FAQS:

1. The trail sounds great! How do I visit it?

You can access the trail next to the Sandpoint Water Treatment Plant. Parking is available for a handful of cars at the north end of Sandpoint Avenue, which is the street that runs north of the Edgewater Resort. Or you can park at Sandpoint City Beach and walk from there.

2. Where exactly is the trail?

The proposed trailheads would be at the Sandpoint Water Treatment Plant (which is the site of a proposed city park) and in Ponderay and Kootenai. The trail would extend from Sandpoint to Ponder Point on the water-ward side of the Burlington Northern-Sante Fe Railroad tracks, and cross the tracks (under or over) near Black Rock. We envision the trail continuing on the north side of the tracks into Kootenai.

3. Is the trail now public?

The trail is almost entirely on private property. Our mission is to get it into public hands. The city of Sandpoint recently purchased a parcel on the south end that includes a lease/option to purchase three adjacent waterfront parcels. This purchase and lease/option agreement essentially opened up nearly a mile of shoreline to the public – but the situation is temporary. The Friends are working to create permanent public access to this shoreline.

3. How long is the proposed trail?

The entire project area is about 2 miles long.

4. What’s Black Rock?

Black Rock is an old slag heap from the Panhandle Smelting and Refining Company. The area now is contaminated with some heavy metals. The site is on private property and is the subject of an environmental assessment by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. The assessment will result in a cleanup plan for the property.

5. What can I do to help?

The Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail is currently engaged in a capital campaign to help purchase property in the corridor. We need to raise $400,000 by October 2014 to keep this trail open. You can help by making a donation, or volunteering to help with fundraising. We also need volunteers to help maintain the trail. To volunteer, contact us at friends@pobtrail.org.

You can make a donation on-line or by sending a check to:

Friends of the Pend d’Oreiller Bay Trail
P.O. Box 1607
Sandpoint, ID 83864