Photo by George Perks

BIKE TOURS

Long Bridge: Sandpoint has long enjoyed the Long Bridge as a bike path; it’s a 2-mile long, flat ride that starts downtown behind the Old Power House. The path extends south four miles to Sagle, creating an easy, rolling scenic ride through the countryside along Highway 95
Dover bike path: There’s a second bicycle path, beginning at Larch and Fifth in Sandpoint and heading about two miles west to Dover, built upon an abandoned railroad track. A route has also been extended from that path’s terminus at Larch to Boyer, then west about .5 mile to E. Mountain View Drive and then down to Sand Creek, where riders can cross the Popsicle Bridge over Sand Creek.
Sand Creek: This bike path follows the Sand Creek Byway, and is accessed near the overpass to Sandpoint City Beach.

BREWERY TOURS

Laughing Dog Brewing Co. opened in 2005 and brews several styles of beer in Ponderay. Tours and tastings, plus a gift shop are open daily, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Located off Highway 95 at 805 Schweitzer Plaza Drive in Ponderay, north of the Bonner Mall. 208-263-9222. Also see brewing in action at MickDuff's Beer Hall, 220 Cedar St. Schedule a tour in advance at 208-209-6700. Two more brewpubs new to the Sandpoint downtown where beers are brewed onsite are Utara Brewing Company, 214 Pine Street; and Matchwood Brewing, 513 Oak Street.

 

DRIVING TOURS

Highway 2/41 Pend Oreille River Scenic Route, west on Highway 2 from Sandpoint through historic Priest River and Newport/Oldtown; then south on Highway 41 through the Blanchard Valley all the way to the Spokane River.
Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway, 48 miles on Highway 95 from Sandpoint north following Kootenai Tribe’s historic path on the east side of Selkirk Mountains all the way to Canada. Available at the Greater Sandpoint Chamber Visitor Center.
Selkirk Loop is a 280-mile drive through the majestic Selkirks of Idaho, Washington and British Columbia, Canada. More than 55 lakes, including Lake Pend Oreille, on the tour. SelkirkLoop.org; 888-823-2626.
Pend Oreille National Scenic Byway, 33.4 miles of spectacular water views on Highway 200, meandering east to the Montana state line along the rocky shores of Lake Pend Oreille.

DAM TOURS

Mighty Lake Pend Oreille is a natural lake - one of the deepest in the country - but there are dams at both the inlet and outflow of the lake. The Albeni Falls Dam at the downstream end offers four daily tours free for the public from Memorial Day through Labor Day, on the Pend Oreille River on Highway 2 just west of Priest River. 208-437-3133 or check the Albeni Falls Dam Facebook page. At the other end, about six miles upstream of the lake, the Cabinet Gorge Dam on the Clark Fork River, just past the town of the same name, doesn't offer tours but does have a public overlook of the dam that affords impressive views, especially in springtime when additional water is being released over the dam.

FARMERS MARKET

From May to October, the Sandpoint Farmers Market holds an open-air market of fresh produce, garden starts, handcrafts, flowers, live music and food at Farmin Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. 208-265-5250.

HEALTH CLUBS

Crossfit Sandpoint, 215 S. Olive St., is the only crossfit gym in Sandpoint with personal training, crossfit classes and much more.

Litehouse YMCA, 1905 W. Pine St, has all the trimmings: 25-meter indoor pool, outdoor recreation area, racquetball, wallyball, basketball, weight training, stair machine, bikes and rowing machines, treadmill, aerobics, sauna and spa. Daily rates available. 208-263-6633.

Natural Fitness has two locations in the area, one in Sandpoint at 1103 Superior St., and one in Ponderay at 400 Schweitzer Palza, STE 6. Both Facilities offer a complete line of cardiovascular, weight and circuit machines. 208-263-0676, 208-255-2299.

The Shed, 1223 Michigan St., is a group personal training gym that creates personalized work outs for their clients.

7B Fitness, 606 N. 5th Ave., is a 24/7 gym with a complete set of weight equipment and classes such as Zumba, yoga, spin, etc. are offered as well.

HORSEBACK RIDING

Photo by Janice Schoonover

There are numerous good places to ride your own trail horse; following are some hosted riding possibilities.

- Closest to Sandpoint, Mountain Horse Adventures treats riders to leisurely horseback tours through rich mountain forests and alpine meadows on Schweitzer’s trail system, 11 miles from downtown; 208-263-TROT or 800-831-8810.

- The 960-acre Western Pleasure Guest Ranch is 16 miles northeast of Sandpoint with lots of trails on the ranch and adjacent national forest. Western Pleasure also has lodging in log cabins, or in the ranch's impressive master lodge. 208-263-9066.

- The Diamond T Guest Ranch right alongside the Clark Fork River east of Clark Fork, has lots of riding trails on its 132 acres of forest and meadows; horse rentals are offered nearby, but inquire first. Lodging on the ranch is available in six log cabins. 208-266-0490.

LAKE BOATING AND CRUISES

Lake Pend Oreille is 43 miles long, with a whopping 111 miles of shoreline. The best way to see the lake is to get on the lake. A number of options are possible. If you don't have your own watercraft, many businesses rent numerous kinds of boats. See the listings for rental places in the Sandpoint Online Lake Guide. If you would like to be part of a tour, consider Lake Pend Oreille Cruises' beautiful, old-style vessel, the Shawnodese, a 40-foot lake tug hand built by Captain Curtis Pearson. Daily cruises in the summer depart from the Sandpoint City Beach Dock, and in the spring and fall from Kramer Marina in Hope. A number of special public cruises are scheduled as well. Follow the link for a look, or call 208-255-LAKE or 1-888-SANDPOINT.

MUSEUMS AND RAILROADING

Sandpoint is one of the West's greatest railroading towns, where the Burlington Northern, Montana Rail Link and Spokane International rail systems all converge to create "The Funnel," an amazingly active rail crossroads with more than 40 trains a day traveling through. Rail buffs come from around the world to see the many trains traveling through. For the brochure, "A Railfan's Guide to Sandpoint Idaho," contact the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce.
- Bonner County History Museum. Located in Sandpoint’s Lakeview Park at 611 S. Ella, the museum’s well-crafted displays capture Bonner County’s vibrant history and culture. See exhibits that give an historical snapshot dating back to the ice age floods, the early days of the Kalispel and Kootenai people, the fur trade, steamboat era, log drives and stump ranches. Visitors will learn how Sandpoint grew from a few shacks along the railroad to the resort town we know today, and the early beginnings of the small logging, mining, agriculture and railroad communities that dot the roadways in Bonner County. Outdoors, take a casual stroll through the arboretum located adjacent to the museum and the historic log cabin. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month (free admission this day only). Weekday admission is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children ages 6-18, and free to members of the museum and children under age 6. 208-263-2344.

WATERLIFE DISCOVERY CENTER

The fascinating natural history of our fishes and riparian habitats is the story that the WaterLife Discovery Center tells. Located on the shores of the Pend Oreille River just a few miles from Sandpoint, this self-guided educational center combines a fish hatchery, nature trails, overlook bridges, wildlife watching areas, interpretive signs, and underwater viewing opportunities along a stream and a pond. The property consists of 3.5 acres of developed interpretive exhibits and a 6.5-acre forested wetland with trails and interpretive signs. The center is provided by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, with docent volunteers from the Pend Oreille Master Naturalist Chapter. Visit it at 1591 Lakeshore Drive in Sagle; phone 208-769-1414.

IDAHO STATE PARKS

Round Lake State Park is a fine little state park about 10 miles south of Sandpoint that remains open year-round for camping, hiking, great fishing for perch and trout, swimming and more. Come winter, it's one of the best recreation areas around, with ice fishing, skating, sledding, cross-country skiing and (on many weekends) a toasty bonfire to warm up at. 208-263-3489.
- At the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille, Farragut State Park is one of the crown jewels of the Idaho state parks system. Once a World War II-era naval training station, this 4,000-acre park now provides camping opportunities with 223 individual sites, 10 camping cabins, and seven group camps. Farragut offers dramatic scenery, history and an abundance of recreational opportunities, including disc golf, a radio-controlled airplane field, fishing, hiking, biking, equestrian facilities and the Museum at the Brig, which details Farragut's important role training tens of thousands of sailors during World War II.

SAILING

Our magnificent Lake Pend Oreille is ideal for sailing. To learn more, see the sailing page in our Lake Guide.

SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING

Ranked nationally in the top 32 resorts by both Ski and Snow Country magazines, Schweitzer is an award-winning mountain resort with the best skiing, snowboarding and views in the Inland Northwest. Come stay at the luxurious Selkirk Lodge with its outdoor pool and spa. Ride 2,900 acres of terrain, from the heart-stoppingly wild trails to those more approachable by beginners. And enjoy a mountain of summer activities, including hiking, mountain biking, huckleberry picking, disc golf, a climbing wall and bungee jump trampoline. Horseback rides and snowmobile and backcountry ski tours are also offered through Mountain Horse Adventures and Selkirk Powder Company. For winter or summer, come experience the beauty of North Idaho's premier alpine resort! 208-263-9555 or 800-831-8810.

SILVERWOOD THEME PARK

The Northwest's largest theme park, located 25 miles south of Sandpoint on Highway 95, Silverwood Theme Park includes admission to Boulder Beach Water Park, so visitors get two parks for the price of one during Boulder Beach operating season. The park features Tremors, a 60-mile-per-hour underground roller coaster, plus Timber Terror and the Corkscrew. Ride a vintage steam train, challenge a gigantic wave pool and monster waterslides, or enjoy live entertainment. Silverwood has more than 80 rides, shows and attractions. 208-683-3400.

TENNIS

Travers Park, 1900 block of West Pine Street about a dozen blocks from downtown, has four public tennis courts, and host most of the formal tennis action in town. Public tennis courts are available outdoors at Sandpoint City Beach, where the lake is but a few steps away for a refreshing post-game swim, and Lakeview Park on Ontario Street next to War Memorial Field.

WALKING JAUNTS

The Pedestrian Long Bridge is perfect for a walk or bike ride; reach the bridge via the bike path on the south edge of the city limits. You can always expect dazzling views of the lake and Selkirk Mountains. Other possibilities are Travers Park on the 1900 block of West Pine Street, and City Beach downtown, where the city keeps bike paths open for walking and bicycling. The paved path to Dover along Highway 2 is another fine path for bicyclists or walkers. For a bit more adventure along the lake side right from downtown, follow the rough road on the north side of the City Breakwater, which leads past the city water treatment plant on north and east two miles to Ponderay. This road is only an unmaintained track, but offers solitude along the lake. For more ambitious endeavors, consider a dayhike to Mickinnick or Gold Hill - visit the Hiking and Mountain Biking Trails page for details.

WILDLIFE REFUGE

With more than 2,000 acres, the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, 30 miles north of Sandpoint near Bonners Ferry, has plenty of habitat for an abundance of wildlife. The refuge has developed hiking trails and blinds where waterfowl can be viewed, but one of the best things to do there is take the auto tour through the ponds. Stay in your car and the waterfowl won’t take alarm, so the viewing is excellent. In autumn, the refuge plays host to literally tens of thousands of ducks, geese and swans migrating down the Pacific Flyway. Some hearty waterfowl winter over. Summer residents include bald eagles, rough-legged hawks, herons, geese and ducks. With luck, you may spot elk, deer, moose or bear. Auto tour routes are open daily except for the hunting season in October-November. A trail near the office and an area on the auto route are handicapped-accessible. There’s also a nice short hike to a scenic falls on Myrtle Creek. 208-267-3888.

WINERY TOURS

Pend d'Oreille Winery, Idaho's 2003 Winery of the Year and 2005 SBA Small Business of the Year, has award-winning wines and unique gifts for home and garden. The wine bar features live music on Fridays and Saturdays, while wine tasting, wine sales and tours of the winery and gift shop are open daily. Located at 301 Cedar St. in downtown Sandpoint. 208-265-8545.