squirrel Density	Plenty!
Features	Mountaintop, Structure, Meadow
Distance From	Coeur d’Alene 120.6 miles Lewiston 234.3 miles Sandpoint 75.1 miles Seattle 424.8 miles Spokane 147.0 miles
Resources	GPX track and elevation profile
Nearby Hikes	Cutoff Peak Triangulation Smith West Fork Mountain via Red Top and Hidden Lake
Date	July 21, 2017

Shorty Peak is an easy uphill hike with a rewarding destination. The trail follows the spine of Italian Ridge for the entire time, taking the shape of a generous single-track, except for the very bottom, where it is a double-track. It is uphill most of the time, though, with a short reprieve in the middle section where the trail just meanders along a plateau to a fork. The downhill branch of the fork leads to a season-long spring sprouting from a rubble field below Shorty Peak.

But for the upper reaches, the path is well shaded by a fir forest that features a dense understory of beargrass and huckleberries. The views from the top are absolutely breathtaking, and Naughty even found a playmate (standing in the center of the balcony of the lookout tower).

Enjoy this hike? Let us know in the comments below!

Trailhead

The trail starts out as a double-track, but later morphs into a single-track

The beargrass-lined trail continues uphill at a steady incline, following the spine of the ridge

Fork to the spring below Shorty Peak

Beargrass meadow

The last bit is a bit steeper

Lone Tree Peak. It appears to have lost some of its loneliness

View south towards the Parker Ridge, Long Canyon, and Smith Creek. The hump in the front to the right is Red Top

Red Top in front, much of the American Selkirks in the background

View east with the Purcells in the background

Privy, with Red Top behind it and Joe Peak to the right

Meadow near the spring

Spring

Couldn’t find the obligatory carcass, so we’re switching to the obligatory grouse

No GPS signal on the way, so this is the way down only, with a sidetrip to the spring

Things to Consider

• Mileage includes sidetrip to the spring

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