Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, & White Bird Idaho

From Trout Creek, Montana we headed west to Coeur d’Alene which is in the northern part of Idaho. We wanted to spend a week without too many distractions and just relax.

Sandpoint, Idaho

We got together with our friends Steffen and Linda, who we first met in Moab, Utah. They have a stunning log home that overlooks a valley and lake in Sandpoint. There were ten wild turkeys in their yard when we arrived. Jake loved running around their property and being in a house again. We had dinner at “Trinity at City Beach”, which is located on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, and watched the sunset.

Coeur d’Alene

A beautiful small city on Lake Coeur d’Alene, kind of like Sandpoint but larger. They had a Costco. Lunch downtown at the Crafted Tap House was very good.

We stayed here for a week to catch up. It’s kind of in the middle of nowhere amongst the wheat fields, but private with full hookups and fast internet. There were plenty of activities including; bocce ball, pickle ball, ping pong, a spa, massage, a sauna, a gym, hiking trails, and a huge book exchange. The Milky Way was stunning each night. There wasn’t a moon, very little nearby lights, and it was late summer so the stars were stunning.

White Bird

Swiftwater is a small, picturesque, RV park on the Salmon River. We were able to pull in facing the river. There was hardly anyone there.

We watched an osprey try its luck at fishing.

Red’s is the local dining spot. They make an incredible pizza with a twisted crust and the cook was very entertaining.

Hells Canyon

We drove Deer Creek Road to a boat landing on the Snake River. The scenery was amazing and the road very curvy.

Even though we were informed that Hells Canyon is best seen from an airboat ride, we enjoyed a dirt road where we saw lots of deer on our way to the river. In parts, the canyon can be 10 miles wide and 7,993 feet deep. Jake loved being off lease and running on the small stretches of beach or wading in the water.

Old Highway 95

It is a scenic drive that was replaced by the new highway 95 because of the grade and number of switchbacks. Would have been scary in winter.