The United States has some of the best lakes in Idaho. There are more than 2,000 lakes in the state. Some top lakes are at high elevations with snow and some are at low elevations, you can go through this article for the Top 11 best lakes in Idaho and select the most appropriate place to do lake vacations.
1. Lake Pend Oreille
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Lake Pend Oreille is Idaho’s largest lake, it is surrounded by national forests making it extremely picturesque, the 38,000-hectare lake also happens to be the fifth deepest lake in the country boasting clean water and magnificent scenery.
Lake Pend Oreille was formed during the ice age and resembles the shape of an ear which can be seen from the Pandora scenic byway and state highway 200. Nearly all of its 178-kilometer shoreline is made up of mountains.
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2. Lake Kurt d’Alene
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The north end of this natural lake is in the city of Coeur d’Alene, the city and the lake are named after the Coeur d’Alene people, the 40-kilometer-long lake stretches across two counties in northern Idaho, and features 175 kilometers of shoreline, the lake formed by the Missoula floods over twelve thousand years ago and the Ker de lane and The Saint Joe feed today.
3. Redfish Lake
Redfish Lake is one of the best Lakes In Idaho, it has an elevation of 1996 meters and is one of the most beautiful lakes in Idaho, the lake sits at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains, in the Sawtooth National Recreation area, redfish lake gets its name from the brilliant sockeye salmon that used to swim around it.
4. Bear Lake
This natural freshwater lake sits at the Idaho-Utah border and is equally split between the two states, the Magnificent Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge is on the Idaho side, home to sandhill cranes white, faces, ibis, swans, geese, moose, mule, deer, and muskrats. Bear Lake is famous for its spectacular turquoise color giving it the nickname the Caribbean of the Rockies.
5. Priest Lake
This stunning lake is located in the northernmost part of the Idaho panhandle and extends for 31 kilometers the 11,000 hectares, it is separated into two areas Lower Priest and Upper Priest with the former being the primary lake.
Priest Lake dates back to the last ice age nearly 10,000 years ago since then it has played an important role in the logging industry as well as being a popular destination.
6. Lake Cascade
Lake Cascade is a playground for nature lovers, especially anglers, it is a perfect fishing spot for fish lovers because it is full of small-mouth bass trout Cocaine salmon, and coho salmon, the 12,200-hectare lake is home to the Lake Cascade State Park has almost 2,000 campsites, it also offers bird watching, hiking, skiing, and snowmobiling.
7. Stanley Lake
This beautiful alpine lake can be found at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains, just Northwest of Redfish Lake, it is located within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, at 1985 meters above sea level, there are three separate camping grounds surrounding the lake, they all have a day-use area hiking trails, and a boat launch, they also feature a swimming area and picnic areas, while offering canoeing and boating in the lake.
8. Henrys Lake
This stunning mountainous lake sits at an elevation of 1973 meters above sea level, Henry’s Lake is located on the southwest side of Henry’s Lake Mountains in The Cariboutarki National Forest. It is not a large lake being 2100 hectares, but it is extremely picturesque thanks to its surroundings and its colors, in addition to the mountains the lake’s Shoreline is also home to the Henrys Lake State Park, and from the park while the continental divide trail skirts the north end of it.
9. Sawtooth Lake
Sawtooth Lake sits in the Sawtooth Mountains at an elevation of 2571 meters, the lake is accessible via the Iron Creek trailhead and campground which is an eight-kilometer hike.
The Alpine Lake remains frozen right into July thanks to its high elevation, this means that it only offers a little in terms of recreational activities other than hiking and camping.
10. Alice Lake
This is the largest lake in the Sawtooth Wilderness, which is a federally protected wilderness area, within sawtooth mountains Alpine Lake sits at an elevation of 2622 meters above sea level, Alice Lake’s surroundings make it exceptionally beautiful and serene, attracting photographers of all levels from all over the globe. This makes up for the lake’s lack of water activities which is because it often stays frozen well into the summer.
11. Warm Lake
The beautiful warm lake is located 26 Mi west of Cascade Idaho and is a 640-acre with several campgrounds in the area along with dispersed camping sites. One of the best drives is to drive the sty Meadows Road to the Seon viewing area located just off the service road.
During July and August, shank salmon can be seen actively spawning or waiting to spawn in this area, for best viewing, move slowly to stay concealed on the boardwalk and wear polarized sunglasses to see under the water further, down the stolen Meadows Road is a forest service cabin that is available for rent.
There are so many things to do in the warm lake area including camping riding, hiking, water sports, Hot Springs Fishing, and More. The area includes Wildlife such as moose, deer, bear, elk, Fox, and wolves, and one of the best things about the area is the wildflowers.
Final Thoughts
Idaho is a beautiful state full of natural scenic views, its state parks and lakes are the perfect place to take in all its beauty. We have shared in this article our favorite 11 Best Lakes In Idaho For Summer Vacation, including Lake Pend Oreille, Lake Kurt d’Alene, Redfish Lake, Warm Lake, Bear Lake, Priest Lake, Stanley Lake, Sawtooth Lake, and Alice Lake.
All these lakes are beautiful and have breathtaking views, you can visit any of these lakes in summer and spend quality family time.
