Sandpoint, Idaho Waterfront

Sailing, Boating, Scuba, Jet & Water Skiing in Sandpoint on Lake Pend Oreille & North Idaho Waterways

North Idaho Lakes Guide	North Idaho Fishing Guide	North Idaho Rivers Guide
Health of fish in Lake Pend Oreille	North Idaho Docks & Marinas	Lake Pend Oreille Depth Map

You don't have to be here long to get the picture. We are in lake country. Not surprisingly, many blogs and writings of winter skiers attribute to the area the misnomer that we are primarily a summer resort destination. After all, when skiing down the slopes of Schweitzer Mountain, the overwhelming view is Lake Pend Oreille. Oh so wrong, my research-lacking ones. Our main tourist season and draw is winter sports. Still, summers ain't bad.

To understand our history, one must first take into account our geography. While our area is dominated by mountains, the most prominent feature is Lake Pend Oreille, with an area of 148 square miles, and 111 miles of coastline. Only Flathead Lake in Montana and some man-made lakes are larger. It is 65 miles long, and 1,150 feet deep in some regions (5th in the US). Fed by Clark Fork River and drained by the Pend Oreille River. It is surrounded by national forests and many small towns, including Bayview, Hope, and Sandpoint. All but the southern tip of the lake is in Bonner County, the southern tip which is home to Farragut State Park, the original home of the Farragut Naval Training Station, and the home of the NAVSEA's Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division's Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD) is in Kootenai County.

Holiday Shores

Bottle Bay Resort

Eagle Marine

List of Idaho Marinas

Hope Marine

Lakes Commission

Lake Pend Oreille Guide

Idaho's Lake Country

Clearwater River Company

The lake is home to many species of fish including: rainbow trout, lake trout, perch, crappie, bass, walleye, whitefish and kamloops. The forests are known to have various pines, such as ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, poplar and western larch. Whitetail deer, squirrels, black bears, coyotes, elk, cougar, and bobcats are known to reside in these forests. Bald Eagles, osprey, owls, hummingbirds, hawks, woodpeckers, ducks and the mountain bluebird are seen in the skies around the lake.

It is also believed that the eastern side of the lake was in the path of the ancient Missoula Flood. This is the great event that shaped much of the Inland Empire of the Pacific Northwest. The Missoula Flood is an Ice Age event that has been featured on NOVA, and refer to the catastrophic floods that swept periodically across eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana, and down the Columbia River Gorge at the end of the last ice age. Farragut State Park is located where the Lake Missoula Floods broke out from the end of Lake Pend Oreille.

The floods were the result of the periodic sudden rupture of the ice dam on the Clark Fork River that created Glacial Lake Missoula. After each rupture of the ice dam, the waters of the lake would rush down the Clark Fork and the Columbia River, inundating much of eastern Washington and the Willamette Valley in western Oregon. After the rupture, the ice would reform, recreating Glacial Lake Missoula once again.

Geologists estimate that the cycle of flooding and reformation of the lake lasted on average of 55 years and that the floods occurred approximately 40 times over the 2,000 year period between 15,000 and 13,000 years ago.

The other great shaping feature was the area’s glaciers. The rugged mountainous beauty of this area of North Idaho was formed by these two components. For thousands of years, these two forces of nature were actively moving the landscape of North Idaho. The glacial ice sheets moved land, mountain, and water over centuries. The floods occurred over relatively shorter periods. The areas of the Lake Pend Oreille and the Clark Fork River held a dam of ice that towered over two thousand feet today’s lake level. When this dam failed many times over the millennia a deluge of water was released in unimaginable proportions at speeds of 60 miles per hour and hundreds of feet deep, creating forces great enough to shape the landscape we know today from here to Portland, Oregon.

So, now that you have been edu-macated, soak up some of the cool things you can do on our bodies of water.

First there is obviously kayaking and whitewaters. Big lake and river activities include boating, sailing, boat racing, and jet skiing. Fishing is an absolute must, and while the government in a big-brotherly fashion had almost decimated the fish population many years ago by introducing tiny shrimp to the lake, the fish populations are now making great gains at recovery. The Feds had done this to our lake to try and increase the lake's fish counts, but as is often the case, the opposite occurred. You can snorkel or scuba, swim or dive off of many deep dive spots. You can even watch the submarine races. Many, many establishments take advantage of the lake views, however, good, unobstructed views of the lake are becoming more expensive to buy, and you can pretty much forget finding affordable digs with lake frontage.

Lake Pend Oreille is one of the deepest lakes in the United State, and it is quiet enough for the U.S. Navy to have its submarine research facility located here. Along the lake's protected coves one can find great water skiing and wakeboarding, and camping is one of our area's favorite pass times. Prevailing southwesterly winds provide sailing enthusiasts many days of quality boating. We have many sailing regattas the entire summer, as well as poker runs, and there are talks of having some serious stiletto and cigarette boat races. Plus, if mild sailing is not your style, canvassed racing takes place many times a year.

What to do on the Water

If kayaking is your thing then you are in luck. With a lake over 43 miles long one can spend countless hours paddling along the lake. The many tributaries offer secluded paddling with a wide variety of wildlife to be found. For the whitewater enthusiasts there are numerous rivers and streams to get your heart pounding. The Moyie River, famous for its Class 5 rapids is only an hour away. The Selway and Lochsa are within easy driving distance and offer even the most seasoned kayak enthusiast a real test. The Pack River and Priest River also provide kayakers plenty of great water to play on.

When visiting Sandpoint, make it a point to rent a boat and discover why so many people have fallen in love with the area. If you're uncomfortable navigating on unknown waters, take a fishing charter or a scenic cruise. If you do decide to take a fishing charter, make sure you get plenty of rest prior to departure as this lake offers trophy rainbow trout that will challenge your skill as well as your endurance.

Rentals

A Day on The Lake Boat and Sea Doo Rentals
Sandpoint, ID 83864
Cell phone: 208-755-4958
208-687-1450
877-890-2444

All Season Recreational Rentals
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-255-2431 or 888-246-6181

Full Spectrum Tours
405 N 4th Avenue
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-263-5975

Holiday Shores Resort & Marina
46624 Highway 200
Hope, ID 83836
208-264-5515

Lake Pend Oreille Cruises
427 Fry Creek Road (Cool Jet Boats)
Sagle, ID 83860
208-255-5253
Toll Free: 1-888-726-3764

Sandpoint Marina
120 E Lake, Sandpoint
ID 83864
208-263-3083

Windbag Marina
City Beach
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-263-7811

Wind Walker Parasails
Located at Sandpoint Marina
120 E Lake
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-263-2136

Charters & Tours

Celtic Kayak
P.O. Box 316
Sagle, ID 83860
208-265-0780

Diamond Charters
P.O. Box 153
Hope, ID 83836
208-265-2565
800-487-6886

Eagle Charters
P.O. Box 101
Hope, ID 83836
208-264-5274

Full Spectrum Kayak Tours
405 N 4th Avenue
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-263-5975

Lake Pend Oreille Cruises
427 Fry Creek Road
Sagle, ID 83860
208-255-5253
Toll Free: 1-888-726-3764

Seagull Charters
P.O. Box 208
Kootenai, ID 83840
208-263-2770

Boat Slips & Launches

Click here for a list of all boat docks

Bottle Bay Resort & Marina
115 Resort Road
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-263-5916

Holiday Shores Resort & Marina
46624 Highway 200
Hope, ID 83836
208-264-5515

Memorial Field
855 Ontario St
Sandpoint, ID 83864

Sandpoint City Beach
City Beach
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-263-7811)

Sandpoint Marina
120 E Lake,
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-263-3083

Scuba Gear & Diving

AA Diving
123 S 3rd Ave
Sandpoint, 83864
208-263-3332

Scuba Unlimited
1112 Superior St
Sandpoint, 83864
208-265-5646

Water Skiing & Wakeboarding

Alpine Boat & Ski Shop
213 Church St
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-263-5157

Ground Zero
116 N 1st Ave
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-265-6714

Articles, Info, & Other Links

Article on Sailing Lake Pend Oreille - In 48° North

Article on Lake Pend Oreille - In Idaho Outdoor Experience

Article on Lake Pend Oreille - In Sunset Magazine

Endless Summer - In North Idaho Lifestyles Mag

Fisher River Steam Flows

Idaho Parks and Recreation

Idaho Stream Flows

Kootenai River Stream Flows

Lake Pend Oreille - In Anwers.com

Lake Pend Oreille - In Wikipedia

Lake Pend Oreille Guide - Lots of information about our beautiful lake

The Idaho Boating Handbook – Contains lots of important and educational information regarding boating laws and safety

NWS Hydrologic Prediction – National Weather Service Pend Oreille Lake & River at Hope water levels and other hydrologic information

US Army Corps of Engineers - USACE Water Management, is an alternate site for Pend Oreille Lake & River at Hope water levels & boating confidence indicator.

Acoustic Research Detachment - Offers Pend Oreille Lake boating and weather conditions with a web camera view of the lake looking east.

Lake Pend Oreille Cruises - Offers many different cruise packages on our beautiful lake including private charters and public cruises.

Bayview at the Lake - Sponsored by the Bayview Chamber of Commerce, with pictures, web cameras, weather and other information about Bayview, Idaho and Lake Pend Oreille.

Lake Pend Oreille Navy Submarines

Lake Pend Oreille Video - From the State Website

Pend Oreille Scenic Byway

Pictures of the Lake - on Webshots

Portrait of the Lake - From Idaho Public TV

St. Joe River Stream Flows

Spokane River Stream Flows

Montana Stream Flows

Moyie River Stream Flows

Priest River Stream Flows

The Navy Web Cam of the Lake

United States Coast Guard