Lake Coeur d’Alene

The Buoy Bar & Grill CDA, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

The Buoy started as a burger boat delivering delicious food to boaters. Now, they have a sweet spot in McEuen Park at the top of the public dock serving juicy burgers, fish tacos, and a variety of margaritas, beers, and other drinks. Enjoy live music with lake views in a family-friendly environment.

Rowan’s Island Grill, Harrison, Idaho

This new Hawaiian food truck has quickly become popular with the Harrison locals! Grab a plate of teriyaki chicken, Kalua pig, or spam musubi and eat at the park or public beach. Vegan and gluten free options available.

Latitudes, Carlin Bay, Harrison, Idaho

Voted the Inlander’s 2022 Best Food Truck in North Idaho, Latitudes offers their own twist on fine dining. From flatbreads and burgers to an extensive kids’ menu, coconut shrimp, and famous twice-a-week “Prime Night,” they cover the bases. There is plenty of outdoor seating, live music, and a new pagoda too.

Conkling Marina & Resort, Worley, Idaho

Find a spot to park the boat and enjoy a memorable meal at the Steamboat Grill or an ice-cold drink at the Starboard Lounge. You can even order your Quinoa Salad and Braised Short Rib Tacos online and have a boat lunch on the water.

Hayden Lake

The Boathouse, Hayden Lake, Idaho

Situated on the south side of the Hayden Lake, the Boathouse is a lakeside dining spot that offers both food and a convenience store. The bistro menu features burgers, sandwiches, and salads, and there’s a full bar. New this year: soft serve ice cream!

Priest Lake

Tyee Coffee + Goods, Coolin, Idaho

This cool café offers an appetizing breakfast and lunch menu to enjoy on the expansive deck with views of the lake. And Tyee’s coffee is pretty good too.

Lake Pend Oreille

Dish at Dover Bay, Dover, Idaho

With menu items like edamame tossed with truffle oil and black sesame seeds, Crispy Bourbon Chicken Fritters, and Grilled Hawaiian Escolar with honey-gochujang sauce, this out-of-the-way restaurant has made a name for itself. Dish At Dover Bay also has a full bar, long wine list, beer taps, and waterfront patio.

The Lake House Bar and Grill, Bayview, Idaho

This floating restaurant immerses you in lake views while you sip a craft cocktail. The menu is wide ranging, from Avocado Fries, a Smoked Pastrami Sandwich, Salmon BLT, and Strawberry Float Cake.

Cocolalla Lake

The View Café, 462109 US-95, Cocolalla, Idaho

This modest café with outdoor seating overlooking the lake sources meat locally and serves breakfast all day. The burger and sandwich menu is comprehensive and creative, and there are a few salads choices too.

Hauser Lake

Embers by the Lake, Hauser, Idaho

This fun lakeside restaurant serves wood-fired artisan pizza all day long and is the perfect place to hang out. The deck features a fire pit for roasting s’mores.

Spirit Lake

Sedlmayer’s Resort & Restaurant, Spirit Lake, Idaho

Previously the Boars Nest bar, Sedlmayers reopened in 2021 under new ownership with a new look and menu with Sunday morning breakfast, weekend lunch and dinner, a full bar, and live music.

Diamond Lake

Edgewater Lounge, Newport, Wash.

Edgewater’s chef brings 20 years of culinary experience to this classy lakeside restaurant that uses local meats and other local products when available. Dine in or take out breakfast, lunch, or dinner Wednesday through Sunday.

Originally published as “Lakeside Gems Off the Beaten Path: Dining & Imbibing On the Water” in the July-August 2022 issue.

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“If you do catch a frog, be gentle and look at it for a short time. Then release it back to where it was—do not move it to a different body of water or pond,” says Round Lake State Park manager Mary McGraw. “Do not take it home as a pet.”      

Visitors to Round Lake can pick up educational loaner backpacks at the ranger station visitor center that contain information for learning about the local natural resources. “This is a great way to learn how to protect our natural surroundings and why it is important to protect the native plants and animals,” McGraw says.

One species of frog that you can keep are the non-native American bullfrogs. In fact, McGraw says, “If you catch a bullfrog, please remove it from the water and destroy it. One positive side is bullfrogs are commonly eaten.” Yes, frog legs for dinner!

Bullfrogs are North America’s largest frog and legal to hunt in the Northwest. No permit is required in either Washington or Idaho. Consult state regulations to learn how to identify this invasive frog and know the difference between a bullfrog and any protected non-game species, such as the northern leopard frog.

Lake frogs: Hunting for bullfrogs is legal (and highly encouraged!) in Idaho and Washington States. // Photos courtesy Washington State Department of Fish and Game.

Find more stories about wildlife in the OTO archives.

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Idaho Department of Fish & Game requires an invasive species permit for each paddling vessel over 10 feet long, including inflatable ones—this means kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (most are 10+ feet), canoes, and row boats.

An Idaho permit costs $7 per craft; purchase online at idfg.idaho.gov or in-person at state parks or select vendors. Marine law enforcement can issue fines for anyone paddling a non-permitted vessel.

Washington State does not require permits for non-motorized watercraft. Any non-motorized vessels launched in Washington that enter Idaho waters, such as the Spokane River at Stateline, do not need a permit.

To prevent invasive species from being transported between freshwater lakes and rivers, boaters and non-motorized paddle craft are asked to stop at roadside inspection stations off highways, which mainly target out-of-state visitors. Any vessel deemed “high risk” is decontaminated with a hot wash at the station (no fee).            

For complete boating rules and regulations, visit state government websites: Parksandrecreation.idaho.gov and Wdfw.wa.gov.

For more stories about paddling sports, visit the OTO archives.

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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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