I hold Ken’s hand as we walk. No trekking poles this week. No dusty trails, but a paved, straight path where a railroad track once ran. We are on the Sandpoint-Dover Community Trail, a 6.6-mile out-and-back route frequented by bikers, young mothers pushing baby strollers, and retirees speed-walking in brightly colored sweatsuits.
On one side, golden-leaved Aspen trees rise toward a blue sky; on the other, trucks rumble past on busy Highway 2, and just past that lies shimmering Lake Pend Oreille.
This connector between two communities was originally constructed in 2000, when the population was half what it is today. The Dover River Rats still played baseball in a field near the shore where a lumber mill once operated. On summer evenings, the outfield grass ran right down to the water; families spread blankets and picnicked where condos and expensive bungalows now lay.
Ken and I rented one of those cottages in November 2021, before we built our home in Clark Fork. We enjoyed walking along the docks at the nearby marina and along the well-lit sidewalks. We parked near that community to access today’s trailhead.
A car horn blasts. Exhaust fills the air as we walk past a doctor’s office.
I think about the restaurant where we ate that fall: The Dish. It was within walking distance of where we stayed. From our window-side table, we looked out at the water, sipping martinis and sucking on a spicy edamame appetizer. It’s still one of our favorite date-night destinations. We went there to celebrate my fiftieth birthday this summer.
Today, a new marina is under construction near where we live. We drove past its pilings and riprap on our way here. The work threatens endangered bull trout spawning habitat. If shops or restaurants open there, Ken and I have agreed not to visit.
I wonder whether the longtime Dover locals who watched the baseball field disappear ever visit The Dish, or if they stay away.
“Ready to turn around?” Ken asks as we reach an intersection.
The sky has turned thick and gray. Rain is coming.
I nod.
A bicyclist approaches and smiles a greeting as he passes.
I return his grin.
This path is nice, but I prefer a walk in the woods.
JUST THE FACTS: Sandpoint-Dover Community Trail, Dover, Idaho
Distance: 6.6 miles (total out and back)
Estimated Time: ~ 2.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 45 feet
Key Highlights: Long grass and aspen trees line the path, with views of Lake Pend Oreille. Walk (or bike) to local businesses. Consider wearing headphones to drown out the nearby traffic, but stay alert to avoid colliding with others enjoying the route.
Difficulty: Easy. If you are just getting back into walking distances, this is a great place to begin, with benches along the way.
Call for Comments: Have you walked or biked the Sandpoint-Dover Community Trail? Share your stories and tips in the comments, or submit to Readers’ Hike.
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