Trail 235 The Woodrat Mine Trail

If you are searching for the remains of the old Woodrat Mine, don't follow this trail. The old mine - or what's left of it - lies near the beach on the shores of Priest Lake and is not accessible from Trail 235. People tell me that the entrance to the old mine is accessible from US Forest Service Road 237 just south of its intersection with the Woodrat Mine Trail. I spent a lot of time looking for the mine entrance, but never found it!

The Woodrat Mine Trail runs from an old logging road that intersects with Road 237 near Hill's Resort to the trail's intersection with Road 237 near Outlet Bay Campground. To reach the Woodrat Mine Trail travel north out of Priest River on Highway 57 until you reach Luby Bay Road (about 29 miles). Follow the signs to Hill's Resort - this will put you on US Forest Service Road 237. Continue on 237 past Hill's Resort until you see the sign on an old logging road for the Woodrat Mine Trail (about a 1/4 mile past Hill's). Turn right onto the logging road. You can park in the area where the Woodrat Mine Trail leaves the old logging road and enters the forest (see photo). The forest entry point is only a few hundred feet from Forest Service Road 237. Alternatively, you can park at Hill's Resort and hike along Road 237 and the old logging road to the Woodrat Mine Trail. The Bulldog Point Trail (#274) is accessible from the Woodrat Mine Trail after about a ten minute hike from the old logging road.

The photograph above shows the old logging road at its intersection with Road 237 near Hill's Resort. Note the sign for the trail to the right of the roadbed.

The photograph above shows the point where the Woodrat Mine Trail leaves the old logging road and enters the forest

Well, I have yet to hike the length of the trail. I got distracted when I reached the Bulldog Point Trail and followed it back to Road 237 rather than continuing on Trail 235. I plan to return to this area in the coming months. It should make for a good hike on snowshoes!