Sandpoint, Idaho is one of those special places you have to visit at least once in your life to see its true charm. If you’ve seen my post about the best places to visit in Idaho you’ll see Sandpoint on the list. It’s a true North Idaho gem!
There are so many outdoor activities to keep you busy in this small town that I couldn’t even list the majority of them! The best part of Sandpoint is that it’s surrounded by mountain ranges and wraps around Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced pond ah ray), one of the deepest lakes in the US.
If you’ve never been before, but are planning to visit, here are the best places to visit in Sandpoint Idaho!
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Best Places to Visit in Sandpoint, Idaho
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1. Schweitzer Mountain Resort
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Schweitzer Mountain Resort is one of the most popular ski resorts in Northern Idaho and is an obvious choice to visit when you come to Sandpoint. The resort is located in the Selkirk Mountains and is open year-round and the views are tremendous! You can ski in the winter and bike and hike here in the summer. Also, if you take the lift up in the summer, you can pick huckleberries (a popular berry that grows in Idaho), or go mountain biking down the mountain!
2. Visit a Brewery
Sandpoint has some of the best breweries in Idaho!
One of the most popular breweries is probably MickDuffs, located in Sandpoint’s Old Federal Building. It’s a restaurant and a brewery so you can also eat here. The building is really cool. If you can go here for a beer or lunch, I recommend it!
If you’re like me and love beer and dogs, then Laughing Dog Brewery is the spot for you. This is Sandpoint’s oldest brewery, and their beer is amazing. They’ve also got a dog-friendly taproom. Try the famous Huckleberry Cream Ale while you’re there!
Another great brewery in downtown Sandpoint is Utara Brewing Company and Curry House. They have a great patio and serve Indian-fusion food and everything we got was really good!
Matchwood Brewing is another popular brewery and eatery worth a visit. They pride themselves on being a “neighborhood brewery” where you can foster personal connections and positive community change!
3. Explore Downtown Sandpoint
Sandpoint blew me away with how cute and charming it was downtown! The downtown is right along the water with historic buildings, many restaurants, and cute shops! Everything is small and locally owned. You can walk through Cedar Street Public Market, shop in the fun shops, or visit art galleries. You’ll also find wine-tasting spots, breweries, and the cute Panida Theater.
4. Go Hiking
There are some really great hiking you can do in the Sandpoint area. There are tons of trails because of the mountains and forests surrounding the town. I recommend checking AllTrails for your best hiking options in the area. A few notable hikes that I’ve been recommended are:
- Gold Hill – This one was recommended to me the most! Although we didn’t hike on our trip, I think this is the one we would have done. It’s a 5.6-mile out and back hike located in Sagle. At the end, you get beautiful views of Sandpoint!
- Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail – This is a great hike if you want something flat and easy as this is a 3.3-mile trail that meanders along the lake. This is great if you want to look at the lake, but don’t want anything too intense.
- Mineral Point Trail – This is a 4.3-mile hike that gives you a spectacular view of the lake. It’s family-friendly, but can also get crowded so hiking in the morning will be best!
Here are a few more hikes with the best views in the Sandpoint area!
5. Eat good food
There are some really great restaurants in Sandpoint and since there arean’t really any chain restaurant, most of these are locally run. Here are some great ones that I’ve been highly recommended or have personally eaten at!
Joel’s – If you’re craving really good Mexican food, check out Joel’s in downtown Sandpoint. This restaurant is open for brunch and lunch, and you can get awesome, authentic burritos, plates, and fish!
City Beach Organics – This is a great spot in downtown Sandpoint if you want healthy food for breakfast or lunch. A lot of their menu is gluten-free or plant-based and they have amazing smoothies and healthy lunch options!
Mickduffs – For great pub food and craft brews, try eating at Mickduffs!
Trinity at City Beach – If you want a place with a great view of City Beach with delicious lunch options, this is a great option!
Baxters on Cedar – This is the perfect place for lunch, dinner or a nicer night out. Their food is what you’d see at a nicer restaurant and is a delicious local favorite!
Spuds Waterfront Grill – This is a great place to eat if you can sit out on the patio with views of the water. It’s great for lunch and casual food!
Bluebird Bakery – This is a delicious spot for breakfast and coffee located in downtown Sandpoint!
6. Go wine tasting at Pend d’Oreille Winery
If you love wine, try coming to Pend d’Oreille winery! It’s been around since 1195 and has been producing award-winning wines ever since. You can visit their beautiful building in downtown Sandpoint and taste wine while eating light bites and pizzas!
7. Visit Farragut State Park
Farragut State Park is a beautiful state park on the south side of Lake Pend Oreille. It was a World War II-era naval training air station from 1920-1970 and was called Farragut Naval Training Station. Now, this park is perfect for recreation, camping, swimming, and hiking. It’s right along Lake Pend Oreille, so look for animals like mountain goats and bald eagles. You can also visit the visitors center to learn more about the hiking and biking trails. Another popular activity is heading to the Museum at the Brig, where you can learn about the Farragut Naval Training Station and World War II.
8. Visit Sandpoint City Beach
On a beautiful day in Sandpoint, head to Sandpoint City Beach! This is a public beach near downtown with incredible views of Lake Pend Oreille. The park offers swimming areas, an actual park, and a nice sandy beach. I recommend this beach for the beautiful views of the entire lake.
Behind City Beach is a large 22-acre park where they’ve sectioned off swimming areas. Here you can go boating (there’s a boat launch), play tennis, pickleball, basketball and play on the playground. You can bring a paddle board or tube or just enjoy the nice beaches. I also recommend grabbing a picnic and bringing it down here!
9. Float the Pack River
This is a great river where locals and tourists enjoy a day of floating. There isn’t a system in place like there is when floating the Boise River, so you’ll want to bring your floaties, a case of beer, and some sunscreen. Be sure to park a second car at the pull-out spot. The best place to start the float is the bridge on Colburn Colver Road and then end the float on Rapid Lightning Road by the bridge. The float takes about 2 hours and is the perfect daytime activity in the summer.
9. Visit Green Bay Campground
Green Bay is a local swimming hole and camping area close to Sandpoint and near Sagle, ID. It’s a magical spot with small round rocks that line the shores. The water is crystal clear, and it’s a perfect location for camping on the weekends!
10. Visit Dog Beach Park with your dog
If you’re traveling with dogs, this might be the spot for you. Dog Beach Park is at located the end of the long bridge as you enter Sandpoint. It’s a great spot to bring your fuzzy friends that is a little off the beaten path. If you have a dog with you and want to take them out, this is an off-leash area where you both can swim.
11. Take an adventure to Silverwood Theme Park
Silverwood Theme Park is a theme park 30 minutes from Sandpoint. It’s a great day for the whole family, full of roller coasters, carnival food, and fun!
12. Attend a Sandpoint festival or event
There are tons of great festivals and events that happen every year in Sandpoint. Here are a few notable ones you can try and time your trip with!
The Festival at Sandpoint
This is an 8-day music fest held in early August with a large selection and variety of live music genres playing each day. Local food vendors offer many food and drink options, and you can bring your food and drink inside if you’d like!
Sandpoint Farmer’s Market
The Sandpoint Farmer’s Market is a great place to buy fresh produce and artisan goods. This is held every Saturday and Wednesday from April – October.
Schweitzer Summer Opening Day
The summer season at Schweitzer starts in June. You can come up for hiking, biking, and exploring, and they’ll have village activities, and the chairlifts will be running!
Annual Arts and Crafts Fair
Every year, there’s a two-day arts and crafts fair in downtown Sandpoint. Here, you’ll see artist booths, food vendors, and art exhibits. This takes place in August!
See more Sandpoint events here!
Weather in Sandpoint, Idaho
The climate in Sandpoint, Idaho, is a mix of weather throughout the year. Summers are brief and characterized by warmth, dryness, and occasional cloud cover. Winters bring freezing temperatures, snowfall, and cloudy skies. Throughout the year, the temperature typically ranges from 24°F to 84°F.
The Hive in Sandpoint, a live music venue that attracts national talent to an is intimate performance space worth checking out. Scotchman’s Peak wilderness area just east of Sandpoint offers challenging alpine hikes while Lake Estelle, Lake Darling, and Lunch Peak offer hiking opportunities for all abilities. Wildlife abounds in the Selkirks to the north up Hwy 2 and if you hang a right you’ll find yourself in the fabulous Cabinet Mountains where backcountry skiers earn their turns. Priest Lake is just over the Selkirk divide and is Idaho’s version of Hawaii with white sand beaches and crystal clear water…with bears and huckleberries. NF campgrounds are on the west shores of the lake and Idaho State Parks have two campgrounds on the northeast shores of the lake. Upper Priest lake is just a short paddle through the thoroughfare. Magical.
Yay!! Thank you for these tips! I love hearing about different things to do in the area! 🙂
Hi there!
Here’s a couple updates on your list.
Understory Coffee has chosen to close and pursue a full -time Chai Tea production option. But Evans Brothers Coffee is another amazing option. Superb people, great outdoor space, and some really cool seasonal drinks! They’ve recently updated their interior space too!
Dog Beach is closed for an unforeseen amount of time due to construction on a second train bridge crossing, but the Bay Trail bear City Beach is wonderful! A 3-mile round trip right along the edge of the lake! Bonus- it’s off-leash friendly to well-behaved dogs (and owners 😉
Panhandle Cone & Coffee for ice cream. Right on the main drag (1st Ave) this shop has and amazing menu of 12-18 amazing staple ice creams and selection of rotating seasonals!!
Love the list as a local!!
Oh thank you so much! I need to edit my post 🙂