Priest Lakecould convince even the most cynical soul that there is a version of heaven on earth. “God’s country,” the natives around here call it. The mystical, undiscovered west endures with dignity and solace in northern Idaho. Rugged mountains rise like distant mirages from the lake’s shores, the changing sunlight lending them the ethereal quality of an impressionist painting.
Tucked away at the tip of Idaho’s panhandle in the Selkirk Mountains, 30 miles south of Canada and 85 miles north of Spokane, the Priest Lake area is home to about 650 permanent residents. In the summer months the lake region hosts several thousand more vacationers who fill the 1,500 cabins, eight public campgrounds and four major lakeside resorts. Yet even then, people are outnumbered by the area’s other inhabitants: white-tailed deer, black bears, blue heron, prize-winning mackinaw trout, a few moose, and woodland caribou and an occasional grizzly.
Priest Lake is a year-round family and adventure vacation destination, as well as an extraordinary place to boat, fish, camp, snowmobile, hunt, cross-country ski … the sky’s the limit! The area’s spectacular backdrop, coupled with myriad recreational opportunities, make Priest Lake an unforgettable experience. Considered by many as “Idaho’s Crown Jewel,” this northern lake area is natural wonderland – unspoiled, uncrowded and unhurried. Discover a magnificent 23,000-acre azure lake nestled beneath the majestic Selkirk Mountains that are one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the U.S. Priest Lake’s breathtaking scenery is limited only by the horizon. Explore to your heart’s content!