State Parks: Ponderosa
Alas, as the month of July draws to a rapid close, we will explore our final destination: Ponderosa State Park. To reach this natural beauty, it’s best to drive 276.4 miles via U.S. 95 south, if you’re coming from Coeur d’Alene. The park’s more than 1,300-acre territory covers a wooded peninsula on Payette Lake, the region it was actually founded to protect in 1905.
There are several ecological zones, or “mini-biomes,” that occur within the park, each with a unique set of plant life. Be sure to explore the park’s pine forest trails that take you alongside the lake, the arid sagebrush flats, steep cliffs and spongy marshlands and see what kinds of plants and animals you can observe.
The plant life in the park is mostly composed of pine trees, like the majestic western larch, lodgepole pine, douglas fir and grand fir. However, we can’t talk about Ponderosa State Park without talking about its namesake: the ponderosa pine, one of the most prominent tree species in the park. These non-flowering trees commonly grow over 150 feet into the air and have circumference of up to 60 inches (though some can grow quite a deal larger, up to 200 feet tall). Ponderosa pines can be distinguished from other trees by the scent of their bark (it’s said to smell like vanilla or butterscotch) and their tall, straight trunks which are covered in rust-orange, scaly plates of bark. Ponderosa pines are a long-lived species, with specimens recorded to be more than 500 years old. Wildflowers and sagebrush are also common in the park.
A great place to get a good view of the lake itself is Osprey Point, and it’s this lake that attracts many visitors, both human and animal. Just some of the many animals attracted to the lake are bald eagles, osprey and foxes, who use the lake as a lure for their favorite prey. These predatory animals prey upon the other animals drawn to the lake, like mallards, wood ducks, Canada geese, deer, moose, beaver and songbirds. People also hunt these animals, but with a camera rather than teeth, claws or rifle. They also like boating, fishing and swimming here.
If you’re especially fortunate, you may happen across a muskrat. While not true rats, muskrats get their name from their rat-like appearance; however, their behavior is much more akin to beavers! Like beavers, they are semi-aquatic (they spend time on land and in the water) and for shelter they use nearby vegetation and mud to construct a dome-shaped “lodge.” Unlike a beaver, however, muskrats eat a variety of non-woody foods, including the roots, stems, leaves and fruit of water plants, and occasionally small animals.
With so many things to see and things to do in Ponderosa State Park, what’s not to love? If you’re looking to spend some extra time out in nature before autumn sets in, be sure to spare a thought for Ponderosa State Park!
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Editor’s note: Christian’s popular Critters of North Idaho column will return in August.
Contact Christian at: animaladventures1314@gmail.com
PONDEROSA STATE PARK SCAVENGER HUNT
As you explore Ponderosa State Park, see if you can find all of the items on this list. You may want to ask a ranger or park employee if you need help identifying one or more of the items on this list. Be sure to check them off as you go!
[ ] a park sign
[ ] Ponderosa pine tree
[ ] two ducks
[ ] a goose
[ ] a loose piece of tree bark
[ ] a muskrat lodge
[ ] Osprey Point
[ ] a wildflower
[ ] a mushroom
[ ] something you didn’t expect to see