Attractions and Places To See in Bonner County - Top 4

Bonner County is rich in natural beauty, centered around Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho's largest lake. You can also explore the majestic Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains, vast forests like the Kaniksu National Forest, and three major rivers: the Clark Fork, Pend Oreille, and Priest River. Notable spots include Gamlin Lake with its gentle trails and the scenic Maiden Rock Beach on Lake Pend Oreille.

Yes, Lake Pend Oreille offers a wide range of water activities. You can enjoy swimming, sailing, kayaking, and fishing, with the lake being renowned for Kamloops rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. Sandpoint City Beach Park provides sandy beaches, and the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail offers beautiful lake views for walking or cycling. For calm waters, Sand Creek is ideal for kayaking or paddleboarding.

For breathtaking views, consider visiting Maiden Rock Beach on Lake Pend Oreille, which offers fantastic vistas of the mountains beyond the lake. The Serenity Lee Trail Long Bridge Over Lake Pend Oreille provides expansive views upriver and across the lake. Additionally, the View of Lake Pend Oreille and the Selkirk Mountains from Gold Hill offers panoramic scenes of Sandpoint, the lake, and the Selkirk Mountains, especially near the top of the trail.

Bonner County offers a variety of hiking trails for all skill levels. You can find easy, gentle trails like the three-mile system at Gamlin Lake. Moderate options include the Gold Hill Trail, which provides rewarding views, and the Mickinnick Trail for a more challenging ascent. Pine Street Woods also offers miles of trails. For more detailed hiking routes, you can explore the Hiking in Bonner County guide.

Yes, Bonner County has dedicated trails for mountain biking and running. The Gold Hill trail is popular with mountain bikers, and Pine Street Woods offers trails suitable for mountain biking. For running, the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail is a great option. You can find more routes and details in the MTB Trails in Bonner County and Running Trails in Bonner County guides.

To delve into the region's past, visit the Bonner County History Museum in Sandpoint's Lakeview Park, which covers everything from ice age floods to the logging and railroad eras. Sandpoint itself has a rich railroading history, known as "The Funnel." You can also explore the Albeni Falls Dam, which offers free public tours in summer, and discover 16 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Panida Theater in Sandpoint.

Absolutely! Gamlin Lake offers gentle trails perfect for families and wildlife viewing. Schweitzer Mountain Resort provides activities like scenic chairlift rides, mountain biking, and huckleberry picking in summer. Round Lake State Park is open year-round for camping, hiking, and ice skating. For a full day of fun, Silverwood Theme Park is a popular family destination with rides and water slides.

Yes, the Serenity Lee Trail Long Bridge Over Lake Pend Oreille is a paved, multi-use trail that is wheelchair accessible, offering great views across the Pend Oreille River basin. This allows everyone to enjoy the scenic beauty of the area.

The best time to visit Bonner County depends on your preferred activities. Summer (June to August) is ideal for lake activities, hiking, and mountain biking, with warm weather and full access to trails and water. Fall offers beautiful foliage and pleasant hiking conditions. Winter transforms the region into a snowy paradise, perfect for skiing and snowboarding at Schweitzer Mountain, or ice fishing and cross-country skiing at Round Lake State Park.

In winter, Schweitzer Mountain Resort is a prime destination for skiing and snowboarding across 2,900 acres. You can also enjoy snowmobile tours and scenic chairlift rides. Round Lake State Park offers opportunities for ice fishing, ice skating, and cross-country skiing. Many trails, like those at Gamlin Lake, are also suitable for cross-country skiing, though they are not groomed.

Bonner County boasts several scenic drives. The Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway (Highway 95 north from Sandpoint) follows a historic path along the Selkirk Mountains. The Pend Oreille National Scenic Byway (Highway 200) offers spectacular water views along Lake Pend Oreille. For an extended adventure, the Selkirk Loop is a 280-mile international scenic drive through the Selkirk Mountains of Idaho, Washington, and British Columbia.

Bonner County is home to diverse wildlife. The lakes, rivers, and forests provide habitats for bald eagles, ospreys, and various waterfowl. On land, you might spot moose, bear, elk, and deer. Gamlin Lake is known for moose and osprey, while the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge is an excellent place for spotting waterfowl, eagles, and larger mammals.