Welcome to Clark Fork

The town of Clark Fork was named in honor of William Clark, who along with Meriwether Lewis, headed the expedition through the western American wilderness in 1804. The origins of an actual town date back to when the Northern Pacific Railway constructed a line adjacent to the Clark Fork River, near the eastern shore of Lake Pend Oreille in the early 1880s. By the 1890s a ferry boat service was used to cross the river or to travel as far as Heron, Montana, about 12 miles upriver. Clark Fork is located approximately 25 miles east of Sandpoint and is the first town you find after crossing into Idaho from Montana and is the port of entry to the gorgeous Pend Oreille Scenic Byway along Highway 200.  A small town with the population of 578 has always been a draw for people seeking the peace and quiet that mountain lifestyle has to offer. A large portion of the land is owned by the state and provide the perfect playground for outdoor recreation.  Clark Fork focuses on agriculture, forestry, small businesses and tourism.

The Clark Fork River provides made recreational activities and is the main tributary to Pend Oreille Lake. The gorgeous Clark Fork River Delta is known to have the largest wetland area in the Pend Oreille system. The river provides almost 80 percent of the water in Pend Oreille Lake. Since 1999 Avista has operated the Cabinet Gorge Dam and its sister dam, the Noxon Rapids Dam 10 miles upstream, together provide annual electricity to more than 200,000 households. Located near the Montana and Idaho state line, the overlook provides spectacular vistas of Cabinet Gorge Dam, the Clark Fork River, and surrounding landscape.  The river area with its surrounding mountains is home to a vast array of wildlife and the famous Big Horn Sheep.

The town offers recreational activities for people of all ages.  Start your journey and adventures by basking in the many camping areas and trails that provide access to the lakes, rivers and streams for fishing for an abundance of trout, thanks in part to Idaho Fish and Game.  Just to name a few of the recreational sites available are Antelope Lake, Big Eddy, Two Rivers, Pilgrims Creek, offering a host of attractions including camping, fishing, nature walks, swimming, boating, wildlife viewing, bird watching, snowmobiling, ATV access and much more. The area is virtually a wonderland of nature and activities.