Lake Pend Oreille

May we say, modestly, that Sandpoint City Beach is simply one of the finest city parks anywhere?

With magnificent views down Lake Pend Oreille, enjoy swimming and beach lounging. Play volleyball on one of the three sand courts, tennis or pickleball on the pair of recently upgraded courts; throw some horseshoes or get in on a pickup basketball game; or let the youngest ones loose on the kids’ playground. Public boat launch, picnic tables, barbecue sites, a pavilion available by reservation for group use are other amenities. The Windbag Marina and city-owned Sand Creek Marina are immediately adjacent. But best of all are the beautiful sandy beaches and broad grassy lawns that ring the park.

The park is an easy two-block stroll from downtown, off Bridge Street.

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. 

Offering daily sightseeing cruises in spring, summer and fall, Lake Pend Oreille Cruises takes groups of up to 40 on its classically designed tour boat, the Shawnodese, to explore the immense lake and shoreline.

Aside from the gorgeous lake scenery afforded in these leisurely 90-minute cruises, the crew gives talks on the interesting history of how the lake was formed, points out landmarks along the lake, tells of the lake waterfowl and raptors including osprey and eagles, and serve as a font of information on all things local. Themed cruises take in sunsets, eagle watching and more.

Cruises depart from Sandpoint City Beach and seasonally from Hope for cruises to the mouth of the Clark Fork River.

Learn more and get ticketing information at LakePendOreilleCruises.com.

With more than 9 miles of mostly flat ‘n’ easy trails for hiking, mountain biking and XC skiing in winter – and many outstanding views of the lake – Farragut is a terrific family recreation destination. 

Located on the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille, about 40 minutes driving time from Sandpoint via U.S. Highway 95, Farragut is a crown jewel of Idaho’s state parks. Camping and lake activities, with boat launch and fine swimming areas plus good fishing spots from shore, are prime here. There are also five different disc golf courses.

Get park details on the Farragut State Park web page»
Get trail maps on Trailforks for Farragut»
Get details and course maps on Farragut disc golf»

Maiden Creek Trail is a steep 2-mile trail that leads down Maiden Rock, a prominent geologic feature, and a Forest Service recreation site on Lake Pend Oreille.

The trail to this magical spot on the lake’s western shore is fairly short, though quite steep as you get closer to the lake. It cuts through a dense forest in a deep notch between two mountains to where the waters of Maiden Creek first gurgle to the surface. It follows the creek steeply downhill to the lake. Once to the lake, there’s a small but splendid cobblestone beach and a few amenities including four picnic sites, a vault toilet and dispersed unimproved camping.

About six miles south of Garfield Bay, it’s a popular boat-in site but is also accessible by trail with the trailhead 11 miles south of Sandpoint on U.S. Highway 95 via the north end of Blacktail Road. Go 1.5 miles to Butler Creek Road No. 230. Turn left and travel three miles to the trailhead.

One of the closest and nicest hikes adjacent to Sandpoint, the Mickinnick is a challenging trail that rises more than 2,000 feet in its 3.5-mile length to the topmost overlook – meaning, a round-trip hike is a fairly strenuous 7 miles. But even if you don’t make it to the top, there are expansive viewpoints at several spots along the way.

The trail wends trough big granite features amid open forests and, in spring and early summer, profuse displays of many different kinds of wildflowers. On warm summer days, the east-facing aspect of the trail makes it more user-friendly in the afternoon. The trail ends on a rocky knob commanding a view of Sandpoint, the Long Bridge, the Cabinet Mountains and Lake Pend Oreille. Use the Google map to navigate to the trailhead parking, at roughly 400 Woodland Drive, or click to the Forest Service map and elevation profile.

Trail particulars: To get to the trailhead from Sandpoint, take Highway 95 north 1.3 miles to Schweitzer Cutoff Road; turn left and go a half mile; turn right and go less than a mile to turn left on Schweitzer Mountain Road (at Schweitzer Sign); go one-half mile to Woodland Drive; turn left and go 0.7 miles. The trailhead parking, with pit toilet, water and map, is on the right.

This trail up Scotchman Peak – the highest point in Bonner County at 6,872 feet – is a bit over 4 miles to the top, and strenuous: There’s more than 3,700 feet of vertical gain. But the payoff is big views over Lake Pend Oreille to the south and various peaks in the Cabinet Mountains in all other directions. Plus, there’s a resident herd of mountain goats that frequent the peak, affording a good chance of seeing the amazingly sure-footed mountain climbers up close. Hikers are asked to keep a distance of 100 feet, for their safety as well as the goats. In summer you’ll likely see other hikers on this trail, as it’s a popular one, but in other seasons the trail traffic declines.

This hike has a ceaseless advocate in Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.

More information at Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.

Trail map and information at the Hiking Project.

Here’s a ride or walk about 14 miles from Sandpoint that provides big views of the southern arm of Lake Pend Oreille, with swimming at the fine cobblestone beach at Green Bay, where there is a campground and day use area. One segment of the single track trails for mountain bikers and hikers is an easier loop around Lost Lake, while the Mineral Point trail itself provides a more challenging – but doable – ride for beginners, with outstanding views of Lake Pend Oreille and the Green Monarchs. The trail is popular with both hikers and bikers, so bikers are advised to ride carefully.

Mineral Point Trail has two main trailheads. You may start at Green Bay, from whence you’ll immediately climb up the bluffs above the lake with magnificent views across the lake to the Green Monarchs. There’s a 2.1 mile hike or ride to the second access point, which also provides the trailhead to the roughly six miles of Lost Lake trails.

Click for a printable map»
Click for Trailforks mapping»

To the trailhead: From Sandpoint, drive six miles south on Highway 95 to Sagle, and turn east onto Sagle Road. Continue a bit more than six miles to the junction where Garfield Bay Road forks to the right and continue another roughly two miles to the waterfront village of Garfield Bay. There’s a small park in Garfield Bay; to make this ride longer, we suggest parking there in Garfield Bay and starting your ride on the backroads there. From Garfield Bay Road, find Green Bay Cutoff Road, which proceeds north. The cutoff will quickly become a gravel road; go about .4 mile and turn right onto the Mineral Point Road No. 532 (next to the red firehouse) and ride 2.2 miles on Road 532, and turn right for 0.3 miles the Mineral Point trailhead. The trail will then take you on 2.1 miles of singletrack high along the lakeshore, dropping down to the Green Bay campground and beach, a great place to stop for a swim or to hang along the lake. To complete the loop, ride back up the steep access road from the campground back to Mineral Point Road, then back to Garfield Bay.

Trail particulars: There is only about 400 feet of elevation gain and loss but you’ll hike or ride it up and down several times. Water and toilets are available at Green Bay. At the trailhead for Mineral Point Trail there is a vault toilet.

Offering seasonal boat moorage, gas, dock and a boat launch, Dover Bay Marina is located in the heart of Dover Bay. With 274-slips and deep-water, it offers premium amenities to ensure an exceptional boating experience.

• Covered Single Berth Slips
• 24-hour Fuel
• Extensive Breakwater
• Dockside Power & Water
• Restrooms & Showers
• Pump-out Station
• Security Gates
• On-site Boat Launch
• Market
• Boat & Trailer Storage

Guided Fly Fishing & Float Trips along Kootenai River, ID. Experience the beauty and isolation of the rugged Kootenai River in north Idaho for your next adventure!    The Idaho section of the Kootenai flows through a beautiful canyon with virtually no access, accept by boat. The seclusion and isolation of the river adds to its Idaho ruggedness and beauty. The Kootenai River provides room to fish with most days leaving you the river to yourself. Come see what has been hiding in North Idaho and book your next trip with Long Drift Outfitters.

About our pilot: Stephen is an experienced professional, with more than 30 years of flying experience, having operated in the Arctic regions of Alaska for twelve years. He has over 7000 hours of flying time, and maintains an Aircraft Mechanic Certificate with Inspection Authorization.

Go Fish! Charters offers hands-on, multi-species fishing on Lake Pend Oreille and Clark Fork River. Experience the excitement and diversity on the Pend Oreille fishery! Go Fish! operates year-round and offers custom charters, including sunrise and sunset trips. Charters depart from Sandpoint and Hope.

For the experienced paddler, the Clark Fork is one of many year-round waterways for those who want to meander through Idaho and Montana. There is whitewater, so faster water can present a challenge for novice paddler.

Bottle Bay Resort and Marina includes Bottle Bay Bar & Grill, cabin rentals with private beach area, marina with public gas, boat launch and boat rentals, all located on beautiful and peaceful Bottle Bay.

Sandpoint Marine & Motorsports offers a variety of watercraft rentals, from speedboats to pontoon boats to jet ski and kayak rentals. Half day, full day or hourly rentals, all from downtown Sandpoint.

Get the latest four wheelers and side by sides in stock at our Ponderay location!

208-263-1535; SandpointMarineAndMotorsports.com.

A Day on the Lake Rentals offers full-service rentals of ski boats, pontoons, SeaDoos, and vacation homes on Lake Pend Oreille. Make your vacation memorable by touring the lake by boat. Delivery available.

877-890-2444 or 208-755-4958

ADayontheLake.com

Lake Pend Oreille Cruises offers a variety of public tours including history, eagle watching, and dinner cruises as well as private charters. Please call 208-255-5253 for information and reservations.

Action Water Sports offers lessons, lake tours and rentals in two convenient locations in Sandpoint and Hope, Idaho. Rentals include Ski and Pontoon Boats, Jet Skis, Stand Up Paddleboards and Kayaks. 

208-255-7100 (Sandpoint) or 208-255-6761 (Hope)