

Road 409 begins as a well-maintained gravel road as it winds along the West Fork Steamboat Creek. It offers a wide variety of landscapes from beginning to end.
In the lower elevations, dispersed campsites dot the sides of the road, shaded by cedars, cottonwoods, and lush greenery along the shores of the creek.
As your altitude increases, the road becomes more rugged. After crossing road 335, it narrows into a one-vehicle-wide shelf road. At this point, camping is no longer an option. You maintain elevation as you wind along the mountainsides through a powerline corridor, alternating between sunny, exposed, south-facing slopes and the welcoming shade of north-facing slopes as you enjoy this lightly-traveled portion of the Coeur d'alene National Forest.
This road can easily be driven in a 2WD vehicle and the lower section near the creek can accommodate trailers. However, towing may not be advisable on the narrower, more rugged upper section.