Kaniksu National Forest

Kaniksu National Forest
Kootenai River Valley in Kaniksu National Forest
Location	Idaho / Montana / Washington, United States
Nearest city	Coeur d'Alene, ID
Coordinates	48°19′01″N 116°09′07″W / 48.317°N 116.152°W / 48.317; -116.152
Area	1,627,833 acres (6,587.61 km2)
Established	July 1, 1908
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
Website	Idaho Panhandle National Forests

The Kaniksu National Forest (pronounced kə-NIK-soo, /kə.ˈnɪk.su/) is a U.S. National Forest located in northeastern Washington, the Idaho Panhandle, and northwestern Montana. It is one of three forests that are aggregated into the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, along with the Coeur d'Alene National Forest and St. Joe National Forest. Kaniksu National Forest has a total area of 1,627,833 acres (6,587.6 km²). About 55.7% is in Idaho, 27.9% in Montana, and 16.4% in Washington.^[1]

The name Kaniksu is from a Kalispel Indian word which means "black robe." It was used to refer to the Jesuit missionaries who brought their faith to North Idaho and Eastern Washington.