Here are five of the best lakeside campgrounds due to their family-friendly beaches and easy access for watersports recreation, including paddling, boating, and fishing — plus lots of reservable campsites.

Sam Owen at Lake Pend Oreille

Large campground, with four loops, located on a peninsula south of Hope, Idaho, along the east side of Lake Pend Oreille.

Amenities: boat launch, dock, day-use area and beach, sand volleyball court, paddle gear rentals, and dog-friendly beach.

One of the best Inland NW lakeside campgrounds: Sam Owen Campground has a big beach for hanging out all day for paddling and swimming. // Photo: Amy McCaffree

National Forest Campgrounds on west Side of Priest Lake

10 U.S. National Forest campgrounds at Priest and Upper Priest lakes, including boat-in island campgrounds.

Amenities: Shoreline trails for hiking and mountain biking; boat launches; and Luby, Osprey, and Outlet campgrounds are within MTB/hiking distance to Hill’s Resort. (See “5 Adventures on Priest Lake’s Western Shores” for more recreation ideas.)

Paddling and camping at Priest Lake, Idaho: Views from Outlet Campground, both from the campsite and on the water. // Photos: Amy McCaffree

Heyburn State Park

Heyburn State Park, near Plummer, Idaho, includes three campgrounds on Chatcolet and Benewah Lakes, south of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Amenities: Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, Rocky Point beach and boat launch, rental cabins, Plummer Point day-use area and dog-friendly beach, MTB and hiking trails, ranger station and visitor center near Hawley’s Landing.

Heyburn State Park includes Hawley’s Landing Campground (left) and Rocky Point marina and day-use beach (right). / Photos: Amy McCaffree

Round Lake State Park

Round Lake State Park is a paddling and fishing paradise in Sagle, Idaho. The lake is annually stocked with trout by Idaho Fish & Game, and no combustion-motor boats are allowed.

Amenities: two docks, large swimming area, ranger station and visitor center, paddle gear rentals, and MTB/hiking trail around lake.

Round Lake State Park: Small, quiet lake with docks, boat launch, and swimming beach. // Photos courtesy of Robin Lewis.

Fort Spokane at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

Fort Spokane Campground is one of many National Park Service campgrounds within Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area at the 130-mile-long lake—a power-boating and fishing mecca. Fort Spokane is the campground closest to Spokane, located at confluence with the Spokane River.

Amenities: boat launch and trailer parking, fish cleaning station, sandy boat-in beaches along lake and river, and Fort Spokane Visitor Center and Museum.

Boat launch at Fort Spokane where the Spokane River flows into Lake Roosevelt (left); Powerboat and tubing fun on Lake Roosevelt. // Photos: Amy McCaffree

Find more stories about lake recreation and adventure destinations in the Lake Guide archives.

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SPOKANE COUNTY 

Fish Lake: The rustic park has a compact waterfront swimming beach and small dock, but it is a great lake for paddling or fishing. There’s a small boat launch for non-motorized watercraft (electric motors or paddling only), and the park includes playgrounds and bathroom facility (be aware that the facility receives limited maintenance). Bring a picnic blanket or camp chairs since there are no picnic tables. Nearby is a trailhead for the Columbia Plateau Trail State Park. 

Liberty Lake: A beach and playground are the highlights at Liberty Lake Regional Park (daily entrance fee required). A boat launch and dock are located at the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife access site (Discover Pass required). 

Medical Lake: Waterfront Park has expansive, grassy grounds that make it easy to physically distance from other household groups. There’s also a wide swimming beach and areas to launch a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Enjoy a bike ride or stroll along the tree-shaded, paved Medical Lake Trail on the west shoreline. On the east shore of the lake is Coney Island Park for picnicking and wildlife viewing, and the north end has Peper Park.   

Lake Spokane: Access this 24-mile reservoir along the Spokane River, located between Nine Mile Falls and Long Lake Dam, from Riverside State Park’s Nine Mile Recreation Area or Lake Spokane campground. 

Lake Coeur d’Alene: swimming near City Park (left), sailing at NIC beach, and stand-up paddling near Tubbs Hill. // Photo: Amy McCaffree (left and upper right); Shallan Knowles (lower right).

NORTH IDAHO 

Chatcolet Lake: Heyburn State Park’s Chatcolet Day Use area has a boat launch, small primitive access sites for wading and swimming, a playground, picnic shelters, and trailhead for the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. Within the state park property, you’ll also find Plummer Point (dog friendly beach), Rocky Point Beach and Marina, and three campgrounds. 

Lake Chatcolet at Heyburn State Park. // Photos: Amy McCaffree

Coeur d’Alene Lake: There are three main access sites in the downtown core of the city of Coeur d’Alene. (1) Tubbs Hill: This city park natural area has a popular 2.2-mile loop hiking trail around the peninsula along with spur trails to access small, sandy primitive beaches. Nearby is McEuen Park, which includes a huge playground, splash pad, dog park, and boat launch. (2) City Park: Kids can enjoy the swimming beach, dig in the rocky sand, and play at Fort Sherman Playground. Picnic on the grass and bike or walk the North Idaho Centennial Trail. (3) Sunsport at Yap-Keehn-Um Beach: Also located along the Centennial Trail is a public beach at the edge of the North Idaho College campus (locals refer to it as “NIC Beach”). You can park on campus (free) or drive here via Rosenberry Drive, with limited street parking. NIC’s Outdoor Pursuits boat house rents kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and sailboats. Call ahead to confirm availability (208-769-3290).  

Hayden Lake: Honeysuckle Beach in the city of Hayden has a large swimming beach, dock, and boat launch.  

Pend Oreille Lake: There are two main public access sites for day use on the lake’s west side. (1) Sandpoint’s City Beach has a large swimming beach and playground. (2) Towards the lake’s south end, Farragut State Park’s Beaver Bay Beach provides a calm swimming area. 

Round Lake: Enjoy the beach, fishing dock, trail around the lake, and flatwater for paddling at Round Lake State Park—located near Sagle, south of Sandpoint.  

Q’emiln Park: Located in Post Falls along the Spokane River, it’s not on a lake, but the park is spacious with a great swimming beach (day parking fee required). It only opens, however, after Avista closes the nearby downstream dam, which usually happens by mid-July. You can also hike or mountain bike on trails in the nearby Community Forest.

Amy McCaffree is special section editor and Out There Kids columnist. Her favorite summer recreation activities are stand-up paddling, kayaking, camping, and swimming with her husband and their two kids.

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North Idaho is rich with history, and there’s no better way to experience many of these historical sites than by riding along one of the Northwest’s longest rail trails on your bike. Plan a historic sight-seeing bike trip on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, a 73.2-mile paved trail stretching across the Idaho Panhandle from Plummer to Mullan. Visit historic mining towns, museums, old railways, mines, memorials, a mission, and more either from your bike or short side trips by car.

On the trail, you’ll travel through the historic Silver Valley, the chain lakes region, over bridges, along stunning Lake Coeur d’Alene, and from the wildlife and scenery rich Bitterroot Mountains down into the Palouse prairie. When you’re not soaking up the history of this unique part of Idaho on the below highlighted sites, you’ll find peace and quiet and spectacular mountain views from the trail, which is frequented by moose, elk, deer, eagles, and many species of birds and other wildlife. Along the trail, you’ll find access to Coeur d’Alene Lake in Harrison, as well as the Coeur d’Alene River and several lakes (a few other renowned fly fishing rivers are a short drive from the trail too).

As you explore the trail and the region’s history over several days, the trail-side communities of Harrison, Kellogg and Wallace each offer their own unique, friendly charms and lodging, dining, and entertainment options. The trail runs right through each of these Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes gateway communities that are home to their own historic buildings, museums, memorials, and other sites that you can easily explore on foot. The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is the connecting thread between this swath of North Idaho’s natural wonders and history, making it an ideal ride for history buffs who like to bike, hike, and explore our natural wonders.

1. Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park

Located near Cataldo, Idaho, a short detour off the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, this state park is home to the Mission of the Sacred Heart, constructed between 1850 and 1853 by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Jesuit priests. The story of the coming together of the Jesuit Missionaries and Coeur d’Alene Tribe is different from some others during this same time period. It is an example of acceptance, understanding, and a willingness to respect beliefs that may not mirror your own. The two groups did not see the world the same way. They lived very different lives, and yet, were able to find similarities, so that together they could worship and build the Mission of the Sacred Heart, now known as the Cataldo Mission and as the oldest standing building in Idaho.

In 2002, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe gained ownership of their historic building and land, and through an agreement, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation manages the site for the Tribe that honors both history and outdoor recreation. “The Sacred Encounters Exhibit: Father De Smet and the Indians of the Rocky Mountain West,” which is a world-class, multi-million-dollar exhibit detailing the history of the coming together of the Jesuit Missionaries and Coeur d’Alene Tribe, occupies half of the visitor center.

Every year, the park hosts an outdoor mass and celebration in honor of the annual Coeur d’Alene Tribe Pilgrimage and Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15. Together the Tribe and Catholic Church, along with many others, honor each other’s history and beliefs as they celebrate their shared understandings and faith. Be sure to make this state park a stop along your Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes adventure. There’s also an Annual Historic Skills Fair at the Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission (July 13-14, 2019), an event worth planning your trip around.

2. Crystal Gold Mine Tour

An authentic underground gold mine tour of one of the first hard rock mines in the Silver Valley, this guided tour will illuminate the lives of the hard-working miners, explaining the tools they used, their methods for tracing quartz veins to find gold, and how they tested the veins. Marvel at the gold and silver still visible in the quartz vein as you pass by colorful stalactite crystals lining the walls.

3. Crane House Museum

Located in Harrison, Idaho, the Crane House Museum has many interesting artifacts from the town’s early settlement days. Consider it a tour of what it would be like to live in North Idaho in the 1800s. While you’re there, take a Historical Walking Tour of Harrison, which was the largest city in Kootenai County during the gold rush. Explore historic downtown Harrison buildings as well as modern establishments serving homemade fudge, ice cream, and other treats. There’s also a Historic Waterfront Walking Tour along a beautiful stretch of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

4. Shoshone County Mining & Smelting Museum

Located in Kellogg, Idaho, this museum was founded in 1986 as a way to save the beautiful 1906 Stanley Easton home. The museum features the history of Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining, one of the oldest and largest mining companies in North Idaho, as well as many others in the region. The museum’s collection includes 3D mine models of the Sunshine and Bunker Hill mines, rock and mineral displays, mining history exhibits, local history, and equipment displays. Award winning author Julie Weston will be at the museum in July 2019 for a book signing and open house. From the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, take the trail spur adjacent to Silver Mountain up the hill directly to the museum.

5. Sunshine Miners’ Memorial

Located between Kellogg and Osburn, the 13-foot-tall Sunshine Miners Memorial statue, erected by sculptor Ken Lonn, pays tribute to the 91 miners who lost their lives in 1972 in one of the worst mining disasters in American history. The Sunshine Miners Memorial is held on May 2nd at 11 a.m. each year.

6. Chatcolet Bridge

The historic Chatcolet Bridge, a 3,100-foot-long, former swing railroad bridge originally built in 1921, has been converted to a trail bridge on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. Located on the south end of Lake Coeur d’Alene near Harrison, the bridge connects the last trail segment through Heyburn State Park to Plummer. Exploring the bridge and state park makes a great day trip by bike from Harrison.

7. Avery Museum

This stop is south of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, but is worth the back road drive from Wallace. Plan to visit this complex that was built in 1909 by the Milwaukee Railroad as part of a westward expansion from Chicago, Illinois. It served as an evacuation site during the Great Fire of 1910, and is now filled with historic railroad photos and memorabilia. There’s free admission to the always-open Twin Grove, Fish Pond, and Library, and the museum room and post office are open on weekdays.

8. Wallace, Idaho

Known playfully as the “Center of the Universe,” Wallace is a town packed with history and character. In fact, the entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so you may get the feeling that you’ve gone back in time as you stroll around the many historic buildings of this longtime mining town. The town has modernized in recent years with many quality restaurants, breweries, and bars without sacrificing the Old West charm and friendly locals that makes it so unique.

Be sure to visit the Wallace District Mining Museum to learn how the Silver Valley earned its name, and wander through the town’s historic Nine Mile Cemetery. Anyone with an interest in railroad history won’t want to miss the Northern Pacific Depot Railroad Museum. Walk the recently restored Historic Stairs for a stunning view of the surrounding mountains, river, and town. The Historic Wallace Preservation Society houses a collection of historical photos and written and oral accounts of history from the last 125 years, and the Oasis Bordello Museum provides a glimpse at the past with a guided tour of the bordello, which was active until 1988. You can also tour the Sierra Silver Mine via open-air trolley with an underground mine tour led by a modern-day hard rock miner. A side cycling or driving tour north of town will take you to the nearbyBurke Canyon for historical markers among the remains of mines and town buildings from the heyday of silver mining.

9. Pulaski Tunnel Trail

When you feel the need to hop off your bike to stretch your legs, consider this 4-mile round-trip hike. Only a few minutes from downtown Wallace, this 2-mile trail is a historic path that played a central role in a major historic event: the great fire of 1910. This historic trail follows part of the route taken by Ranger “Big” Ed Pulaski to escape the devastating 1910 fire. Interpretive signs along the trail guide you through Big Ed’s journey as he herded his 45-man crew to the abandoned mine tunnel saving most of their lives. Immerse yourself in the lush forest surroundings, cascading Placer Creek, and retrace the steps of this harrowing Old West experience.

10. Captain John Mullan Museum

This museum in Mullan, Idaho, is located in the old Liberty Theater. Learn about the history of the town of Mullan and the building of the Mullan Road, the first wagon road across the Rocky Mountains into the Inland Northwest, which was built in the mid 1800’s by U.S. Army troops under the command of Lt. John Mullan. You’ll find mining relics, historical newspapers and photographs, vintage clothing, and memorabilia from local school, sports, firemen, and drug stores. The eastern trailhead of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes is just one block south from this museum, and there’s easy access to the Route of the Hiawatha Trail, just 6 miles from Mullan. Revel in the history and then cycle on to your own modern-day adventure through the North Idaho mountains.

11. Springston “Barren” Ghost Town

Springston, Idaho, is often described online as a ghost town, but the only ghostly thing where the town once stood is the remains of the Golden Star tug beached against the bank of the Coeur d’Alene River. Ghost town experts have a category for “barren” ghost towns, where virtually nothing remains. This accurately describes Springston. Today, Springston is a trailhead on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes three miles northeast of Harrison.

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More stories about the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes in the OTO archives.

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