Can you reserve a site at John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail?

No. John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail — sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Constructed in 2014, the 1.2-mile John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail is located just a few miles south of Coeur d'Alene. The trail lies in the 155-acre parcel managed by the BLM, which was acquired from Mr. Pointner in the early 2000s. John C. Pointner had dedicated much of his life to preserving the Cougar Bay wetland and protecting the many species of wildlife and birds in the area. His wish upon his death was to have the area retained for the public to enjoy and appreciate the natural setting. In 2021, the BLM acquired an additional 88.5 acres of adjacent lands from The Nature Conservancy. Through the acquisition, the public enjoys permanent public access to the area as well as an additional one-mile of hiking trail. Visitors to the Cougar Bay natural area can experience the unique habitat for a variety of migratory birds, waterfowl and a range of wildlife. Hikers can take advantage of filtered views of the City of Coeur d'Alene and Lake Coeur d'Alene from the viewing platform as a reward for their efforts.

Getting there

Trailhead parking area is located approximately 4 miles south of Coeur d'Alene on the east side of Highway 95.

47.65999, -116.83574 · 47°39'36.0"N 116°50'8.7"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 83°F in Aug, down to 36°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	36	41	48	56	66	72	83	83	74	58	44	36
Low °F	26	27	31	37	44	51	57	56	48	39	32	26
Precip in	3.2	2.1	2.7	1.9	2.1	2.2	0.7	0.8	0.8	2.0	3.3	3.5

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

Non-Fee Site

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

Common questions about John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail

Can you reserve a site at John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail?: No. John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail

Beauty Creek Campground 8.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Mokins Bay Campground 11.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Bell Bay Campground 12.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Blackwell Island Recreation Site 2.1 mi · Facility
Ross Point Day Use Recreation Site 3.3 mi · Facility
Mica Bay Boater Park 4.6 mi · Facility
Beauty Bay Recreation Area 7.4 mi · Facility
Mineral Ridge Scenic Area and National Recreation Trail 7.9 mi · Facility
Blue Creek Bay Recreation Site and Trail 8.1 mi · Facility
Mineral Ridge Boat Launch 8.7 mi · Facility
Kit Price Campground 17.7 mi · Campground
Honeysuckle Campground 17.7 mi · Campground

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail