Big Lakes in Idaho

Lake Pend Oreille at Farragut State Park

Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced: pond-o-ray) in northern Idaho was our first stop in the state.   With a length of 43 miles, Lake Pend Oreille is the largest Lake in Idaho and the fifth deepest in the United States at over 1,150 feet. The area around the lake is the traditional home of the Kalispell Indians.  It is believed that a Canadian fur trader gave the lake its name.  Pend Oreille means ear pendant in French and the Kalispell Indians were known for their ear ornaments.  But it is interesting that the lake when viewed from the air is shaped almost like a human ear. 

 

We camped at Farragut State Park at the southern end of the lake.  A beautiful state park now, it was a naval training base during WWII.  Because of the lake’s great depth it was perfect for testing submarines and sonar systems.

Grasslands near the lake shore, Lake Pend Oreille

 

Our time at Lake Pend Oreille was lovely and leisurely.  Two clear and cool days were perfect for hikes along the lake shore and afternoon naps.  Wandering between the lake and the surrounding forest, we scouted the cliffs for resident mountain goats.  We missed out on the mountain goats but ducks and white-tailed deer were so plentiful that we lost count.  We also saw several hawks and a bald eagle.

 

Payette Lake from Osprey Point, Ponderosa State Park

 

 
Next we traveled just a few miles farther south to Coeur d’Alene and stayed at a campground right on the lake.  At 25 miles long, Lake Coeur d’Alene is a good sized lake itself.  Much of the city surrounds the lake shore making for a very beautiful and livable place.  It is also a great city for birdwatchers.  The lake attracts abundant waterfowl and in summer bald eagles come to feed on the kokanee salmon.

Lily Marsh, Ponderosa State Park

 

While we were visiting Coeur d’Alene we also got our car serviced and then we headed about 200 miles south to McCall in west central Idaho.  Another ‘lake town,’ McCall is nestled on the south shore of Payette Lake.  Ponderosa State Park, a 1,000 acre peninsula that juts into Payette Lake, is just minutes from McCall.  The park’s namesake, the Ponderosa pine, is the dominant tree and there are many specimens near 150 feet tall!  During our two-day stay we hiked almost the whole peninsula.  From forested lakeside trails to steep cliffs to arid sagebrush flats to spongy marsh – the diverse topography within the park was amazing.

 

Payette Lake from the Peninsula Trail, Ponderosa State Park

Only one of the park’s four campgrounds was still open and it was closing on the first of October.  Fall and cold weather comes quicker up north and we have already had to rethink some of our travel ideas because of campground closures.  Our next destination is Stanley, Idaho, a very small town between the Sawtooth and Frank Church River of No Return Wildernesses.  We have checked and many campgrounds are closed but there are a few that will be open for another couple of weeks.  It is getting time for us to head south…

 

 

David's Stats:
Days Hiked   3 
Total Miles Hiked   16.51   
Ave. Miles per Day      5.50
Total Elevation Gain     1,665
Ave. Elevation Gain per day  555