Idaho’s Farragut State Park was once the state’s largest city, now it’s just pines and beaches

Farragut’s Navy past runs deep

Lake Pend Oreille sits in the Coeur d’Alene Mountains of northern Idaho, and most people have never heard of it.

But stand at the southern tip, inside a 4,000-acre state park surrounded by tall pines and sandy beaches, and the scale of the place starts to sink in.

The lake drops more than 1,100 feet at its deepest point. Half a million people visit the park each year. And underneath all of it runs a history that almost nobody expects.

When 55,000 sailors called this park home

During World War II, this land held the Farragut Naval Training Station, and at its peak, around 55,000 people lived and trained here.

That made it the largest city in Idaho at the time.

More than 293,000 sailors went through basic training over about 30 months, and the base ranked as the second-largest naval training station in the world, behind only one near Chicago.

Named for David Farragut, the first admiral in the U.S. Navy, the base closed after the war and became a state park in 1966.

The women and prisoners the base left behind

Not everything in the museum is about combat.

A Women of World War II exhibit follows the WAVES, women who volunteered for Navy service, including one whose story begins with losing her brother.

Farther into the exhibit, you’ll learn that nearly 900 German prisoners of war were held near the base in 1945.

They worked as cooks, gardeners, and maintenance workers, and by most accounts, felt they were treated fairly.

It’s a side of the war that most people don’t expect to find in northern Idaho.

Five disc golf courses cut through the forest

Farragut draws serious disc golfers from across the region. The park runs five 18-hole courses, each built for a different level.

You’ve got the Wreckreator, Northstar, A.W.O.L., and Cutthroat for players looking for a real challenge. The Little Black Bear course is built for beginners and young kids.

If you show up without gear, the park gift shop rents and sells discs. Give yourself at least half a day if you want to get through more than one course.

40-plus miles of trails for hikers and mountain bikers

The park has more than 40 miles of trails, and they range from flat and easy to ridge-top climbs with open views of the lake.

The Squirrel Cache Trail is a short loop with nature and wildlife signs posted along the way. The Shoreline Trail follows Buttonhook Bay with mountain views the whole way.

When you’re ready for elevation, the Highpoint Trail climbs a rocky ridge where the lake opens up below you.

Along the way, you’ll pass concrete foundations left behind from the old Navy base.

Look across the bay for white dots on the cliffs

Mountain goats live on the steep face of Bernard Peak, visible across the bay from the park. They were brought to the area in the 1960s and never left.

The Willow Day Use Area gives you the clearest sight line to the peak, and the park keeps spotting scopes on hand so you can actually pick them out against the rock.

If you want to get closer, a trail climbs all the way up to Bernard Peak. It’s a serious hike, but the goats up there don’t move for anyone.

Sandy beaches on one of Idaho’s coldest, deepest lakes

Beaver Bay Beach curves into a horseshoe of sand that gets as warm as anywhere on the lake by midsummer. Part of the swim area is roped off, which makes it a good fit for families with younger kids.

When you want something quieter, Buttonhook Bay is a short walk away. The water there stays calm most afternoons, and the mountains line the horizon in every direction.

Both spots see their best light in the evening, when the sun drops behind the ridgeline to the west.

Cast a line or launch a kayak from the Eagle Boat Ramp

The Eagle Boat Launch puts you on the south end of Lake Pend Oreille, where the water is clear enough to see deep and calm enough for paddleboarding and sailing on most days.

Anglers fish for rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, bass, and whitefish. A 37-pound record rainbow trout came out of these waters, which tells you something about what’s down there.

Come winter, bald eagles move in along the shoreline and you can spot them from the bank without ever getting in a boat.

Climb cargo nets and zip through the forest canopy

An aerial adventure park runs through the trees above the park floor.

The courses include rope bridges, cargo nets, Tarzan swings, and ziplines, and they get higher and harder as you move through them.

Gentler routes are set up for kids ages 6 to 9, and the tougher ones kick in for ages 10 and up. You don’t need experience to start, but by the time you reach the higher courses, the ground is a long way down.

Plan for a few hours if you want to work through the full progression.

Archery, RC planes, campfires and a lot more

The park keeps adding reasons to stay longer.

There’s an archery range, horseback riding trails on the north side, and a field for flying radio-controlled airplanes that pulls in both kids and adults on weekends.

Park naturalists run guided hikes and campfire programs through the summer if you want someone to walk you through the history or wildlife.

You can camp at several campgrounds or book one of the rustic cabins. The visitor center has maps, displays, and a gift shop when you need to get your bearings.

A moonbound astronaut once spoke to Scouts camping here

In 1967, Farragut hosted the World Scout Jamboree, the only time that global event had come to the U.S. at that point.

Two years later, during the 1969 national jamboree, Neil Armstrong sent a greeting to the camp from Apollo 11 while it was already on its way to the moon.

A Friendship Tower in the park marks both gatherings.

For a place that most people outside Idaho have never heard of, Farragut has shown up in some surprisingly large moments in American history.

Visit Farragut State Park in northern Idaho

Farragut State Park sits near Athol, Idaho, about 20 miles north of Coeur d’Alene and 30 miles south of Sandpoint. If you’re flying in, Spokane, Washington is about an hour away and the closest large airport.

The park stays open year-round, with summer bringing the busiest crowds for swimming, boating, and the aerial park.

Winter draws cross-country skiers and snowshoers. The Museum at the Brig runs Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Check the official website for current hours, camping reservations, and aerial park availability before you go.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• Thousand Springs State Park in Idaho is six different parks and none of them disappoint
• Most Americans drive past southern Idaho and miss a waterfall bigger than Niagara
• Northern Idaho has 2.5 million acres of old cedars, gem mines, and trails through mountain tunnels