Hiking in Idaho is among the best in the country.

That's according to research conducted by EDGE Fall Protection, LLC, which ranked Idaho 16th based on the state’s natural attractions, air quality, protected wilderness, hiking engagement and trail infrastructure. The state scored a 24.29 out of 50 possible points.

Though high scoring in four out of the five categories, Idaho only scored a 0.53 out of 10 possible in the protected wilderness category. About 4.8 million acres of land in Idaho is designated wilderness, constituting only around 14% of all public land in the state.

“Idaho’s scores reflect the attention to trail infrastructure, although its low score of 0.53 out of 10 in protected wilderness puts it outside the top 15,” a press release said.

Wyoming ranked first in the study, with a score of 40.14. Several of Idaho’s neighbors ranked within the top 10, including Montana in fourth place, Utah in seventh place and Washington in ninth place.

Hiking and outdoor activities are a draw for both locals and tourists in North Idaho.

Idaho Commerce in 2021 found that 11% of overnight visitors to North Idaho report visiting primarily for outdoor recreation, and 79% of residents report participating in outdoor recreation yearly.

Scott Gossard, president of the Panhandle Nordic Club, said many of North Idaho's trails are highly accessible for all ability levels, making them attractive for both the casual hiker and avid mountaineers. 

And, despite the popularity of many trails, Gossard finds they're not typically crowded. 

"If you're looking for solitude and plenty of varied terrain, North Idaho has a lot of great hiking for you," Gossard said.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests alone are home to nearly 3,000 miles of explorable trail, according to the agency's website — with many such trails pulling in adventurers from both near and far.

Here are five North Idaho trails users consider among the best, based on over 20,000 reviews on AllTrails: 

1. Scotchman Peak Trail Kaniksu National Forest 

This out-and-back trail gains 3,717 feet of elevation and is about 7.6 miles in length. Though widely regarded as a difficult hike, Scotchman Peak is popular because of its panoramic views and abundance of wildlife, particularly mountain goats. Starting out on the trail early in the day and bringing plenty of water is highly recommended.  

2. Pulaski Tunnel Trail Shoshone County 

This out-and-back trail is more than a nature walk — it’s a journey through some of Shoshone County’s history.  

The trail follows some of the route Edward Pulaski’s crew took as they escaped the 1910 fires, bringing hikers near the Nicholson mine entrance, where the crew had stayed until it was safe to leave the area. All but six of the firefighting crew survived. Interpretive signs mark places of significance to educate visitors. 

The trail, ranked by AllTrails as moderate, is about 4 miles in length and sees 744 feet in elevation gain.  

3. Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes Kootenai and Shoshone counties 

Though this trail spans a whopping 70.8 miles in total, most users only use a portion of the trail for hiking, running, biking and other outdoor recreation. The trail is paved and offers a diversity of scenery and wildlife. Users can choose whether they take it easy or take on the challenge of the entire trail. 

That said, if someone does traverse the entire trail, they’ll see over 1,500 feet in elevation gain between the typical starting point in Mullan to the trail’s end in Plummer.  

4. Mineral Ridge National Recreation Trail Coeur d’Alene 

This 3.2-mile loop trail, ranked by AllTrails as moderate, brings users along well-maintained switchbacks to an incredible vista point looking west over Lake Coeur d’Alene. The trail is mostly shaded and is dotted with benches as well as a few interpretive signs to mark places of historical interest.  

5. Mickinnick Trail Kaniksu National Forest 

This out-and-back trail is 6.3 miles in length and packs 2,148 feet of elevation gain, earning its distinction as a “challenging” route on AllTrails. However, the trail is still very popular because it offers diverse scenery and sweeping views of Lake Pend Oreille and surrounding areas.  

    A Great Blue Heron makes an appearance along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.
  

    Looking west over Lake Coeur d'Alene from Mineral Ridge National Recreation Trail, east of Coeur d'Alene.