Gold Hill (1)

Statistics

• Date - 09/18/1999
• Elevation - < 7,000'
• Route - Trail No. 3
• Miles - 6.0
• Elevation Gain - 1,900'
• ACME Mapper - Link
• CalTopo - Link
• Partners - Rebecca Just, Taylor Just

Description

This is a nice family hike close to town which didn't require a lot of driving time.  The trailhead is located 4.8 miles up Bottle Bay Road just southeast of Sandpoint, Idaho.  Gold Hill is the knoll east of the Long Bridge as you are coming north into town.  Rebecca, Taylor, and myself decided to try to take advantage of the beautiful weather that Northern Idaho was having as of late.  For September, the temperatures were exceptional.  We set out and made it to the top of Gold Hill in about one hour and 30 minutes.  At the top, there is a small lookout area pointing to the west that allows you to take in views of Pend Oreille Lake, the Pend Oreille River, Sandpoint, and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort.

Whenever I attempt to take Rebecca with and get her more involved in my hiking trips, something always seems to go wrong.  On the way down, I spotted a trail that spurred off from the main trail and assumed it was a shortcut that eliminated a few switchbacks.  After going a couple of hundred yards, we knew I was wrong, but decided that we would chance it and see where we came out.  A few minutes later, Taylor fell asleep in the child carrier, we ran out of trail, and Becky was upset with me.  After bushwacking a bit and hiking through some people's yards, we got onto an established gravel road and just followed it down to Bottle Bay Road.  We came out approximately 2.5 miles away from the trailhead.  At this point, Taylor was still sleeping, Becky was now walking 50 yards behind me, and we had a ways to go.  Fortunately, some hikers that we visited with at the lookout noticed us as they drove out and gave me a ride to the Trooper.  Becky was actually a pretty good sport and didn't give me too hard of a time.

Photos

Rebecca and Taylor

Just Family

Sandpoint, Idaho