Priest Lake is a clear, deep lake of about 23,000 acres in Bonner County, in the northern Idaho Panhandle. Priest Lake State Park is about 30 miles from the Canadian border, and the north end of the lake is closer. It is about 19 miles long, with nearly 80 miles of shoreline, seven islands and a narrow channel called the Thorofare that leads to a second, roadless lake. It is known for lake trout, huckleberries, family resorts that have run for generations, and a winter season of snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
In this guide
- Where Is Priest Lake?
- What Is Priest Lake Known For?
- Priest Lake at a Glance
- History of Priest Lake
- Priest Lake Boating Guide
- Priest Lake Fishing Guide
- Best Things to Do at Priest Lake
- Priest Lake in Winter
- Best Places to Visit Around Priest Lake
- Priest Lake Towns and Communities
- Priest Lake Vacation Guide
- Priest Lake Family Activities
- What Should You Bring to Priest Lake?
- Local Knowledge: Fires, Huckleberries and the Upper Lake
- Questions People Ask About Priest Lake
- Priest Lake Gifts & Apparel
Where Is Priest Lake?
Priest Lake is in the far north of Idaho's Panhandle. Idaho Parks and Recreation (IDPR) says Priest Lake State Park lies just 30 miles from the Canadian border, 62 miles northwest of Sandpoint and 92 miles north of Spokane, Washington. The Selkirk Mountains rise to the east, and state and national forest land surrounds the lake, according to Visit North Idaho.
Two roads reach the shoreline. Highway 57 climbs the west side from the town of Priest River, and the east side is reached through Coolin at the south end. The west side has Hill's Resort, Elkins Resort, Nordman and the Forest Service campgrounds, and the east side has Priest Lake State Park and Cavanaugh Bay. Check which shore a resort, ramp or campground is on before you book, because driving from one side to the other takes time.
What Is Priest Lake Known For?
Priest Lake is known for its clear water, its size and how undeveloped much of it is.
- The least developed of North Idaho's big lakes. Visit North Idaho calls it "the least developed and most pristine" of the region's three major lakes.
- Lake trout. Idaho Fish and Game's record list shows a 57.5 pound lake trout, the Mackinaw record, caught at Priest Lake in 1971.
- The Thorofare and Upper Priest Lake. A channel of about 2 miles, with a no wake rule, connects the main lake to Upper Priest Lake, which has no road access.
- Seven islands. The Forest Service says Kalispell Island is the largest, at 264 acres, with a 2.5 mile loop trail and boat-in campsites.
- Huckleberries. Wikipedia says the area is known for them, and the lake's resorts and gift shops show it.
- Family resorts with long histories. Hill's Resort says it was founded in 1946, and Elkins Resort says it has been a family tradition since 1932.
- Snow sports. The chamber describes a groomed snowmobile trail system of more than 400 miles around the lake.
Priest Lake at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Natural lake with a small outlet dam |
| Location | Bonner County, Idaho Panhandle |
| Surface area | About 23,000 acres, per Idaho Fish and Game (23,334.9 acres; the Forest Service says 25,000 and Wikipedia says 26,000) |
| Length | About 19 miles, per IDPR and Idaho Fish and Game |
| Width | About 4 miles, per Idaho Fish and Game |
| Shoreline | Nearly 80 miles, per Visit North Idaho |
| Depth | More than 300 feet, per IDPR and the Idaho Department of Water Resources (Wikipedia gives 369 feet) |
| Elevation | About 2,400 feet, per the Forest Service |
| Islands | Seven, the largest being Kalispell Island at 264 acres |
| Upper Priest Lake | About 1,340 acres, reached by the Thorofare, a channel of about 2 miles per IDPR |
| Outlet dam | Current dam built in 1978 or 1979, depending on the IDWR page, and owned by the State of Idaho; an earlier dam dates to 1950 |
| Main activities | Boating, fishing, swimming, camping, hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing |
Figures are as published by Idaho Fish and Game, IDPR, the Idaho Department of Water Resources, Visit North Idaho and Wikipedia, and checked October 2026. Sources use different measuring methods, so the numbers vary.
History of Priest Lake
Ice, trappers and a name that changed
Wikipedia dates the lake's history to the end of the last ice age, almost 10,000 years ago, when glaciers receded from the area. It says fur trappers traded with the Kalispel tribe in the early 1800s, and that the Jesuit priest Pierre-Jean De Smet mapped the lake from tribal information and named it Roothaan Lake after a superior in Rome. Wikipedia adds that the lake was later renamed Kaniksu by Army Captain John Mullan, who had orders to build the road later known as the Mullan Road, and that it eventually became Priest Lake.
Logging, the forest and the state
Wikipedia reports that logging began in the 1890s, with logs floated down the lake and out the Priest River. The Priest River Forest Reserve was created in 1897 and later became part of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Idaho received title to the national forest's eastside land in 1917, and in 1950 that land became the Priest Lake State Forest, according to the same source.
Fire and the resorts
A 2015 Washington State University Press release about the book Wild Place: A History of Priest Lake, Idaho says that in 1926 fires threatened the lake, that vacationing families buried valuables in the sand and fled to an island, and that the season's fires were devastating. The Historic Northern Hotel says its log hotel in Coolin was built in 1900 by a Great Northern Railroad employee. The Idaho Heritage Trust says the Priest Lake Museum building, known locally as the Luby Bay Cabin, was built of western larch logs by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935.
The outlet dam
The Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) says the original outlet dam was built in 1950 and the current dam in 1978, and another IDWR page says a replacement dam was completed in 1979. The dam is about 12 feet high and has gates that regulate the discharge. The Idaho Water Resource Board owns it, and IDWR operates it.
Priest Lake Boating Guide
Priest Lake is a long, cold, deep lake with public launches on both shores, resort marinas, a no wake channel to Upper Priest Lake and a water level that the State of Idaho manages through a small dam. Boaters need to know where the launches are, how the Thorofare works, which Idaho and Bonner County rules apply, and what the fall drawdown does. This section covers each one.
Boat launches and public access
Visit North Idaho says more than a dozen boat launches ring the lake. Bonner County's waterways page lists these Priest Lake launches. We did not find launch fees on that page, so ask the operator before you go.
| Launch | Listed by the county as | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coolin Launch | County-maintained | County launch at the south end |
| Slee Street launch | County-maintained | County launch, listed as "Slee street" |
| Beaver Creek Launch | Public launch list | Northwest shore, near the Thorofare; the page does not say who maintains it |
| North Tule Bay Boat Launch | Public launch list | The page does not say who maintains it |
| Lionhead Boat Launch | Private marina and fee launch list | Lionhead unit of Priest Lake State Park, north end of the east shore |
| Indian Creek Marina boat launches | Private marina and fee launch list | Indian Creek area, mid-lake on the east shore |
| Kalispell Bay Boat Launch | Private marina and fee launch list | West shore |
| Hill's Resort Boat Launch | Private marina and fee launch list | West shore |
| Elkins Resort | Private marina and fee launch list | West shore, Reeder Bay |
| Granite Creek Marina, Grandview Resort, Kaniksu Resort, Priest Lake Marina | Private marina and fee launch list | Private marina launches |
The county says the launches it maintains (Coolin and Slee Street on Priest Lake) are day use only, with no camping and no overnight parking. Idaho State Parks says its Passport, sold to Idaho residents, covers boat launch fees at Idaho state parks. Launches that belong to private resorts set their own fees and hours.
Marinas and rentals
Resorts run most of the rental fleet, and each posts its own rates, so this guide does not copy prices. As of October 2026:
| Business | Where | What it offers | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkins Resort on Priest Lake | 404 Elkins Road, Nordman | Runabouts, pontoons, a fishing boat, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, with a boat slip included. Its FAQ gives a minimum age of 25 with a valid driver's license for motorized boats | (208) 443-2432 |
| Priest Lake State Park | Indian Creek and Lionhead units, east shore | Canoe and kayak rentals and a life jacket loaner station | (208) 443-2200 |
| Hill's Resort | 4777 W Lakeshore Rd, Priest Lake | Paddleboards, kayaks and canoes, plus a marina with covered slips | (208) 443-2551 |
| The Narrows Marina & Resort | 604 JimLow Road, Nordman | A seasonal 50 slip marina, a boat launch, a beach and a pontoon rental. Its pontoon page was last changed in 2024, so call to confirm | 509-993-8286 |
Elkins posted its 2026 boat rental season as running until late September. The chamber also lists Priest Lake Marina at Kalispell Bay and Crown Jewel Rentals at Coolin as rental operators, but we could not open or confirm their own sites, so call before you plan around them.
Popular areas and navigation
The west shore has the most resorts and the busiest water, with Reeder Bay and Luby Bay at mid-lake. Cavanaugh Bay on the southeast side is a quieter base with a restaurant that has its own boat slips. The state park's Indian Creek and Lionhead units sit on the east shore, and Beaver Creek and the Thorofare are at the north end.
The Thorofare is a narrow, forest-lined channel. IDPR calls it a two mile thoroughfare, while the Forest Service gives 2.5 and 3.5 miles on different pages, so the figure depends on where you measure from. Visit North Idaho says no wake rules apply there, and a 2012 Idaho Statesman account on the East Oregonian site says it is open to motorized boats but restricted to a no wake zone. IDWR adds that a 1,400 foot timber breakwater at the north end manages sediment from the upper lake. We did not find a published hazard list for the lake, so use a current chart or navigation app.
Water level and how to check it
The State of Idaho manages the level of Priest Lake with its outlet dam. IDWR says Idaho Code 70-507 holds the summer level at 3.0 feet on the USGS gauge at the outlet in wet to normal years, and between 3.0 and 3.5 feet in dry and marginally dry years. IDWR notices describe a fall drawdown that has started around October 1 in recent years and lowers the lake to a winter level near half a foot on the gauge, and a spring refill that targets summer levels by late May. The Bonner County Daily Bee reported in 2025 that drawdown has traditionally begun on the first Sunday in October.
Check the live level before you go. The box below shows the latest reading from the U.S. Geological Survey gauge at the outlet.
Lake level today: Check today's level on the Idaho Department of Water Resources Priest Lake page.
Swimming areas and no-wake zones
Bonner County sets its no wake zone at 200 feet from the shoreline or a structure on county waters. The Thorofare is a no wake channel, per Visit North Idaho. A 2016 Bonner County Daily Bee report on the county's public waters ordinance said that water skiing, wakeboarding and wake surfing are against the law on Upper Priest Lake, so check the county code before you tow anyone there.
The park's Lionhead unit has sandy beaches that paddlers use as a launch for the Thorofare, according to a 2012 Idaho Statesman account. We did not find a lifeguard program or a weekly water testing program for Priest Lake in the agency pages we read, so swim with the same care you would use on any cold, deep lake.
Boating rules
These are the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) rules most visitors need, as published on the IDPR boating page and read in October 2026:
- Boater education (Boat Idaho Handbook): Idaho has no statewide boater education requirement for all operators, but a course is encouraged. Education is required for anyone convicted of boating under the influence, for repeat offenders of any boating law, and for personal watercraft rental customers, whose rental business must educate each rider.
- Age to operate (Bonner County waterways page): Idaho has no statewide minimum age to operate a boat, but some counties do. In Bonner County, a child under 10 may not operate a motor-driven watercraft, including a personal watercraft, without direct adult supervision, and IDPR lists a limit of 10 horsepower for ages 10 to 14.
- Life jackets (Boat Idaho Handbook): Every person aboard needs a properly fitting, Coast Guard approved life jacket that is readily accessible, and boats 16 feet or longer (except canoes and kayaks) must also carry a throwable device. Children 14 and younger must wear a life jacket whenever a boat 19 feet or shorter is underway. Everyone on a personal watercraft or being towed must wear one.
- Boating under the influence (Boat Idaho Handbook): It is illegal to operate or be in actual physical control of a boat while under the influence. The limit is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% for adults and 0.02% for operators under 21. A conviction can bring a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, a required boating course and loss of boating privileges for up to two years.
- Slow, no wake speed (Bonner County waterways page): Statewide, stay at no wake speed (the slowest speed that still allows steering, not above 5 miles per hour) within 100 feet of a dock, a swimmer, a person in the water or a diver down flag. Bonner County sets its no wake zone at 200 feet from the shoreline or a structure, defined as no more than 5 miles per hour and no more than a 6 inch wake.
- Towing and wake surfing (Boat Idaho Handbook): A competent observer besides the operator must watch anyone being towed, and the observer must display a red or orange skier down flag at least 12 by 12 inches when a skier is in the water. Towing is illegal from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. When wake surfing, stay more than 200 feet from docks and shorelines.
- Renting (Boat Idaho Handbook): A personal watercraft rental business must educate each rider and operator, and operators must carry a verification wallet card. Each rental business sets its own other rules, such as a minimum age, so ask before you book.
- Registration and invasive species sticker (IDPR boating FAQs): Any boat with a motor, including an electric trolling motor, must be registered, with the number and validation stickers displayed. Boats registered in another state are exempt for 60 or fewer consecutive days. Every motorized or non-motorized boat in Idaho must also display an Invasive Species Fund sticker. Idaho-registered motorboats have it included in registration, a sticker for an out-of-state motorized boat costs $30, and a sticker for a non-motorized boat costs $7. Only a non-motorized inflatable boat under 10 feet is exempt.
- Marine toilets (sewage) (Boat Idaho Handbook): A toilet is not required on a boat, but if one is installed, federal law requires a working Coast Guard certified marine sanitation device, and waste from a holding tank or portable toilet must be taken ashore.
More on Priest Lake
- Invasive species stations. Bonner County says any vessel that floats must stop at its inspection stations, which are at Albeni Falls, the old Samuels weigh station and Clark Fork, and it asks boaters to clean, drain and dry their boats. Those stations are not on Priest Lake, so plan the stop on your route. Wikipedia reports that Eurasian watermilfoil was found in Priest Lake in 2006.
- Mooring buoys. The county says its mooring buoys are used at your own risk, with a 14 day limit.
- Speed limit. Where speed is not otherwise regulated, the county says it should be reasonable and not above 50 miles per hour on Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake.
- Federally controlled waters. IDPR lists Priest Lake among Idaho's federally controlled waters for marine event permits.
Seasons and kinds of boating
Most boating is runabouts, pontoons, ski and wake boats, fishing boats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Rentals run in summer, and the busy months are July and August, according to a 2012 Idaho Statesman account. The lake is also open to anglers all year, and in winter the activity moves to snowmobiles, skis and ice fishing at Cavanaugh Bay.
Priest Lake Fishing Guide
Priest Lake is a cold, deep lake best known for lake trout, with kokanee, cutthroat trout, smallmouth bass and yellow perch as well. This section covers what lives in the lake, where people fish, the rules, and what to know before eating your catch.
Fish species and seasons
Idaho Fish and Game lists kokanee, lake trout, cutthroat trout, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill or pumpkinseed sunfish as the lake's recommended game fish. Its most recent survey list also includes bull trout, mountain whitefish, rainbow trout, brook trout, black bullhead and tench. The stocking records shown on its planner page end in 1991.
Idaho Fish and Game also says in an article on Idaho's great lakes that anglers can routinely catch a bag limit of six lake trout that usually run 16 to 22 inches, and that the lake's abundant lake trout have taken a toll on the kokanee. Idaho Fish and Game's record list shows a 57.5 pound lake trout caught by Lyle McClure at Priest Lake in 1971. Wikipedia gives the weight as 57 pounds 8 ounces.
Where and how people fish
Anglers fish from boats on the main lake and from shore near the resorts and state park. Visit North Idaho lists ice fishing at Cavanaugh Bay in winter, cutthroat fishing in alpine lakes and brook trout in basin streams. Upper Priest Lake has its own trout rule, shown below. We did not find an agency spot list for Priest Lake, so ask at a resort or hire a guide for current patterns.
Regulations and licenses
Check the current Idaho Fish and Game seasons and rules before you fish, and read the entry for the water you will fish, because the Panhandle Region and each lake have their own limits. The limits below come from the 2025 to 2027 rules shown on the Idaho Fish and Game fishing planner pages for Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake:
- License (IDFG resident license fees): Anyone 14 or older needs an Idaho fishing license. As of October 2026, IDFG lists an adult resident annual fishing license at $30.50 and an adult nonresident annual license at $108.00, and daily licenses start at $13.50 for a resident and $22.75 for a nonresident. IDFG adds an access and depredation fee to annual licenses, so confirm the total at checkout.
- Trout (IDFG Priest Lake fishing planner): On Priest Lake the daily trout limit is 6 with all species combined, only 2 of them may be cutthroat trout, and no cutthroat under 16 inches may be kept. Bull trout must be released. On Upper Priest Lake the trout limit is also 6 with only 2 cutthroat and none under 16 inches, there is no limit on lake trout, and the Priest Lake tributaries are closed to cutthroat harvest.
- Kokanee (IDFG Priest Lake fishing planner): The daily kokanee limit at Priest Lake is 6.
- Bass (IDFG Priest Lake fishing planner): Largemouth and smallmouth bass are limited to 6 per day combined under the Panhandle Region rules.
- Bull trout (IDFG Priest Lake fishing planner): Bull trout are catch and release only. Release them immediately and unharmed.
- Seasons and possession (IDFG Priest Lake fishing planner): Waters are open all year unless a special rule says otherwise, and the possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.
More on Priest Lake
- Fish consumption. Idaho Fish and Game's planner page tells anglers to be aware of fish consumption advisories for this water. Read the current advisory from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare before you cook a catch.
- Rules change by water. The Priest Lake tributaries (the planner page lists the Thorofare among them), Upper Priest Lake and the lake itself each have their own trout rules, so read the entry for the water you fish. Lake trout count toward the six trout limit on Priest Lake, while Upper Priest has no lake trout limit. Older chamber and Visit North Idaho pages describe Upper Priest as catch and release, so confirm in the current Idaho Fish and Game brochure.
Guides and fishing culture
Fins & Feathers, based in Coeur d'Alene, runs full-day lake trout trips on Priest Lake, and its site says it provides the equipment, bait and tackle and that your fishing license is not included. Trips meet at its Coeur d'Alene store unless arranged otherwise, and it takes bookings by phone at 208-667-9304. Confirm any guide's license and insurance when you book.
Best Things to Do at Priest Lake
- Rent a boat. See the marinas table.
- Fish for lake trout. See the fishing guide.
- Paddle the Thorofare. It is the classic day trip to Upper Priest Lake. The 2012 account says paddlers launch from the Lionhead beach, cross about a half mile of open water, and that morning is best before the ski boats start. The 2012 account also describes a portage trail from Beaver Creek Campground to a canoe launch on the Thorofare, so ask the Ranger District for current conditions.
- Camp on an island. The Forest Service has boat-in sites on Kalispell Island, open late May to mid September, with pack-it-in, pack-it-out rules.
- Hike the Navigation Trail. Visit North Idaho says it leads to Upper Priest Lake, and the Forest Service lists a Navigation campground there with four sites reached by boat or trail.
- Walk Kalispell Island. The Forest Service describes a 2.5 mile loop that circles the island.
- Hike the Lakeshore Trail. Visit North Idaho says it follows about a third of the western shore, among 18 Forest Service trails.
- Play a round. Priest Lake Golf Course is an 18 hole, par 72 course off Highway 57 at milepost 28.
- Visit the Priest Lake Museum. It is in the 1935 Luby Bay Cabin. Hours change with the season, so check the museum's Visit North Idaho listing or call the Priest Lake Museum Association before you go.
- Pick huckleberries. The season and the best patches change with the year, so ask at a resort or the Ranger District.
Priest Lake in Winter
Priest Lake stays open in winter, and both resorts and the state park run all year.
- Snowmobiling. The chamber describes more than 400 miles of groomed trails that encircle Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake. Priest Lake Adventures in Coolin rents snowmobiles and runs guided tours, and IDPR lists a snowmobile certificate of number with a separate fee for rentals (IDPR).
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Groomed Nordic areas around the lake require an Idaho Park N' Ski permit. As of October 2026, IDPR lists an annual pass at $25 and a three-day permit at $7.50. Hill's Resort is the hub for the golf course trail system and rents skis and snowshoes.
- Cabins and restaurants. Priest Lake State Park says its cabins are available year-round, and Hill's Resort says it is open 12 months a year for lodging. Restaurants run reduced seasonal schedules, and Cavanaugh's posts a closed-for-winter notice, so check each business's own hours page.
Best Places to Visit Around Priest Lake
| Place | Where | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Priest Lake State Park | Indian Creek and Lionhead units, east shore | Campsites, cabins, beaches, canoe and kayak rentals and a camp store. Phone (208) 443-2200 |
| Beaver Creek Campground | North end, west side | Forest Service campground with 41 reservable sites, on the northwest shore near the Thorofare |
| Kalispell Island | Mid-lake | The largest island, with boat-in camping and a loop trail |
| Hill's Resort | 4777 W Lakeshore Rd, Priest Lake | Lakefront cabins and chalets, a restaurant, a marina and the Nordic ski hub. Phone (208) 443-2551 |
| Elkins Resort | 404 Elkins Road, Nordman | Thirty cedar cabins, a restaurant, boat rentals and a gift shop. Phone (208) 443-2432 |
| Cavanaugh's | 40 Vacation Ct., Coolin | A lakeside restaurant with boat slips for guests, reachable by car, boat or plane. Phone (208) 215-7088 |
| The Historic Northern Hotel | 220 Bayview Drive, Coolin | A log hotel built in 1900 with seven rooms and suites. Phone 208.443.2426 |
| Priest Lake Museum | 38 Priest Lake Museum Road, Priest River | Exhibits and photographs in a 1935 log cabin |
| Priest Lake Ranger District | 32203 Highway 57, Priest River | Forest Service information and campground questions. Phone (208) 443-2512 |
Hours, seasons and status change, so check each owner's page.
Priest Lake Towns and Communities
| Place | Part of the lake | Known for | Relationship to the lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coolin | South end | The largest town on the lake, per Wikipedia, with the Historic Northern Hotel | Gateway to the east shore and Cavanaugh Bay |
| Cavanaugh Bay | Southeast | Cavanaugh's restaurant, an airstrip and winter ice fishing | A quieter base on the east side |
| Nordman | West shore | Elkins Resort and the Highway 57 corridor | Resort and cabin hub on Reeder Bay |
| Priest Lake (Luby Bay) | West shore | Hill's Resort, the golf course and the museum | The main west-side community |
| Priest River | South, where Highway 57 begins | The gateway town for the west-side road | Where most west-side trips start |
Priest Lake Vacation Guide
When to visit
July and August are the busiest months, according to the 2012 Idaho Statesman account, which suggests early summer or fall for quieter trips. Boat rentals and Forest Service campgrounds run in summer only, with the Kalispell Island sites open late May to mid September. Fall is quiet, with reduced restaurant schedules, and winter brings snow sports. The Idaho Department of Water Resources lowers the lake each fall, so ask your operator how low water affects docks and ramps.
Where to stay
- Priest Lake State Park. IDPR lists 93 campsites and 6 cabins at Indian Creek, 47 campsites at Lionhead, and the Schaefer Cabin, which sleeps 6. Cabins are available year-round. Reservations go through IDPR, and fees vary with demand.
- Forest Service campgrounds. Beaver Creek has 41 reservable sites, Navigation on Upper Priest Lake has 4 sites, and Kalispell Island has boat-in sites. Reservations go through Recreation.gov.
- Hill's Resort. It offers lakefront cabins, chalets, condos and rooms, and its units are radio and TV free. It runs getaway packages in the off-season.
- Elkins Resort. Its 30 cedar cabins have granite fireplaces, and its policies include a two night minimum in fall, winter and spring.
- The Historic Northern Hotel. It has four rooms and three suites, free boat launch and slips for guests, and no children 12 and under or pets.
- The Narrows Marina & Resort. It lists a historic cabin and 15 RV sites. Call to confirm availability.
Where to eat
Three restaurants on the lake can be reached by boat, according to Cavanaugh's, which offers 24 complimentary boat slips for restaurant guests at Cavanaugh Bay. Its site says dining is first come, first served, and it posts a closed-for-winter notice, so check its site before a fall or winter visit. Elkins Resort serves Northwest dining with Pacific Rim flair, and its annual schedule has weekends from December to mid-March, no service from mid-March to mid-April, weekends from mid-April to May, daily service June to September, weekends in October and no service in November. Hill's Resort has a restaurant and lounge with a weekend off-season schedule and takes dinner reservations. Hill's marina rents slips to non-guests, but its site does not call it boat-in dining, so call ahead. Priest Lake Golf Course has Sandbaggers Bar & Grill in its clubhouse, which posts its own schedule. Hours and seasons change.
What first-timers should know
- The lake is big. Pick your shore first, because the east and west sides are connected by boat or a long drive.
- The level changes. Check the live level and expect the fall drawdown.
- The water is cold. IDPR says Idaho waters average about 52 degrees even in summer, a statewide figure. Elkins Resort says peak summer water temperatures at Priest Lake run in the low 70s, and deeper water is much colder.
- Rentals are seasonal. Book summer boats early and call before you plan around a business that is hard to reach online.
- Supplies are limited. Bring what you need, because the lake is far from large towns.
Priest Lake Family Activities
- State park beaches. Priest Lake State Park has a loaner life jacket station, and the Lionhead unit has sandy beaches.
- Ice cream and camp store. IDPR says the Indian Creek store sells groceries, hand-scooped ice cream, fishing and camping gear and souvenirs.
- Short island walk. The Kalispell Island loop is 2.5 miles, and the island is reached by boat.
- Museum visit. The Priest Lake Museum holds exhibits and photographs about trapping, logging, the Civilian Conservation Corps and firefighting.
- Fishing. Anyone 14 or older needs an Idaho fishing license. Younger children do not.
- Winter fun. Hill's Resort rents snowshoes and cross-country skis, and the Park N' Ski areas have groomed trails.
What Should You Bring to Priest Lake?
- Life jackets for everyone. Idaho requires a fitted, Coast Guard approved jacket for each person aboard, and children 14 and younger must wear one whenever a boat 19 feet or shorter is underway. IDPR notes that Idaho water averages about 52 degrees, even in summer.
- Your boat registration and invasive species sticker for any boat with a motor, and a sticker for any paddle craft or boat from out of state.
- An Idaho fishing license if you are 14 or older and plan to fish.
- Safety gear for your own boat: a throwable device on boats 16 feet or longer (canoes and kayaks are exempt), lights from sunset to sunrise, and a fire extinguisher where required. See the Boat Idaho Handbook.
- Layers and rain gear. Wikipedia reports about 60 inches of precipitation a year in the mountains around the lake, almost half as snow, and summer highs around 85 degrees.
- A way to check the lake level. The live box above and IDWR's notices show it, and it changes.
- A chart or navigation app. The lake is large and the shoreline is mostly undeveloped.
- Bear awareness. IDPR lists black bear, moose and whitetail deer among the park's year-round residents, and the 2012 account says the campground at the end of the Thorofare has a bear box, so store food properly.
- Reservations and payment for resorts and campgrounds. Many operate seasonally.
- Water, sun protection and a first aid kit. Many coves are far from stores.
Local Knowledge: Fires, Huckleberries and the Upper Lake
The fire of 1926
The WSU Press release about Wild Place says the season's fires in 1926 were devastating, and that afterward the Forest Service decided to replace much of the burned acreage with more marketable timber, which permanently changed the makeup of the forests.
Upper Priest Lake and the scenic area
The 2012 account says the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area is protected from development. IDFG says the upper lake has no road access and is mostly undeveloped, and the Forest Service's Navigation campground there has four sites. Visit North Idaho lists mountain caribou among the basin's rare wildlife.
A record fish
The 57.5 pound lake trout taken in 1971 is still the Idaho record, according to Idaho Fish and Game's record list.
Huckleberries
Wikipedia says the area is known for huckleberries, and Elkins Resort's restaurant is known for huckleberry daiquiris. Cavanaugh's lists a huckleberry ice cream sandwich among its favorites.
The name
Wikipedia reports that the lake was called Roothaan Lake and then Kaniksu before it became Priest Lake, and that the national forest around it was long called the Kaniksu National Forest.
Questions People Ask About Priest Lake
Where is Priest Lake, and how do you get there?
Priest Lake is in Bonner County, in the northern Idaho Panhandle. IDPR says Priest Lake State Park is 62 miles northwest of Sandpoint and 92 miles north of Spokane. Highway 57 runs up the west side from Priest River, and Coolin is the gateway to the east side.
How big and how deep is Priest Lake?
Idaho Fish and Game gives about 23,335 acres, 19 miles long and about 4 miles wide. IDPR and the Idaho Department of Water Resources both say it is more than 300 feet deep, and Wikipedia gives a maximum of 369 feet.
What is the Thorofare, and can you boat to Upper Priest Lake?
The Thorofare is a narrow channel that connects Priest Lake to Upper Priest Lake. IDPR calls it about 2 miles long, and Visit North Idaho says it is a no wake zone. Motorboats can use it at no wake speed, and Visit North Idaho and IDPR say Upper Priest Lake can be reached by boat or trail.
Why does the water level on Priest Lake change?
The State of Idaho manages the lake with an outlet dam. IDWR holds the summer level at 3.0 feet on the outlet gauge in wet to normal years, or between 3.0 and 3.5 feet in dry years, and lowers the lake each fall. Check the live level box before you go.
What fish live in Priest Lake, and do I need a license?
Idaho Fish and Game lists kokanee, lake trout, cutthroat trout, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. Anyone 14 or older needs an Idaho fishing license, and the trout limit is 6 with no more than 2 cutthroat and none under 16 inches.
Where can I swim on Priest Lake, and is the water cold?
Priest Lake State Park's Lionhead unit has sandy beaches, according to a 2012 Idaho Statesman account. Elkins Resort says peak summer water temperatures run in the low 70s, and IDPR says Idaho waters average about 52 degrees even in summer, a statewide figure, so expect cold water away from the shallows.
Does it cost money to visit Priest Lake?
Public beaches and county launches have no entrance fee that we found, but Priest Lake State Park charges. As of October 2026, IDPR lists a $7 daily motor vehicle entry fee, doubled to $14 for non-residents at Priest Lake, and an $80 annual sticker. Camping, cabins, rentals and resort launches charge their own fees.
Can I rent a boat on Priest Lake?
Elkins Resort rents runabouts, pontoons and a fishing boat, with a minimum age of 25 for motorized boats. Priest Lake State Park rents canoes and kayaks, and Hill's Resort lists paddleboards, kayaks and canoes. Ask each business about its season and rules.
Can I boat to a restaurant on Priest Lake?
Yes. Cavanaugh's says it is one of three restaurants on the lake reachable by boat and offers 24 complimentary slips for guests. The Historic Northern Hotel offers free launch and slips to its guests, and Hill's has a marina, so call ahead.
Where can I camp or stay at Priest Lake?
Options include Priest Lake State Park campsites and cabins, Forest Service campgrounds at Beaver Creek and on Kalispell Island and Upper Priest Lake, Hill's Resort, Elkins Resort cabins, the Historic Northern Hotel and The Narrows Marina & Resort.
Priest Lake Gifts & Apparel
Lake Life Designs makes lake-specific products for people who love this lake. Our Priest Lake collection has hoodies, tees, a long sleeve tee, a kids tee, a trucker hat, a canvas print, a jigsaw puzzle, a pillow and ceramic ornaments, including our "Highway 57 North, Highway to my Happy Place" designs. Looking for a gift for someone who loves the lake? See our guide to Priest Lake gifts.
Details last verified October 2026. Parks, launches, rentals, rules and the lake itself change with the season, so check the linked official pages before you go.
Sources: Idaho Fish and Game, Priest Lake, Idaho Fish and Game, Upper Priest Lake, IDPR, Priest Lake State Park, IDPR, boating, Boat Idaho Handbook, IDWR, Priest Lake level, IDWR, Priest Lake dam, Bonner County, waterways, Bonner County, invasive species, Bonner County Daily Bee, 2016 ordinance, Bonner County Daily Bee, 2025 drawdown, Idaho Fish and Game, state records, Idaho Fish and Game, great lakes article, Visit North Idaho, Priest Lake, Priest Lake Chamber, fishing, Wikipedia, Priest Lake, WSU Press, Wild Place, East Oregonian, canoeing the Thorofare, Idaho Heritage Trust, Priest Lake Museum, USFS, Kalispell Island, USFS, Beaver Creek, Elkins Resort, Hill's Resort, Cavanaugh's, The Historic Northern Hotel, Priest Lake Golf Course, Fins & Feathers