Take a hike

RATHDRUM — Over 3 miles of new trails will be added to the StormKing system on Rathdrum Mountain this year.  

Rathdrum Parks and Recreation Director Eric Singer said the city recently received a $68,000 grant from Idaho State Parks and Recreation in January to help cover the cost of new trail development. 

"The city has a 20% match in funding that will come out of the general fund," Singer said. "So, the city is paying $17,000 for a total project cost of $85,000."

The included trails will be the most technical in the loop. Singer said he needs to contract this out to trail specialists because he doesn't have enough staff to build the trails.

Contractors have until March 30 to bid on the project and Singer will go to City Council with a recommendation in April. Trail construction will start after that and is expected to be finished this summer.

The new trails are the Skyline Trail, Hi Frequency Trail and the Monarch Trail, which Singer said is the signature trail.

Singer said the city initially opened Rathdrum Mountain Park in 2019 but has been working on the property since.  

The city has consistently asked for public input to see what amenities should be included, Singer said, and responses included more looping sections of trail.  

The community also asked for a disc golf course on the property and that element is finished.

"Granted, it may be a little early in the season," Singer said. "But the disc golf course is open and usable now."

Singer said the park may eventually hold a zipline feature, but there is a lot of work to get through before the city can realistically include that.

The city will log some of the property soon and the logs will be sold, with proceeds going to park projects.

"So the park is at least partially self-sufficient with project funding," Singer said.

The trail system will contain nearly 15 miles of low-impact hiking and biking trails when this expansion is finished.

    Trail map showing where new trails will connect with existing trails.