Time Zone Change
Clocks fall back 1 hr at Lolo Pass on US-12 (Montana/Idaho line).
Weather forecast
Thu, Jun 25Start
Butte, MT
79°
51°
💧 10%
En route
Spalding, ID
90°
60°
💧 2%
Overnight
Hayden, ID
84°
53°
💧 2%
Forecast via Open-Meteo
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Nez Perce National Historical Park
Jr. Ranger Badge
Junior Ranger badge — visitor center closes 4:00 PM
Game Plan
Depart 8:30 MT = effectively 7:30 PT after the gain. Arrive Spalding ~12:00 PT — 4 hrs before close. Relaxed.
- Spalding site grounds (~1 mi · flat) — Mission-era sites, Clearwater riverbank, and the Lapwai Creek confluence right at the VC.
- Lapwai Creek Trail (short out-and-back) — Your noted trail — easy creekside walk from the site.
- The museum's Nez Perce artifact collection is one of the best small NPS museums — give it 30–40 min
- US-12 Lochsa River corridor — arguably the prettiest drive of the trip that isn't inside a park
Sunrise, Sunset & Golden Hour
Sunrise
4:55 AM PDT
Sunset
8:44 PM PDT
Be set up by (sunrise)
4:25 AM
Be set up by (sunset)
8:24 PM
Sunrise spot — Sunrise at 4:55 AM PDT — you depart Butte at 7 AM MT = 6 AM PT, well past sunrise. The Lochsa River canyon on US-12 catches gorgeous filtered morning light through the gorge walls.
Early sunrise (PDT) not practical this morning — you're transitioning time zones.
Sunset spot — Coeur d'Alene Lake — you arrive Hayden by 3:45 PM. Drive 10 min to CDA City Beach or Independence Point. The lake faces west-southwest; setup at 8:24 PM for a mountain-framed lake sunset. The kids have waterpark time first.
Best sunset of the conference days. Coeur d'Alene Lake at golden hour with the mountains to the east reflecting. Head to the lake by 8:20 PM.
Heads Up
US-12 is curvy with few passing zones — the 5.5 hr estimate assumes steady driving; queasy kids may want front-row seating.
Trip Journal — Day 6
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