Cottonwood Loop
The Cottonwood Loop is an easy, scenic ride through the Colville National Forest, with access just 10 miles east of Chewelah, WA via Flowery Trail Road toward 49 Degrees North Ski Resort. Start at the sno-park near the top of the hill, which serves as the main staging area. Chewelah also offers RV and camping options, and dry camping is available within the forest.
The route follows mostly USFS-maintained gravel roads with some paved sections on Flowery Trail. Riding is easy, but staying on the correct roads can be tricky- look for brown USFS road signs, often on the right side of the intersections.
Highlights include multiple scenic viewpoints along Cottonwood Divide Road, forested trails through the mountains, and a fun OHV playground on Middle Fork Calispell Road about halfway through the loop.
Access is easiest from Chewelah, WA, located on Hwy 395. Head east on Main St (at the only traffic light in town). Main St changes into Flowery Trail Rd as it heads up the mountain towards the ski resort 49 Degrees north. About 10 miles out of town, towards the top of the mountain, just past Cottonwood Divide Rd is a large sno-park/staging area.
The staging area is the sno-park on Flowery Trail Rd. There are several RV/camping facilities in Chewelah, aswell as dry camping in the Colville National Forest.
The gravel roads are all USFS maintained, with some paved road travel on Flowery Trail Rd from the sno-park. The roads are easy to ride, but the difficulty is staying on track and finding the proper USFS roads to stay on route. USFS road signs are brown carbonite slats, with black road numbers printed on them. They’re usually located on the right side of the road you intend to travel on, about 25 feet from the intersection. They can be obstructed by brush or tree branches, so look carefully for them.
This is an easy route with some great scenic viewpoints along the route. This mountain route is a tree-lined by-way through the Colville National Forest. An OHV playground is located on Middle Fork Calispell Rd, about halfway through the route. Logging activity may have this area temporarily closed.
The loop is 35 miles around, so allow 3-4 hours to complete.
From the sno-park, head back west on Flowery Trail Rd, turning left onto Cottonwood Divide Rd (USFS RD 4342). Follow this road for about 10 miles, until you come to an intersection with USFS RD 3540, a ‘Y’ intersection with a hard left uphill turn. Follow 3540 until it intersects with Middle Fork Calispell Rd, turn left. The OHV playground is 1.25 miles down this road on the right. Continue down Middle Fork until it intersects with Flowery Trail Rd. Turn left on Flowery Trail Rd, riding this paved road back to the sno-park. You will pass the 49 Degrees North ski area on your left. No OHV’s are allowed in the ski resort.
A current Colville National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) Southeast area is required to be in your possession on this route. Other routes shown on the map are highlighted by dashed/segmented lines. This is a seasonal route area. Most of the route is open April through November. However, snow does linger in the higher areas well into spring, thus making the road impassable until the snow melts.
Motorized vehicle users: Make sure you have your MVUM with you!
Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) are the official maps for designating all roads and trails available for public motorized travel on the Colville National Forest. Visitors should not rely on any other map for making decisions about motorized travel. A MVUM is a legally enforceable document that identifies the roads, trails, and areas where motor vehicle use is allowed in a Forest Service administrative unit or ranger district. Forest User Maps combine information from the Motor Vehicle Use Maps and firewood cutting information. This provides a single map that includes the necessary information you will need to navigate the forest for recreation, firewood cutting, and other adventures.