Peaceful, meandering Sand Creek couldn’t be more convenient or perfect for kayaking, canoeing or stand-up paddleboards. Well sheltered even when big Lake Pend Oreille is breezy, from the creek mouth at the lake small craft can wend upstream through placid waters more than a mile. For those who like to stroll or bicycle, there’s a fine bike path that follows the creek on the east bank, accessed by the entrance to City Beach.
Paddle craft may launch from the parking lot at the City Beach entrance or from the City Beach boat launch and then paddle upstream past Sandpoint Marina. It’s also possible to launch from the landing and boardwalk where Main Street terminates at the creek, just off First Avenue downtown. Paddlers will begin to encounter some current at the northern end of the slough that Sand Creek forms, where you may pass under the Highway 2/200 underpass, but it’s possible to continue paddling on upstream past Popsicle Bridge that is at the northern end of the bike path.
