Sandpoint, Idaho sits on a lake so deep the U.S. Navy uses it to test submarines

Three Mountain Ranges and One Giant Lake

Sandpoint, Idaho, sits right where the Selkirk, Cabinet and Bitterroot mountains come together in the northern Panhandle, and all three are front ranges of the Rockies.

At the town’s feet, Lake Pend Oreille stretches 43 miles long with 111 miles of shoreline. Glaciers carved this lake thousands of years ago as they pushed south from Canada, and they dug deep.

More than 1,150 feet deep, in fact, making it the fifth deepest lake in the country. The U.S. Navy still uses those cold, quiet waters to test submarine technology.

That’s the kind of lake you’re dealing with here, and the town on its shore is just getting started.

The Kalispel People Named This Place

Long before settlers showed up, the Kalispel Tribe called this region home.

Their territory ran across the Pend Oreille and Priest Lake areas and stretched into parts of Washington and Montana.

French fur traders gave the lake its name, “Pend Oreille,” which translates to “ear hanging,” after the shell ear ornaments the Kalispel wore.

David Thompson set up a trading post on the lake in 1809, and the Northern Pacific Railroad rolled through in the 1880s with permanent settlers close behind.

Sandpoint became a village in 1901, then a city in 1907, growing up as a logging town.

Schweitzer Gets 300 Inches of Snow a Year

Idaho’s largest ski resort sits about 25 minutes from downtown Sandpoint, up in the Selkirks. Schweitzer covers 2,900 acres of skiable terrain with 92 named runs and two massive bowls.

The summit reaches 6,400 feet with a 2,400-foot vertical drop, and the mountain pulls in about 300 inches of snow each season.

From the top, you can see into three states and Canada, with Lake Pend Oreille spread out below. The resort has been independently owned since it opened in 1963.

Ride the Chairlift and Pick Wild Huckleberries

When the snow melts, Schweitzer turns into something completely different. Over 40 miles of trails open up for hiking and mountain biking across the slopes.

You can ride the scenic chairlift just for the views of the lake and the peaks around it, or play a round of disc golf on the mountain courses.

The real draw comes in late July and August, when huckleberry shuttles carry you up the slopes to pick wild berries right off the bushes.

Paddle the Lake Where Eagles Circle Overhead

Lake Pend Oreille gives you plenty of ways to get on the water. You can swim, kayak, paddleboard or take a boat out for the day.

Sandpoint City Beach sits on a peninsula with sandy shoreline, swimming areas, volleyball courts and a playground.

If you want someone else to do the navigating, sightseeing boat tours run narrated trips covering the lake’s history and wildlife.

Keep your eyes on the shoreline for osprey and bald eagles, and if you fish, the lake holds prized Kamloops rainbow trout.

Mountain Goats Wait at the 7,009-Foot Summit

Scotchman Peak tops out at 7,009 feet, the highest point in Bonner County.

The trail runs about eight miles round trip and climbs roughly 3,700 feet, so it earns its “difficult” rating.

You’ll work for every foot of elevation, but the payoff at the top is a wide-open look at Lake Pend Oreille, the Clark Fork River Valley and the Cabinet Mountains.

A resident herd of mountain goats lives near the summit, and hikers spot them regularly. The trailhead is near Clark Fork, about an hour from Sandpoint.

A Flat Lakeside Path or a 2,000-Foot Climb

Not every trail here requires a full day and a packed lunch.

The Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail runs 1.7 miles flat along the lakeshore, starting near City Beach, with water views the whole way. Walkers, runners and families all share it.

If you want more of a push, the Mickinnick Trail rises over 2,000 feet in 3.5 miles and rewards you with panoramic lookouts.

Over 200 trails wind through the surrounding mountains, and Pine Street Woods, just two miles from downtown, keeps things easy and accessible for all ages.

Idaho’s State Fruit Grows Wild in These Mountains

Idaho made the huckleberry its official state fruit in 2000, and for good reason.

These small, dark purple berries taste sweet and tart at the same time, and you can only find them growing wild at higher elevations. Nobody has figured out how to grow them commercially.

Native American tribes have gathered huckleberries for food and medicine for thousands of years. Around Sandpoint, the berries ripen from mid-June through August in the surrounding mountains.

Back in town, you can find huckleberry pancakes, ice cream and jam all over the place.

The Panida Theater Got Its Name From the Panhandle

Downtown Sandpoint’s most recognizable building is the Panida Theater, a Spanish Mission-style hall that opened in 1927 as a vaudeville and movie house. The name comes from “PANhandle of IDAho.”

The building fell apart over the decades, but the community raised funds and saved it in 1985. It now sits on the National Register of Historic Places and hosts films, concerts, plays and dance shows.

The rest of downtown is walkable, with local shops, galleries and the Cedar Street Bridge Public Market, an indoor market built right on a bridge over Sand Creek.

300 Wildlife Species Call This Refuge Home

About 50 miles north of Sandpoint near Bonners Ferry, the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge covers 2,774 acres along the Pacific Flyway.

Over 300 species of wildlife have been recorded here, including 223 bird species and 45 mammal species. During spring and fall migration, thousands of ducks, geese and swans stop at the refuge ponds to rest and feed.

You can walk flat, easy trails to wildlife viewing blinds, or take a scenic driving route through the property. It’s one of the best spots in northern Idaho to bring binoculars.

A WWII Navy Base Turned 4,000-Acre State Park

Farragut State Park sits at the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille, about 40 minutes south of Sandpoint. During World War II, the U.S. Navy ran its second largest training station right here.

Over 293,000 sailors went through basic training at this site during the 30 months it operated. Today, the 4,000-acre park has camping, swimming, hiking, boating and five disc golf courses spread across the grounds.

A museum in the former brig tells the story of what happened here, with photos and artifacts from the war years.

Swim 1.76 Miles Across the Lake Every August

Sandpoint fills its calendar with events that bring people to the water and the streets. The Festival at Sandpoint is a summer music celebration held under open sky on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille.

The Sandpoint Farmers Market runs every Saturday from May through October at Farmin Park, with local produce, baked goods, crafts and live music.

February brings the Winter Carnival, with fireworks, concerts and a parade of lights. And every August, swimmers line up for the Long Bridge Swim, a 1.76-mile crossing beneath the Long Bridge.

Explore Sandpoint, Idaho

You can reach Sandpoint by driving about 80 miles northeast from Spokane, Wash. Spokane International Airport is the closest major hub, roughly a 90-minute drive away.

The town has just over 9,000 residents, so everything stays easy to navigate.

Summer days stretch well past 10 p.m. in late June and early July, giving you extra hours on the trails and the water.

Winters bring snow and cold, with Schweitzer’s ski season running from early December through early April. Check the official website for current hours and seasonal schedules before you go.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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