Lakes in Idaho

From fishing, boating and swimming to strolling along alpine lakes, outdoor enthusiasts will find lots of fun in Idaho.

Lake Pend Oreille, near the city of Sandpoint, is the state's largest lake. An angler's paradise, it harbors 14 types of fish. Lake Cascade is another excellent fishing spot with several docks, ramps and easy access to the shoreline. In northern Idaho, you'll find Priest Lake, Robinson Lake and the Cabinet Gorge Fish Hatchery. In central Idaho, there's Williams Lake. In southern Idaho, anglers have a wide variety of choices, Lake Walcott, Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir and Thorn Creek Reservoir among them. Wilson Lake Reservoir is also in southern Idaho. A 600-acre fishing hole, Wilson is a prime fishing locale complete with trophy-size perch and lakeside camping.

Excellent lakes for boaters include Bear Lake on the Idaho-Utah border; scenic Payette Lake in McCall; Lake Walcott in Lake Walcott State Park; and pretty Little Redfish Lake near Stanley. Idaho is also home to unique bodies of water, such as the two lakes below the sand dunes in Bruneau Dunes State Park. There, after a day of fishing and boating, visitors can gaze at the stars from the state's largest public observatory. Spirit Lake is also noteworthy. Located in Idaho's panhandle, it's one of only two sealed-bottom lakes on the planet.

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Featured lakes in Idaho

Lake Pend Oreille

Priest Lake

Redfish Lake