Kaniksu National Forest has a total area of 1,627,833 acres (6,587.6 km2).

[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.

Kaniksu was administratively combined with Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe National Forests on July 1, 1973.

There are local ranger district offices located in Bonners Ferry, Priest Lake, and Sandpoint (all in Idaho).