District completes access project

NORDMAN — The Idaho Panhandle National Forests has recently completed the Priest River angler access and raft slide project on the Priest Lake Ranger District.

The raft slide and angler access are located on the west side of the lower Priest River about 1,500 feet south of Outlet Dam (Priest Lake)at milepost 25.5 on Highway 57 on the Priest Lake Ranger District.

The project addressed user safety and streambank damage associated with carrying light watercraft from the highway pull-out down to the river. The raft slide, which was constructed with a set of sturdy stairs and hand railings on both sides, will allow users to safely and effectively “slide” their rafts, canoes, kayak, or tubes down an angled platform in a controlled manner. The previous access route to the water was very steep and highly eroded, district officials said. Boats had to be lowered to the waterline with a rope or let them “free-slide” — a practice that was unsafe and damaging to both equipment and the streambank.

This project was made possible by a Federal Lands Access Project grant, partner donations, and the Idaho Panhandle RAC recommendation to fund a portion the project using Title II funds. Maris Inc. out of Boise, Idaho did an outstanding job on the construction!

Additional site improvements are planned to include an expanded parking area that will be designed and constructed by Idaho Transportation Department. The design will allow parking for more vehicle-trailer combinations as it is anticipated the improved river access provided by the raft slide will increase raft use at this location. In the meantime, users are encouraged to be very careful when pulling back onto the highway at this location as summer traffic increases on Highway 57.

Information: Priest Lake Ranger Station, 208-443-2512