Priest Lake State Park lies just 30 miles from the Canadian Border, nestled deep below the crest of the Selkirk Mountains. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Northern Idaho and mile-high mountains, Priest Lake State Park sits along the eastern shores of Priest Lake, a 19-mile long, over 300 foot deep lake.
Visitors to the park will enjoy the dense forests of cedar, fir and tamarack and will be able to observe the park's year round inhabitants such as the whitetail deer, black bear, moose and bald eagles. Noted for its extremely clear water, fed by streams cascading from the high Selkirk peaks, the main body of Priest Lake extends north south for 19 miles. A two-mile thoroughfare connects the main lake to the remote Upper Priest Lake that is accessible only by foot, mountain bike, or boat.
The Park Today
July 12 Centennial Celebration in the park:
Priest Lake
• ACTIVITIES IN THE PARK: In the morning, Recreation Unlimited Programs will give their regular morning programs at both campgrounds. In the afternoon, they will lead guided walks ( Log Flume Trail @ Indian Creek, Nell Shipman Trail @ Lionhead), organize Volleyball tournaments at both Campgrounds, and have a Jr. Ranger program about park history. The US Army Corp of Engineers will visit with their Water Safety Mascot, Bucky Beaver. Park volunteers will be at the Plaza at Park Store doing face paintings and other activities for children.
• REFRESHMENTS IN THE PARK: Cake and huckleberry ice cream will be served at Park Headquarters in the afternoon.
• PROMOTIONS IN THE PARK: REI and local business will have handouts and raffle items.
• CONDITIONS IN THE PARK TODAY The lake is still a little high and the streams are running fast, but all campsites are dried out now. The weather is warming and summer is fast approaching. Recreate responsibly and have fun.
The park offers 151 campsites, 5 camping cabins, and a group camp.
Since the time of the original Indian settlers and the Jesuit Priests
of the 1800s, Priest Lake has offered a diversity of activities. Park
visitors can enjoy anything ranging from boating and fishing to
snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
Lying at about
2,400 feet above sea level, Priest Lake State Park has an abundance of
beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities. Visitors will enjoy
the dense cedar-hemlock forests and the wildlife, such as whitetail
deer, black bear, moose and bald eagles. The stately Selkirk Mountain
Range towers nearby and numerous streams tumble down the slopes.
Noted for its clear water, Priest Lake extends 19 miles and is
connected to the smaller Upper Priest Lake by a placid, two-mile-long
water thoroughfare.
Steeped in a history of Jesuit priests, Indian villages,
homesteaders and logging camps, Priest Lake offers park visitors great
diversity ranging from boating and fishing to snowmobiling and
cross-country skiing.
Summer visitors enjoy the large sandy beach along the lakefront.
Camping, fishing, boating, water-skiing, hiking and picnicking are some
of the more popular activities.
In the winter, Indian Creek Unit offers access to over 200 miles of
marked, groomed snowmobile trails and a myriad of cross-country skiing
opportunities.
Park Restrictions:
Pets are welcome in the park, however they must be on a leash and
attended at all times. Pets are not allowed on the beach areas.
FAQ's
- Where's a good place to fish?
- It depends on how you're
fishing: by boat on the lake, off the bank at the lake, or on a stream.
If by boat, are you capable of trolling deep or are you confined to
near the surface? Surface trolling "hot spots" on the east side are
along the east side of Cavanaugh Bay, and off the end of Pinto Point.
Bank fishing is best along the east side of Cavanaugh Bay, and where
the East Lakeshore Road runs beside the lake. Deep trolling off
Kalispell and Bartoo Islands seems to be the most popular. Most streams
are only open in July and August, but Soldier and Hunt Creeks are open
during the regular season.
- Where are some day hikes?
- To Hunt Lake, Standard Lakes, Lookout Mountain, Upper Lake. Ask rangers for directions
- Where are the huckleberries?
- They ripen at the lower
elevations usually starting in mid July. The Lion Creek drainage seems
to be consistently productive. Berries ripen there in later July-early
August. Later pickings are better up high.