Fern and Shadow Falls Hike

The Fern and Show Falls Hike is an impressively secluded and scenic adventure hidden in the Coeur d’Alene Mountains. This beautiful set of cascades plunges over 25ft into a basin of moss-covered rocky logs—presenting a truly enchanting scene. Head out in the spring during peak run-off season for the most impressive experience. Note that the road to the trailhead is rough and rugged, so a vehicle with high ground clearance is recommended.

Setting out from the parking lot and the trailhead, the Fern and Shadow Falls Trail tracks south, wandering into the lush woodlands. Hiking along the Yellow Dog Creek, you will almost immediately reach Fern Falls. Revel in the beauty of the vegetation framed cascade, then continue further into the valley to the larger, more impressive Shadow Falls. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the cascading water into a pool of mossy rocks and logs. From here, you can either retrace your footing back along the creek or loop through the forestlands.

We chose the latter and crossed over the stream, traveling northwest into the woods and towards another small, seasonal stream. From here, you will be redirected east, reconnecting with the main trail. To get back to the trailhead, track north, retracing your steps.