Some people dream their whole lives to live in a place exactly like this. Thanks to the pristine serenity of our lake cities in Northern Idaho, the Lake Coeur d’Alene area has earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Lake Coeur d’Alene is about 25 miles long and ranges from 1 to 3 miles wide with a mean depth of 120 feet. Enjoy the friendly atmosphere of our city beach, downtown shops, regularly scheduled farmers markets, street fairs, or stay and play at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.
Other popular waterside destinations in Kootenai County include: the Spokane River (flows from Lake Coeur d’Alene,) Hayden Lake, Hauser Lake, Twin Lakes, Spirit Lake, the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille at Bayview, as well as the Chain Lakes, Rose Lake, and others.
Our area lakes offer numerous water sports activities including: fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, parasailing, boat cruises, seaplane rides, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, and more. With dozens of boating access sites, there are lots of places to get out on the water. Our area really does offer something for everyone.
The Coeur d’Alene area boasts three ski resorts: Silver Mountain in Kellogg has two peaks, 50 runs, 2,200 vertical feet of fun, and the world’s longest, single-stage gondola. Head toward the Idaho/Montana border and discover Lookout Pass ski area for alpine exploring with 540 skiable acres, vertical drop of 1,150 feet on 23 named runs, plus two glade areas and acres of tree skiing. Skiers can also head north to Schweitzer Mountain Resort with 58 runs across 2,500 acres and Stella with its 6-passenger high-speed chairlift.
The region is bountiful for bicycle enthusiasts of all skills and abilities. Try the scenic Centennial Trail, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, and Tour of the Hiawatha. If mountain biking is more your style, area ski resorts have rugged bike trails to challenge all skill levels. You are sure to find a trail to challenge you… or make your own!
Just a quick 20-minute drive north of Coeur d’Alene is the Northwest’s largest theme park, Silverwood. With rides and attractions, including several roller coasters, Boulder Beach Water Park, and a steam locomotive, Silverwood has something for all ages. Also in the area are several family fun centers filled with day adventures, including Triple Play and Raptor Reef Indoor Water Park.
Whether you’re interested in hunting big game or small, you and your hunting buddies will love Northern Idaho. Our area boasts over 2.7 million acres of public national forest lands and offers some of the best hunting in the lower 48 states. Interested in big game? Our region offers hunting for elk, moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer, mountain lion, black bear, and bighorn sheep. Or go after game birds, such as grouse, quail and pheasant. Common waterfowl are Canadian geese and ducks.
If you love to fish, welcome to your new favorite fishing destination. Northern Idaho is a fisherman’s paradise. Fishing is a great way to build those lasting family memories. Our area boasts over 1500 mountain lakes, and most offer free public access. Local lakes have a variety of fish, such as bass, kokanee, Chinook salmon, northern Pike, cutthroat, brook and rainbow trout. Idaho is the only inland western state with ocean-run salmon and
steelhead.
Honey, let’s get back to nature. Grab the tents, pack up the RV, we’re going camping, Idaho Style! There’s nothing better than sitting in front of a campfire enjoying s’mores with friends and family. We have an amazing array of campgrounds, parks and facilities to choose from.
Idaho is a gun friendly state, and the Northern Idaho area offers many opportunities for gun enthusiasts to gather and shoot. We have several gun clubs, indoor or outdoor shooting ranges, and formal training by experts. Gun rights advocates abound in our area. Oh, and don’t be surprised if you see someone open carry in town. You’re in Idaho now.
Whether it’s on a horse or a 4-wheeler, Northern Idaho’s amazing scenery makes for great trail rides and wilderness pack trips. Outfitters: Idaho is a great place to hire (or be) an outfitter. Hire a trained guide to take you and your crew where you want to go. Go for trail rides, hunting, fishing, rafting, and more. For a list of licensed outfitters in Idaho, go to: https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/ioglb/ or visit the association of outfitters here: http://ioga.org/
Coeur d’Alene and the surrounding area support a broad range of arts and culture. Residents and visitors enjoy operas, chorales, symphonies, jazz, big bands, summer concerts in the park, and all types of modern day music. Coeur d’Alene is home to theaters that provide local community productions and professional performances. Choose from annual events, such as Art Walk, Art from the Heart, concerts in the City Park, July-amsh Pow Wow, Art on the Green, and Taste of Coeur d’Alene. Professional galleries and artists present the finest paintings, sculptures, blown glass, furniture, and jewelry. The Museum hosts historical exhibits and offers research opportunities. The Coeur d’Alene Arts and Culture Alliance works with nonprofits, volunteers, and professional arts organizations to create a unique North Idaho lifestyle.
The area offers a wide selection of shopping and dining choices. Coeur d’Alene shopping includes the Silver Lake Mall, vibrant downtown shopping, the Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza Shops, large antique malls, Riverstone, and a variety of big box stores throughout the area. Coeur d’Alene offers the best in Northwest dining. The area boasts everything from award winning chefs to sidewalk vendors. Choose from fresh Idaho trout, huckleberry pancakes, or a juicy Priest River buffalo steak. Cap off your day in Coeur d’Alene with a Northwest microbrew, a selection from a world-renowned wine cellar or a visit to one of our many charming coffee shops.
Coeur d’Alene is a special community. We’re blessed with natural beauty that most people only dream of. We enjoy a true four-season climate that brings unique beauty no matter the season. Whether you enjoy lakes or mountains in the great outdoors or world-class amenities in a friendly indoor environment, Coeur d’Alene has a lot to offer. Even more than the outstanding beauty of the area are the special people who call Coeur d’Alene home. We invite you to share it with us either as a full-time resident, part-time resident, snowbird, or as a visitor.
Just as Lake Coeur d’Alene served as the traditional focus for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, it remains the center of the Coeur d’Alene community today. The lake, during all seasons, remains the heart of our area. Early French-speaking fur traders named Lake Coeur d’Alene. According to legend, the traders believed the local Native Americans to be sharp traders and named the Lake Coeur d’Alene since their hearts were as sharp as an awl. In 1878, Fort Sherman was established and the city began to grow. Coeur d’Alene was incorporated in 1887 and continued to flourish. It’s a town with a rich background in lake steamers, fur trading, logging, and mining. The area continued to prosper in the early 1900s when a major timber boom caused the population to increase 16 fold in a 10 year period. The city continued to expand from a small frontier village into the political and business center of Kootenai County and became the county seat in 1908. Today, Coeur d’Alene remains the center of business and recreational activities in the Inland Northwest complete with festivals, fairs, concerts, unique bistros, elegant restaurants, main street, mall shopping, and much more. The area is experiencing rapid growth and development is evident all around. Notable city development projects include the Coeur d’Alene Library, McEuen Park and Riverstone. Coeur d’Alene’s strong presence is found in state government, and its increased economic development over the past several years has been remarkable. Coeur d’Alene continues to grow and prosper.
In 1870, German immigrant and founder, Frederick Post first claimed the Post Falls area as the site of a water powered lumber mill at the falls. He negotiated a treaty with Chief Andrew Seltice of the Coeur d’Alene Native American Tribe. They recorded this land cession on a prominent rock near the falls.
This contract is preserved and exhibited, with authentic Native American pictographs, on a 4-acre site north of the Falls Park, which is listed on the National Historic Register. Today, Post Falls is experiencing extraordinary growth. Residential construction is thriving and the city is poised for dramatic population increases over the next several years. City leaders are working together and with other agencies to build necessary infrastructure for the expected influx. Since Post Falls is the closest Idaho city to the Washington state line, growth is expected to increase all the more.
The cities of Hayden and Hayden Lake are located in the beautiful North Idaho Panhandle in Kootenai County, one of the fastest growing counties in Idaho. The City of Hayden is building a thriving business community, while Hayden Lake is content to stay mostly residential. The Hayden Lake Country Club has been a staple of the Hayden Lake area for decades. It is a private membership organization offering golf, tennis, a social club, boating, and event center.
Hayden Lake, with its crystal clear waters, sandy beaches and picturesque timber shores, is one of the most beautiful and popular lakes of Northern Idaho. Its irregular shape gives it about 40 miles of shoreline, with the main portion of the lake being seven miles long and one to two miles in width. Normal lake elevation is 2,239 ft above sea level, and portions of it reach 800 ft deep. The lake is surrounded on three sides by panoramic timber mountains that rise to an elevation of 4,500 to 6,000 ft and extend for many miles to the east as part of the Bitterroot Mountain Range. Much of this land is the Coeur d’Alene National Forest, which offers excellent hunting, fishing, and camping.”
The Backstory: Hayden Lake has long been used and enjoyed by man. The first known inhabitants, beginning in April of 1864, were the Coeur d’Alene Native Americans, who camped along the shoreline, lived on an abundance of berries and bulbs, and fished its waters. As natural resources became scarce, the Native Americans moved on. During 1878, Matt Heyden homesteaded the southwestern shore and developed an extensive farm, including the first fruit orchard planted in the area. Heyden and a man named Hager were friends who often played cards together, and this led to the naming of the lake. So the story goes, the two men had decided to name the lake and elected to let the winner of a game of “seven up” select the name. Matt Heyden won, and the lake became Heyden’s Lake. The spelling changed throughout time, and it is now known as Hayden Lake.
At one time, as many as four steamboats served the logging and mining interests around the lake. Hunting and fishing were excellent and, at the turn of the century, attracted many people, including Presidents Taft and Teddy Roosevelt. Among celebrities, Bing Crosby chose to build his summer home on the northwest shore of Hayden Lake in the 1950s. Bing’s love for golf and fishing attracted him to the area. Golf, tennis, and all forms of water sports are included in the recreational opportunities offered at this beautiful setting. The area is sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of America.
Today, the lake is an ideal setting for several hundred homes. Housing surrounds the lake with a wide variety of architectural styles. Two public campgrounds are available on beautiful Hayden Lake within a few miles of State Highway 95. The nearest is Sportsmen’s Park, at the north end of the lake, and the other is Mokins Bay Campgrounds, on the east side of the lake. Hayden Lake has a public beach, known locally as Honeysuckle Beach, and is located at the southwest edge of the lake. It is the only public beach, boat launching ramp and picnic area on the lake.
1000 Northwest Blvd
Coeur d’Alene ID 83814
Destination Living Real Estate Group
In the CDA Visitor’s Center, Lower Level
105 N 1st Street Suite 200
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
