North Idaho:

Idaho Travel Regions
North Idaho


Up in Idaho's far northern reaches, each bright blue summer day seems to last a lifetime, allowing even staid grownups to feel as immortal and lighthearted as a school kid at camp. Boats, fishing poles, and camping gear clutter the garages of homes throughout the region and remain in nearly constant use from May to October. Then it's time to break out the skis and sleds. The Panhandle is one big playground.

On a map, the region looks like a stovepipe hat sitting smartly upon the head of the state. But once you're there, the hat turns into a green velvet crown, covered with dense forests and bejeweled with three of the largest and most beautiful lakes in Idaho: Coeur d'Alene, Pend Oreille, and Priest.

The first lake in that trio provides the backdrop and the name for the Panhandle's largest city. Coeur d'Alene, at the intersection of I-90 and Highway 95, is unquestionably the regional hub. It's also a fun resort town, offering visitors a multitude of activities to enjoy -- from water-skiing to beach-bumming to world-class golfing. Farther north, Pen Oreille Lake, Idaho's largest lake, is surrounded by the magnificent Coeur d'Alene, Cabinet, and Selkirk Ranges. At the foot of the Selkirks, on the shore of Pend Oreille, lies the small, onetime art colony of Sandpoint, whose splendid setting surpasses even Coeur d'Alene's.

The last major jewel in the crown, Priest Lake, provides the ultimate getaway for those seeking a remote and rustic encounter with the great outdoors. The lake hides in a pocket in the Selkirks, high up in Idaho's northwest corner. Wildlife is so abundant that if you don't see a moose, bear, mountain goat or other big furry quadruped, you're just not looking. Anglers quietly cruise the lake, sending ripples radiating out across misty morning waters, while campers hunker around shoreline campfires, frying up fresh trout to add to their morning scrambled eggs.

The information above on North Idaho is reproduced with permission of
Avalon Publishing Group, © 2004, Moon Handbooks: Idaho by Don Root

North Idaho
Complete source of outdoor activities, information and vacation planning for North Idaho

Heyburn State Park
In 1908 it became the first park in the Pacific Northwest. Wild rice is harvested in the park every fall.

Cataldo Mission. Cataldo, Idaho. 24 miles east of Coeur d’ Alene off Interstate 90.

The Cataldo Mission of the Sacred Heart is Idaho's oldest building. It was constructed by Coeur d'Alene Indians under the guidance of Jesuit priests.

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