Coeur d’Alene

Coeur d’Alene, the Lake City, is the heart of the Panhandle—the hub of the varied activities and diverse communities that make up North Idaho. With a population of 37,262 (2003), Coeur d’Alene, the region’s largest city, is only thirty minutes from Spokane, Washington.

Those seeking water-related sports, a welcoming four-season lifestyle and many of the benefits of much larger communities have found what they’re seeking in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho’s “Lake City.” Coeur d’Alene perches at the north end of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Termed one of the world’s most beautiful lakes by the Encyclopedia Britannica, Lake Coeur d’Alene stretches 23 miles to the south. It is Idaho’s largest lake. With nearly 135 miles of shoreline, Lake Coeur d’Alene is home to a large variety of fish, most notable Chinook salmon and cutthroat trout. Other species include trout, crappie, perch, large-mouth bass, bullheads, blue gills, sunfish, channel catfish, northern pike and tiger muskies.

Not just a haven for fishermen, the lake is a site for a variety of water activities, including water skiing, windsurfing, jet skiing, parasailing, boat cruises, seaplane rides and more. Sea kayak on the lake or find whitewater rafting adventures within two hours of town.

In the past steamboats plied the lake and its tributary rivers, and photos of those old river cruisers can be seen in a visit to the Museum of North Idaho.

Coeur d’Alene was originally established as Fort Sherman at the headwaters of the Spokane River. That pioneer village became the city of Coeur d’Alene, and eventually the Kootenai County seat. Remains of the fort can now be seen on the grounds of the North Idaho College.