If you’re looking for things to do in Bonners Ferry, start with the one most visitors don’t know about: a helicopter tour. Whirlybird Aviation flies scenic tours from Boundary County Airport over the Moyie River, the Kootenai, and the Selkirk Mountains, starting at around $240 for up to three riders (see the site for exact price).
What you’ll see from the air
From the ground, Bonners Ferry is river bottom and farmland with mountains on every side. From the air, you see how it all fits together. Whirlybird Aviation, run by local pilot Wurzel Parsons-Keir, offers three set tours:
- Moyie Loop, $240 for 20 minutes: the Moyie River Bridge, Moyie Dam, and the Kootenai River.
- Pick Your Spot, $340 for 30 minutes: anywhere within 25 miles of the airport.
- Chimney Rock Grand Tour, $440 for 40 minutes: Chimney Rock, Roman Nose, Silver Dollar Peak, and the high Selkirks.
Prices are per flight, so three friends on the Moyie Loop pay $80 each. Each rider must be 250 lb or less, with 450 lb total for three. I go through each route in more detail in North Idaho Helicopter Tours.
Booking your flight
Tours are by appointment, so book ahead: call or text 208-352-0859, or go to Whirlybird Aviation’s scenic tours page. Ask about weather, since a flight can move if the clouds sit low on the mountains.
More things to do in Bonners Ferry
Once you’ve seen Roman Nose and the Kootenai from the air, you’ll want to explore them from the ground. For a full day that pairs well with a flight, see One Day in Bonners Ferry, and for winter ideas, Outdoor Activities in Bonners Ferry.
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