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. 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, which is hard to pronounce but is a gorgeous lake that you can’t miss.
If you’ve never been before, but are planning to visit, here are the best places to visit in Sandpoint Idaho!
The 10 Best Places to Visit in Sandpoint Idaho
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1. Schweitzer Resort
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Schweitzer 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 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) on your way down the hill!
2. Laughing Dog Brewery
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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!
3. The Festival at Sandpoint
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The Festival at Sandpoint is an 8-day music fest held in early August with a large selection and variety of music genres playing each day. Local food vendors offer a plethora of food and drink optios and you can even bring your own food and drink inside if you’d like!
4. Green Bay, Lake Pend Oreille
Green Bay is a local swimming hole 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!
5 Farragut State Park Frisbee Golf Course
This frisbee course is located in the forest near Sandpoint and along with being a frisbee course, it’s also a great place to camp. It’s located right next to Farragut State Park and a scenic little town you’ll want to check out called Bayview.
6. Eat at Joel’s
If you’re craving really good Mexican food, check out Joel’s. This restaurant is open for brunch and lunch and you can get awesome, authentic burritos, plates, and fish!
7. Visit Dog Beach
This beach is located at the end of the long bridge as you enter Sandpoint. It’s a great spot 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.
8. Float the Pack River
This is a great local river where locals and tourists enjoy a day floating. Bring your floaties, a case of beer, and some sunscreen, and have a blast! This is the perfect daytime activity in the summer.
9. Hike to the top of Gold Hill
The trail to hike to Gold Hill is located in Sagle, Idaho. It’s a moderate hike, but brings you to AMAZING views of Sandpoint and the whole lake! Very much worth the hike up for the day!
10. 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.
Source: Kirk Fisher / shutterstock
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 🙂