Lake Pend Oreille

At Bayview, on the lake's south end, the Navy operates the Acoustic Research Detachment, described as the only large-scale model submarine acoustic testing facility in the world. Here engineers run scale models of submarines through the deep, still water to measure and reduce the sounds a boat makes, the science of staying undetected.

The lake earned this role in World War II, when the government built the Farragut Naval Training Station on its south shore. At its peak in 1942 the base held some 55,000 people, briefly the largest community in Idaho, and over its short life it trained close to 300,000 sailors, making it one of the largest naval training centers in the world. The base closed in 1946, but the Navy kept a toehold that grew into today's acoustic research station.

Lake Pend Oreille sits in a trough gouged by the great ice sheets of the last Ice Age, which ground down through the mountains and left a basin far deeper than the surrounding valleys. The same Ice Age floods that shaped much of the inland Northwest passed through this country, and the lake is one of their legacies.

That glacial origin explains the lake's extraordinary depth and its cold, clear water. The steep, forested slopes of the Selkirk and Cabinet mountains plunge straight into the lake, giving it the fjord-like feel that makes the shoreline drives and boat trips so memorable.

The lake is famous among anglers for its huge Gerrard-strain rainbow trout, known locally as kamloops, along with kokanee salmon and native bull trout. The fishery has ridden a rollercoaster over the decades, crashing after the 1960s and rebounding through careful management, and it remains a serious trophy destination.

Around and above the water, the Panhandle wilds are alive: bald eagles and ospreys hunt the lake, deer and elk move through the forest, and the surrounding mountains hold moose, bear, and even the rare woodland caribou and grizzly in the high Selkirks. Waterfowl gather in the bays, and the shoreline forest holds a rich birdlife.

Summer is the season for Lake Pend Oreille: swimming off Sandpoint's beaches, boating and sailing the big open water, and fishing the deep. Early fall brings quiet, golden days and the start of the kokanee run.

Winter is cold and often clouded, though the lake rarely freezes across its deep center, and the nearby mountains draw skiers to Schweitzer above Sandpoint. For time on the water, aim for the warm months, and always respect how quickly wind can turn a lake this size rough.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Lake Pend Oreille, in the Idaho Panhandle near the town of Sandpoint, is the largest lake in Idaho and one of the deepest lakes in the country, a vast, beautiful body of water ringed by mountains and forests. The stunning lake, with its clear deep waters, offers world-class fishing, boating, sailing, swimming, and paddling, along with beaches, resorts, and the charming resort town of Sandpoint on its shore. Surrounded by the peaks of North Idaho, it is a centerpiece of the region's scenery and recreation. With its immense clear waters and mountain setting, Lake Pend Oreille offers a spectacular destination in Idaho.

You can boat, sail, kayak, and paddle the vast lake, fish its deep waters known for large trout and other species, swim at the beaches, relax at lakeside resorts and the town of Sandpoint, hike and explore the surrounding mountains, and take in the stunning scenery. Fishing, boating, and enjoying the beautiful lake and mountain setting are highlights, with the lake's great size offering endless room. It is a beloved North Idaho destination. With its boating, fishing, swimming, and mountain-lake beauty, Lake Pend Oreille offers a rewarding experience in the Idaho Panhandle.

The lake is very large and deep with cold water, so boaters and paddlers should always wear a life jacket, check the forecast, and watch for winds that can quickly create hazardous waves on the big lake, while swimmers should be cautious of the cold and deep water and watch children closely. Sudden storms can arise. The great size means conditions can change far from shore. Wearing life jackets, watching the weather and waves, and being mindful of the cold deep water ensure a safe visit to Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho.

Summer is the prime time for boating, swimming, and beach recreation, when the weather is warmest and Sandpoint is at its liveliest, though even summer nights are cool, while late spring and fall offer pleasant weather, good fishing, and fewer crowds, and fall brings beautiful color to the mountains. Winter brings snow sports to the surrounding area. For warm-weather lake recreation aim for summer, and for fishing and color, late spring or fall, at Lake Pend Oreille in the Idaho Panhandle.

Lake Pend Oreille is in the Idaho Panhandle near Sandpoint, home to the Lake Pend Oreille City Beach, within reach of Priest Lake, Silverwood Theme Park, Lake Coeur d'Alene, and the North Idaho mountains. That makes Lake Pend Oreille a spectacular stop to combine with the City Beach, Priest Lake, and the other attractions of the Idaho Panhandle on a visit to the state.