Lake Coeur d'Alene

The pristine serenity of the lake and its surroundings has earned Lake Coeur d'Alene a reputation as one of the world's most beautiful sights. Enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the City Beach and numerous water activities, including water skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, jet skiing, parasailing, boat cruises, seaplane rides, kayaking and more.

Lake Coeur d'Alene is about 30 miles long and ranges from 1 to 3 miles wide.  It has 135 miles of beautiful shoreline and is an average of 120 feet deep.  The lake is fed by three rivers:  The Coeur d'Alene, the St. Joe, and the St. Maries.  The lake flows outward to the Spokane River, which flows west about 25 miles into east central Washington.

Originally, the lake was formed by melting glaciers, although the depth of the lake has been increased by the construction of the Post Falls Dam.  Historically, the lake was used as the major method of transportation for the lumber industry that flourished in the area.  Lake Coeur d'Alene is home to several sunken Model T's that failed the winter drive across the lake.  Some steamboats also rest at the bottom of the lake, after being burned when the public no longer used them to ferry themselves across.  Divers often visit these sunken treasures, a piece of Coeur d'Alene's history that sits undisturbed.  Today, the lake is a major tourist attraction, bringing thousands of visitors during the popular summer months to explore its beauty and vast recreational activities that it offers.

Although the summer and fall seasons host warm weather for water recreation, the lake offers its scenic beauty year round with alternative activities in the off-seasons.  Wolf Lodge Bay is a very popular place to view the Bald Eagles feed on Kokanee during the winter months.  The North Idaho Centennial Trail provides a fully-maintained trail that follows much of the northern shoreline of the lake.  The 24-mile paved trail extends from Higgens Point to the Idaho/Washington border, offering a no-fee site for runners, bikers, dog-walkers and the like, year round.  Idaho Scenic Highway 97 is a beautiful drive along the east shoreline of the lake during any season, although the fall colors are an especially spectacular sight.

Coeur d'Alene hosts many events that center around Lake Coeur d'Alene, including the Coeur d'Alene Marathon, Ironman Coeur d'Alene, 4th of July Festival with fireworks over the lake, Coeur d'Alene Triathlon and Duathlon, Wooden Boat Show, and more.