A Local’s Guide to Summer on Lake Coeur d’Alene

Category: Local Life | Reading time: ~4 min | Season: Summer

There’s a reason people move to Coeur d’Alene and never leave. In the summer, this place is hard to beat. The lake is the center of it all — 30 miles long, clear water, ringed by forested mountains, and full of things to do.

If you’re new to the area or just looking to make the most of the season, here’s a local’s look at summer on Lake CdA.

Get Out on the Water

The lake is best experienced from on top of it. Whether you’re on a boat, a kayak, a paddleboard, or a towable tube, the perspective changes everything. Some of our favorite ways to enjoy the water:

• Boating & tubing — The lake is big enough that you can find open water even on busy summer weekends. Popular tube launches are off the CdA city beach and around Higgens Point.

• Kayaking & paddleboarding — The northern bays and quieter shoreline areas are gorgeous from a kayak. Early morning is magical — calm water, mist coming off the surface, eagles overhead.

• Fishing — Bass, perch, and several other species can be found. The lake has consistent fishing throughout the summer. Early morning and evening are the most productive windows.

Hit the Shore

CdA has one of the best city beaches in the Pacific Northwest. City Beach is free, well-maintained, and usually full of life in July and August. Tubbs Hill, the nature park that juts into the lake right off downtown, has easy hiking trails with incredible lake views and is one of those spots that locals never get tired of.

If you want to escape the crowds, Higgens Point (about 12 miles east on Highway 97) offers a quieter launch and shoreline access.

Things Worth Having

A good summer on the lake requires a little preparation. A few things we’d recommend keeping in the truck or the boat:

• Polarized sunglasses — The glare on the water is real. Worth every penny.

• Sun protection — Elevation plus reflective water equals a fast sunburn. Sun Bum SPF 50 is in stock at the store.

• A properly fitted PFD for every person on board — Idaho law requires it, and it’s just good sense.

• Light layers for the evening — Temperatures drop quickly once the sun goes behind the mountains. A hoodie or light fleece goes a long way.

• A valid fishing license if you’re planning to wet a line — available in-store.

We’re Here When You Need Us

Black Sheep Sporting Goods is right here in Coeur d’Alene. Whether you need to grab a fishing license before the morning bite, pick up a new life jacket before a boat trip, or just talk through gear options with someone who knows the local conditions — stop in. We love this place as much as you do, and we’re happy to help you get the most out of it.

See you out there.