Lace up your shoes and hike, mountain bike, jog, cross-country ski or snow-shoe the nicely maintained Upper and Lower Wolf Trails nestled on the edge of Newport.  The Wolf Trails were named after Fred Wolf, former publisher of The Newport Miner. 

Hike distance:  Several loops total about 5 miles

About the hike:  This series of easy trails are suitable for beginners so perfect for families with children of all ages with cedar benches for resting, and nearly a mile of the Lower Wolf Trail is accessible to wheelchairs.  Scenic viewpoints along the lower trails over the Pend Oreille River and all the trails traverse an open forest of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, Grand fir and larch. Directions:  To access Upper Wolf Trails:  Take Highway 20 to the edge of Newport, and turn west onto Larch Street.  Go one block, turn north on Laurelhurst Drive, then go ½-mile to the parking area.  Lower Wolf Trail is accessed from Warren Road, off Highway 20 across from the Newport Ranger Station.  Go about .6-mile to the parking area on the west side of the road. 

Going hunting?  Don't forget your license!  Here's a quick 2012 cost breakdown.

WASHINGTON:

For Washington hunting licenses (broken down by category then by Resident (R), Non-resident (NR) or Youth/Disabled/Veteran (YDV)):

Big Game:

Goat/Sheep/Moose  $330 (R)  $1,650 (NR)  $55 (YDV)

Deer & Elk  $82.50 (R)  $737 (NR)  $38.50 (YDV)

Elk  $48.40 (R)  $495 (NR)   $19.80 (YDV)

Deer  $42.90 (R)  $432.30 (NR)  $11 (YDV)

Cougar  $22 (R)  $220 (NR)  $11 (YDV)

Bear  $22 (R)  $220 (NR)  $11(YDV)

Fishing Season

April 30, 2011 (the last Saturday in April) marks the start of fishing season in Washington's lowland lakes.  Of course, those in the know have already been fishing the Pend Oreille River - after all, it is open year round for fishing. 

2011 Prices

An annual freshwater license for a resident adult is $29.50 ($84.50 for non-residents) [note: These just went up as of Sept 1, 2011].  In Idaho, a resident fishing license is $25.75 ($98.75 for non-residents).  Discount rates for seniors, youths, disabled persons, and disabled American veterans.  Washington and Idaho fishing (& hunting) licenses can be purchased at Sellkirk Ace Hardware , just East of the Oldtown bridge in Oldtown, ID.

Free Fishing Day(s)

There are a couple of days of the year when residents and non-residents can fish "for free".

The second Saturday of June marks Idaho's Free Fishing Day - in 2012 falling on June 9th, 2012.

June 9th & 10th, 2011 are Free Fishing Weekend in Washington for 2012.