Priest Lake State Park
Priest Lake State Park
PARK UPDATE
Important Notice: Indian Creek and Lionhead Campgrounds
Please be aware of the following seasonal changes and upcoming facility closures at Indian Creek and Lionhead campgrounds.
Water is OFF: Running water has been turned off for the season. Please bring plenty of your own water for drinking, cooking, and washing.
Dump Station Closing this week: The RV dump station is scheduled to close for the winter season sometime this week. Please plan your waste disposal accordingly.
Pack it in Pack it Out: Garbage collection services are no longer available. You must take all of your trash and waste with you when you leave. Thank you for helping us keep our campgrounds clean and beautiful!
Lionhead Group Camp
2027 Group Camp Lottery will be released to the public to reserve on Monday, June 15, 2026 at 8 am MT and closes on September 1, 2026.
Lionhead Group Camp can be viewed online under Priest Lake State Park, camping reservations page found here.
Roads and Trails
Per IDAPA 26.01.20 and Title 49 of Idaho Code, prohibits motorized toys-including go-karts, electric scooter, toy cars, hoverboards, electric skateboards, and mini-bikes – on all roadways, public lands, and nonmotorized trails.
Park Reservations
Additional Links
41°F
Contact the Park
Street Address:
Coolin, ID 83821
Mailing Address:
Phone:
Hours of Operation:
Upcoming Events
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, 300-foot-deep waterbody.
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.
- Hike
- Bike
- Bird Watch
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Nordic
- ADA Boat Ramp
- ADA Cabin
- ADA Campsite
- ADA Restroom
- ADA Trail
- Amphitheater
- Boat Ramp/Launch
- Boat Rental (Non-Motorized)
- Charcoal Grills
- Dump Station
- Electricity
- Fire Rings
- Firewood Sales
- Flush Toilets
- Full-service Park Store with Gasoline
- Indoor Restrooms
- Indoor Showers
- Kayak Rental
- Life Jacket Loaner Station
- Picnic Areas
- Swimming – Lake/River
- Vault Toilets
- Water – Drinking
- Water Fountains
General Accommodations
- Cabins
- Group Camp
- RV Campsites
- Tent Campsites
General Information
Cabins at Indian Creek
- 2 cabins sleep six (Grizzly Cabin allows pets)
- 3 cabins sleep five
- 1 cabin sleeps eight
- All cabins are equipped with electricity and heat, lockable windows and doors
- A restroom is centrally located
- Cabins are available year-round
- One additional tent camping spot included per cabin reservation, with the exception of Moose Cabin, no tents allowed at that cabin location
North Idaho Park n’ Ski
For up-to-date grooming and weather conditions in the Priest Lake area, visit: https://priestlake.org/activities/nordic-sports/
| Details | Hanna Flats Park N’ Ski |
|---|---|
| Location | 33 miles north of Priest River off State Highway 57 |
| Difficulty | Beginner – intermediate |
| Distance | 5 m/10 km of ski trails; 2.2 m/3.5 km snowshoe trails |
| Grooming | Yes – traditional kick and glide and snowshoe |
| Snowshoeing | Yes |
| Yurt | No |
| Backcountry ski potential | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Dogs | Yes |
| About | Nordic ski trails and snowshoe trails at Hanna Flats are relatively gentle in a meadow and forest setting on the west side of Priest Lake. The trail system is well-suited for snowshoers and track skiers. The adjoining airstrip is a great workout for skate skiing. Two short loops are available for skiers and several interlacing loops for snowshoers. The Hanna Grove Nature Trail, located a little more than a mile from the trailhead, is worth checking out to see some old growth cedar trees and read about an old wildfire. Backcountry skiers could climb adjacent mountains above the flats to crank out a few turns. |
| More Information | Priest Lake Nordic Club Facebook Page Priest Lake Ranger District- (208) 443-2512 |
| Maps | Hanna Flats Hanna Flats Location Map |
| Details | Priest Lake Golf Course Park N’ Ski |
|---|---|
| Location | 28 m N of Priest River on west side of Priest Lake off Hwy 57 |
| Difficulty | Beginner – intermediate |
| Distance | 9.1 m/14.6 km ski trails; 2.8 m/4.5 km snowshoe trails |
| Grooming | Yes – set track for traditional kick and glide |
| Snowshoeing | Yes |
| Yurt | No |
| Backcountry ski potential | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Dogs | Allowed |
| About | The Priest Lake Golf Course has the most extensive groomed Nordic trail system in the vicinity of Priest Lake. During the winter season, the area is blanketed with generous amounts of snow and the golf course is transformed into the Priest Lake Nordic Center. Hill’s Resort serves as the hub for the Golf Course Nordic system and also offers rental equipment. The trail system provides routes along the lakeside and also connects to the Hanna Flats trails to the north. The total of nearly 50 kilometers of groomed trails from beginning to intermediate level provide an ideal setting for family Nordic activities. Trails are groomed on a regular basis, conditions permitting, for traditional kick and glide skiers and skate skiers. The Nordic Park N’ Ski Trail area is open daily. |
| More Information | Hill’s Resort (208) 443-2551 Priest Lake Nordic Club Facebook Page |
| Maps | Priest Lake Golf Course Priest Lake Golf Course Location Map |
| Details | Priest Lake State Park |
|---|---|
| Location | 11 m N of Coolin, ID on east side of Priest Lake |
| Difficulty | Beginner – intermediate |
| Distance | 5.4 m/8.7 km ski trails; 1.5 m/2.4 km snowshoe trails |
| Grooming | Yes |
| Snowshoeing | Yes |
| Yurt | No but winter one- and two-room cabins are available for $45 per night |
| Backcountry ski potential | No |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Dogs | Yes on ungroomed trails only |
| About | Priest Lake State Park’s Indian Creek Unit provides a change of scenery immediately adjacent to the lake. A compact trail loop system circles the park’s visitor center area, and if that’s not enough of a workout, another loop system to the north provides more mileage and more challenging trails. There is a new viewpoint trail that affords nice views of the lake and surrounding mountains on a sunny day. The park’s visitor center and store are open on weekends for fresh coffee or hot chocolate. Snowshoes can also be rented at the vistor’s center. |
| More Information | Priest Lake State Park (208) 443-2200 |
| Maps | Priest Lake State Park Priest Lake State Park Location Map |
| Details | Chipmunk Rapids |
|---|---|
| Location | 22 miles north of Priest River, off State Hwy 57 |
| Difficulty | Beginner to more difficult |
| Distance | 10.4 miles |
| Grooming | Occasional, track set for traditional kick and glide skiers |
| Snowshoeing | Yes |
| Yurt | No |
| Backcountry ski potential | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Dogs | Yes |
| About | Chipmunk Rapids ski trails are a two-loop system of interconnecting roads. The trail head is near the Priest Lake Visitors Information Center at Dickensheet Junction. The groomed trails are called the Kaniksu Marsh Loop and the River View Loop. There are other ungroomed trails in the area which are sometimes skier track set. These trails are mainly flat and used by novice to advanced cross-country skiers. The trails offer spectacular views of Kaniksu Marsh, Priest River, and the Selkirk Mountains. This area is also frequently used by big game as a winter range area, so try to minimize your disturbance to the winterizing wildlife. |
| More Information | Priest Lake Nordic Club Facebook Page Priest Lake Ranger District- (208) 443-2512 |
| Maps | Chipmunk Rapids Area Map |
| Details | 4th of July Pass |
|---|---|
| Location | From Coeur d’Alene, travel East on Hwy I-90, approximately 23 miles, take exit 28 |
| Difficulty | Beginner – intermediate with a few expert pitches |
| Distance | 7.8 miles |
| Grooming | Yes, 10-foot skating lane with track set for traditional kick and glide |
| Snowshoeing | Yes |
| Yurt | No, but there is a warming hut |
| Backcountry ski potential | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Dogs | No |
| About | 4th of July Pass is a great place to ski or snowshoe because it starts from a high point afforded by the 4th of July Summit. Three loop trails wind through stately cedar, fir, and pine forests. The snowshoeing trails are almost as extensive as the groomed ski trails. Backcountry skiers can climb nearby mountains to carve turns. |
| More Information | Panhandle Nordic Club Facebook Page Couer d’Alene River Ranger District (208) 664-2318 |
| Maps | 4th of July Trail Map |