International Selkirk Loop - Washington
International Selkirk Loop - Washington is an All-American Road in Washington. Within Washington it covers roughly 75 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along International Selkirk Loop - Washington with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
International Selkirk Loop is a 280-mile scenic loop through northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, and British Columbia. Its 74-mile Washington segment follows State Route 20 north to Tiger and then State Route 31 to the Canadian border. Starting near Newport, the Washington stretch parallels the Pend Oreille River through one of the state's most sparsely populated corners, with dense stands of aspen, fir, cedar, and pine breaking into pockets of farmland around Metaline Falls. The full American portion of the loop, spanning Washington and Idaho, carries an All-American Road designation, the highest tier in the national scenic byway program, awarded for the combination of river, forest, and mountain scenery along the Selkirk Range's western edge. Because the complete circuit continues north into Canada around Kootenay Lake, most travelers plan the loop as a multi-day trip; the Washington segment alone, though, makes a quiet river-valley drive in its own right for anyone not crossing the border.
- Newport to Canadian border
- 74 miles (WA segment: SR-20 / SR-31)
- Pend Oreille River
- Metaline Falls
- Selkirk Mountains
- All-American Road (US portion)
Designated for its scenic and recreational qualities
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Places to stop along International Selkirk Loop - Washington
Tiger Historical Museum
A restored early-1900s general store at the Tiger junction, now a small museum of the Pend Oreille valley's homesteading and steamboat days.
WebsiteBoundary Dam Overlook
A viewpoint over the Pend Oreille River gorge and Boundary Dam, built into the canyon wall just south of the Canadian border.
Crawford State Park
A tiny day-use park guarding Gardner Cave, a limestone cavern with stalactites and flowstone, toured on ranger-led walks in summer.
Website
Where to Stay along International Selkirk Loop - Washington
7 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of International Selkirk Loop - Washington.
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Photos of International Selkirk Loop - Washington
What is an All-American Road?
All-American Roads are the top tier of America's National Scenic Byways. To earn the title a road has to be a destination in its own right — offering features so exceptional, across several intrinsic qualities (scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational), that they can't be found anywhere else.