This Stunning Lakeside City In Idaho Has Gorgeous Mountain Views & Year-Round Recreation

With its perfect location — on the northern shore of the largest lake in Idaho and in between three mountain ranges — Sandpoint might just be the most breathtaking spot in the Gem State. It offers fun activities during each of the four seasons, making the small town an ideal year-round outdoor playground.

Home to fewer than 11,000 full-time residents, Sandpoint is located in the Idaho Panhandle, bordered by Montana to the east, Washington to the west, and the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. It is full of gorgeous mountains and lakes; the Selkirk Mountains, part of the Columbia Mountains that extend into Canada, tower above Sandpoint, as do the Cabinet and Bitterroot Mountains, both of which are part of the Rockies. The town also sits on Lake Pend Oreille, one of Northern Idaho's 140 lakes.

The easiest way to reach Sandpoint is, surprisingly, not from Boise. It's nearly an eight hour drive from the capital and largest city in Idaho, one of the most underrated food and wine destinations in all of America. It is a much quicker ride from Spokane, Washington; its Spokane International Airport (GEG) receives nonstop flights from many cities in the Western United States. From there, it's only an hour-and-a-half drive northeast, on major highways, across the Idaho border. The fastest route from Boise goes through Spokane anyway, so landing in Washington saves you hours of travel time.

Sandpoint is perched on the northern tip of Lake Pend Oreille. The glacier-carved lake is the biggest and deepest in the whole state. It is 1,158 feet deep, making it one of the deepest lakes in the country. It's also 43 miles long with 111 miles of shoreline, providing plenty of areas for water sports.

From the spring through the fall, life in Sandpoint largely revolves around the water. There are two public docks in the city — the Sandpoint and Windbag Marinas have boat slips for both powerboats and sailboats. Fishing charters, in search of rainbow trout, and scenic cruises depart from here. Sandpoint even has a beach: City Beach, a six-acre sandy spot where you can go swimming, jet skiing, and paddleboarding, if you can brave the chilly water. Kayakers and whitewater rafters can visit nearby rivers for more adrenaline-filled activities.

Even if you are not on the water, you can still enjoy the lake views. Easy hikes include the 3.4-mile Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail and the nearly four-mile Pine Street Woods Loop. The former is a waterfront trail that begins and ends at City Beach, while the latter is just as popular with mountain bikers. Coeur d'Alene, a lakeside mountain town in Idaho with scenic hikes and a floating green golf course, is only one hour to the south.

Though Sandpoint is a popular warm-weather destination due to Lake Pend Oreille, the city is also an underrated Pacific Northwest spot for fun winter adventures. Schweitzer Mountain Resort is the largest ski mountain in Idaho, receiving more than 230 inches of snow each winter on its 2,900 skiable acres. You can catch beautiful views of the lake as you ski or snowboard down the mountain. You can also go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snow tubing at Schweitzer.

The ski resort is not the only place to play in Sandpoint during the winter. Western Pleasure Guest Ranch offers horse-drawn sleigh and wagon rides which follow a two-mile loop through the foothills of the Cabinet Mountains once the snow starts to fall. The Long Bridge, which connects Sandpoint with Lignite to the south, is a popular spot to go ice fishing. With some luck, you can catch a basket full of perch. The Pine Street Woods, where you can go hiking and biking the rest of the year, has a steep hill for sledding. Sandpoint is, indeed, a winter wonderland — but fortunately, you don't have to pick your favorite time of year in the area. With a stunning lake, gorgeous mountain views, and endless outdoorsy activities, the decision would just be too difficult. It looks like you've just discovered the best vacation spot in Idaho!