This property is the best of both worlds – a private, self-sufficient, off-the-grid retreat with a beautiful, 3000+ sq ft mountain lodge in the heart of the Idaho panhandle. It’s truly the end of the road, surrounded by wilderness. Modern conveniences, including propane-powered appliances, solar panels and internet access, compliment the breathtaking panoramic views through the floor-to-ceiling glass wall of the great room and from the 600 sq ft deck. A forest lover’s paradise, this isolated 40 acres and steep mountainsides rising 600′ from the lowest point of the acreage to the cliff-top canopy, provides seclusion and privacy. Halfway between Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry, the drive home contains serene natural beauty on the 2-mile, county-maintained gravel road through the McArthur Lake Wildlife Corridor along the International Selkirk Loop, past a private wildlife refuge and State Wildlife Management Area, followed by another two miles of private road. The property is bordered by USFS land on the south and by a conservation easement, managed by The Nature Conservancy, on the east.

A mountain range rises along the western edge and a steep rise above the house is the northern boundary. Coming up the last slope of the driveway, you’ll notice an original “old-timer’s” cabin sitting among the trees, a view into the past of this wilderness. Then comes your natural pond, Olympic pool-sized with a beach, fed by a year-round stream. It even has a 10′ high jumping-off rock for summer fun. You make your final turn and are greeted by the four-level lodge – with two zip-lines in the trees just steps away from the house! Framed by the wraparound cedar deck with custom log railings you see the 2nd floor great room. On the floor directly below is the garage with an attached 32’x10′ greenhouse that not only grows food all year, but is also vented to help heat the house in the winter. (Established rock gardens supplement the greenhouse during the growing season.) You can park in the garage or continue up the driveway and park next to the covered deck.

The 3-story home (four levels including the attached garage) are tiered on the sloping ground. There’s plenty of room to park vehicles in the 600 sq ft garage and still have lots of work space. The 25′ high ceiling has the potential for another floor and additional rooms. Portable Hot Tub EnclosuresAnd it’s hard to miss the 1000 gallons of water storage in the corner!Wall Mount Projector Mirror If you park in the garage, with its easy-rolling, solid exterior door, you can enter the first floor of the house using interior stairs. Wrought Iron Patio Furniture WeldingYou’ll walk into a den that could also be a large private bedroom. This floor also includes a smaller bedroom and full bathroom, plus a laundry room and hydro/solar power room containing the inverter and batteries.

A stairway leads up to the main floor. You can also enter the home from the front door entrance on the east side deck. You’ll be enchanted by the wide stone steps, handcrafted rails and covered stairs leading up to the front door. From the door, the deck to your right goes to the upper-level parking area and, on your left, to the kitchen sliding door. The deck continues, wrapping around the kitchen, great room and west side of the house, ending at the sliding door that opens into the main level master bedroom. When you enter the foyer from the front door you are greeted by the golden glow of pine-hued floors and blue pine trim, warm wall colors, and the split-log staircase on your left, which leads upstairs to the private 300 sq ft loft with its own bathroom. It can be another wonderful master bedroom or a guest room. The main floor is 1280 sq ft. From the front door you walk straight ahead to hang your coat in the alcove utility room. To your right there are three doors off the entry hall – the center door for the main bathroom, with its deep soaking tub, connects to the master bedroom behind the door on your left (this is the bedroom with the slider leading out onto the deck), and another bedroom on your right.

To the left of the entrance foyer is the light-filled great room, with its knotty pine cathedral ceiling, high double fans and south facing floor-to-ceiling, double-paned energy efficient windows. The breathtaking view will stop you in your tracks – an epic view of miles and miles of woods and valley. But it’s nice to know that when it gets dark and cold, you can lower the attractive and double-walled insulating Levolor blinds. There’s even a remote control for the top-level blinds. (There are also blinds in the main floor bedrooms.) As you enter the great room, the kitchen is to your left with its custom-made, beautiful blue pine cabinets hugging two walls. There is plenty of storage and butcher-block counter space, including a built-in pantry with pull-out drawers next to the double ovens. The large kitchen island, topped with an Italian-made five-burner stove, has additional storage shelves and drawers. There is ample space for food preparation and bar style eating. It’s easy to see everything at night with ten recessed ceiling lights throughout the kitchen and dining area, utilizing energy efficient LED bulbs.

The dining area can easily hold a sit-down dinner table for twelve. To your right, as you enter the great room, is the living area with plenty of space for your comfort and entertainment needs. 6 feet of bluish-grey and autumn-colored slate tile sweeps to your right, where the high efficiency, glass-front wood stove sits. There is a custom made log storage area on the other side of the wood stove. The slate tiles also cover a 3′ wide floor space in front of the windows, on the living room side, providing passive solar heat. And it gets better! When you get to the wall of glass and turn around you will be amazed – the slate tiles also cover the entire wall behind the wood stove, all the way to the peak of the cathedral ceiling. And while you’re looking at the slate wall, you will see the glass double-doors of the loft bedroom and the upper level 23′ long balcony, with custom log railing, overlooking the great room. The entire area is styled in an exquisite blending of wood, stone and glass.