Pee Wee Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

This is a fun trail! Good variety, from deep, dark cedar and fern-filled valleys, to the high slopes of Peewee Peak and its great views of northern Idaho's forested hills and rugged mountains. At 12.6 miles, this is a great day hike or run.

Option: A shorter 6.4-mile version of this loop can be done by taking Pee Wee Connector (at the 3.3-mile mark) from Pee Wee Trail #178 to Quartz View Trail #179, turning right onto Quartz View Trail #179 to head back to the trailhead.

The Pee Wee trailhead is found just north of Priest River. From Priest River, go north on ID 57 for 3.5 miles. Then turn right onto Peninsula Road for 4.5 miles. Go left here onto McAbee Falls Rd/FSR334. After about 0.9 more miles there is a large field on the left with a road on the left, just after the field. Go left on the road after the field to arrive at the Pee Wee trailhead.

Pee Wee Trail #178 and John Wayne Trail #176 (0 - 5.3 mile mark)
Pee Wee Loop heads into the forest on Pee Wee Trail #178 at the northwest side of the Pee Wee trailhead parking area. On a wide path, the trail climbs for the first 3.2 miles. As the climb begins, a small stream is heard but not seen, on the left/south. The trail follows this stream for quite a ways. At the 0.5 mile mark, Quartz View Trail #179 is passed on the right. Still following the stream, a signed trail junction is reached at the 0.9-mile mark. Turn left here onto John Wayne Trail #176 to continue hiking Pee Wee Loop.

Continuing in the forest, the trail follows the small stream for another 0.2 miles, crossing the stream on a bridge as it goes. The trail then turns left, away from the stream, as it winds around in the forest. At the 1.4-mile mark, the trail pops out of the forest to views to the southeast. For the next mile and a half, the trail is in the open more often than not. The hillside drops off to the left/south, providing better and better views as the trail climbs. The northern Idaho mountain landscape dominates these views.

Another trail junction, with Pee Wee Trail #178 , is reached at the 2.8 mile mark. Go left here to continue hiking Pee Wee Loop. The climb finally eases as the trail nears Peewee Peak. Pee Wee Loop soon passes Pee Wee Connector on the right. Pee Wee Connector is a very short path to Quartz View Trail #179.

Passing Pee Wee Peak, the trail stays high on a forested ridge that juts out to the northwest from Pee Wee Peak, The trail runs along this high ridge top for about a mile and a half. Occasional glimpses of the surrounding mountains are seen as the trail travels the length of this forested ridge. At the 3.8 mile mark a fork in the trail is reached - stay left here.

At the 4.7-mile mark, Pee Wee Loop drops down the end of the ridge, winds around, and crosses a forest road to continue on Steep Creek Trail #177.

Steep Creek Trail #177 (5.3 - 7.0 mile mark)
Still in the forest, the trail circles to the right/east over the next 0.7 miles, to reach a somewhat open area overlooking the Steep Creek Valley. A good look at the deep creek valley and slopes of Peewee Peak on the farside of the valley, are quite impressive, here.

The trail then re-enters the forest to descend into the Steep Creek Valley over the next mile. About halfway down, the trail comes out of the forest into an open area with great views for the rest of the descent. This deep forested creek valley and distant views of the mountains can be seen. At the top of the open area, the trail switchbacks straight down the steep hillside, towards Steep Creek, which begins to be heard. After a couple switchbacks, still high above the creek, the trail straightens out to traverse the hillside for the rest of the descent, following the creek downstream as it goes.

At the 7.0-mile mark, now back in the forest at the valley bottom, Steep Creek is reached at a trail junction. Go right here to cross the creek and continue on Quartz View Trail #179.

Quartz View Trail #179 (7.0 - 12.6 mile mark/loop end)
For the next 2.5 miles, the trail climbs 800 feet, to Peewee Peak, The climb starts among the cedars and ferns of the valley bottom, with about a dozen switchbacks up the steep creek valley hillside. Other conifers join in as the trail nears Peewee Peak.

Passing Peewee Peak, Pee Wee Connector is reached. Continue straight here to begin a three-mile descent to the trailhead. Most of this descent is in the forest. A small bridge crosses a stream about halfway down. Over the last mile, there are a couple open areas with good views of the nearby slopes, and the farmlands below with mountains into the distance.

After the second open area, the final trail junction is reached. Go left here, onto Pee Wee Trail #178, for the last half mile to the trailhead, completing Pee Wee Loop.

This is mainly a forest trail, through pretty mixed conifer forest - cedars, hemlocks, Douglas firs, larches, ferns, and other vegetation. The undergrowth varies from sparse to thick. With that said, their are still enough open grassy and bushy areas to provide plenty of views of the surrounding mountains.