13+ Things To Do in Coeur d’Alene Outdoor Enthusiasts Will Love

The city of Coeur d’Alene may sound like you need your passport to get there — but you don’t, because it’s actually a beautiful city in northwest Idaho!

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is famous for its amazing scenery, snow skiing, and awesome water sports on Lake Coeur d’Alene. You’ll find family fun, outdoor adventures, national forests, parks, resorts, art galleries, and more in this fun city.

Looking for things to do in Coeur d’Alene? We’ve got them! Here are 13+ things to do in Coeur d’Alene for year-round fun.

COOLEST PLACES TO STAY IN COEUR D’ALENE

• Best Historical Inn: The Roosevelt Inn is a boutique hotel located in downtown Coeur d’Alene and offers views of the Coeur d’Alene Lake. This grand brick building was the first permanent schoolhouse established in 1905! The rooms are amazing and you’ll love the complimentary breakfast.

• Best Vacation Home: This immaculately decorated bungalow is located in downtown Coeur d’Alene, and features two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a great patio. Its location can’t be beat!

• Best Tried and True: The Comfort Inn & Suites I-90 City Center offers a free transfer service to Coeur d’Alene Airport, and a daily continental breakfast. You’ll love the indoor pool and hot tub!

LAKE COEUR D’ALENE

We have to start with one of the most beautiful lakes in the U.S. — Lake Coeur d’Alene. Also known as Coeur d’Alene Lake, this natural lake in northern Idaho is dam-controlled, and the perfect place to enjoy water sports and fun in the sun.

Lake Coeur d’Alene is 26 miles long with over 100 miles of shoreline. Parks, beaches, trails, campgrounds, and more than a dozen boat docks can be found around the lake. With nine major marinas serving the lake, boating is a popular pastime. Jet skis, ski boats, pontoon boats, sailboats, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards are available to rent.

Want to sit back, relax, and take it easy? Consider a cruise with Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises. They offer daily cruises, brunch and dinner cruises, and chartered trips. Perfect for families, cruising the lake is a great way to explore the area.

If you’re visiting from November through February, keep an eye out for the migrating bald eagles that visit the lake to feed on spawning kokanee salmon in Wolf Lodge Bay. As many as 200 have been spotted during certain seasons.

TUBBS HILL

If you’re looking to enjoy the spectacular natural scenery that Lake Coeur d’Alene provides, then add Tubbs Hill to your list. Tubbs Hill is a park that’s well known for its amazing views of the lake, and its awesome hiking trails.

Located in downtown Coeur d’Alene, the park is a 165-acre natural peninsula filled with beauty. Take a hike on the 2-mile loop trail. Considered an easy hike, this trail takes you to some of the most picturesque spots in the city.

This is also a great place to visit if you’re hoping to see bald eagles!

Read More: MORE THINGS TO DO IN COEUR D’ ALENE, IDAHO

NORTH IDAHO CENTENNIAL TRAIL

Another trail that bears mentioning when discussing things to do in Coeur d’Alene, is the North Idaho Centennial Trail. This is a paved trail that stretches across 24 miles, and it’s frequently used in recreational activities such as hiking, biking, and running.

In 2017, the trail was repaved — so it’s nice and smooth, making it easy to enjoy. The trail runs along miles of waterfront, through the city to Higgens Point.

SILVERWOOD THEME PARK

Silverwood Theme Park is the northwest’s largest theme park and visiting will provide you and your family with hours of fun. You won’t want to leave when the park closes! It opened back in 1988, and it’s been a town favorite ever since.

Featuring over 70 rides, shows, attractions, and slides, this is a theme park that will just keep giving, no matter what type of theme park goer you are. Keep in mind that it’s only open from October to May, so make sure to plan accordingly.

SILVER MOUNTAIN RESORT

Idaho is one of the places in the Pacific Northwest that sees a lot of snow. As such, when the weather permits, it’s considered a very popular activity to check out a snowy mountain and go skiing or snowboarding.

Silver Mountain Resort is one of the top rated ski resorts in the area, and it’s a popular vacation spot for locals and visitors alike. This family-friendly resorts offers fun year-round — in both winter and summer!

In the winter, enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and events. In the summer, you can check out their golf course, or go on a scenic gondola ride. Silver Mountain Resort is the proud owner of North America’s longest gondola ride — it comes in at a whopping 3.1 miles.

In the summer, Silver Mountain opens up their indoor water park, adding an extra dose of fun. In the winter? That water park turns into an area that they fill with hot tubs, so you can warm up after a day on the slopes.

MINERAL RIDGE NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL

The Mineral Ridge National Recreation Trail was established as a national recreation trail back in 1982. This trail is a backcountry hiking trail that stretches across a three-mile loop.

If you’re hoping to see phenomenal scenic views over Beauty and Wolf Lodge bays of Coeur d’Alene Lake, this is the trail to hike. There are 22 marked stations along the trail, and the Bureau of Land Management’s trail guide describes the plant and animals in the forest.

This is also a great trail to spot migrating bald eagles, between November and February. An interpretive viewing program is offered between Christmas and New Years, during the peak migration — making this a great way to spot them.

A picnic area and a boat dock can also be found here.

COEUR D’ALENE CITY PARK

If you and your crew aren’t into hiking — don’t worry! There are plenty of other things to do in Coeur d’Alene that don’t require hiking poles.

One of the best areas to visit in the city is the Coeur d’Alene City Park, which is located right in downtown Coeur d’ Alene on the waterfront.

At this awesome park, you can enjoy the grills, picnic shelters, basketball courts, swim beach, and more. Events and activities are hosted here throughout the year. The Summer Concert Series held her is especially popular.

Kids will absolutely love the Fort Sherman Playground! This massive structure is a kid’s dream playspace, and the largest playground in the area.

COEUR D’ALENE RESORT

At the Coeur d’Alene Golf & Spa Resort — you will find everything you need for an amazing escape.

The Coeur d’Alene Resort is located on the north shore of Coeur d’Alene Lake, and it features an amazing golf course with the world’s only floating green! It’s really a sight to behold.

The full-service spa at the resort offers everything you need for a relaxing getaway. Enjoy massages, facials, their Lash and Beauty Bar, mineral soaks, and more.

Take a dip in their BLU infinity pool, or rent paddle boards, kayaks, boats, or jet skis and take advantage of the resort’s waterfront location. Special events, such as Igloos on the Lake, Whiskey Barrel Weekend, and a Mac & Cheese Festival (!!) make this a resort that’s full of fun.

With amazing restaurants and nightlife here too — this is one resort that has everything you need in one place.

FARRAGUT STATE PARK

When it comes to state parks that have an interesting history, you can’t deny that Farragut State Park deserves to be part of the conversation. This 4,000 acre state park was once a World War II Naval Training Station, although nowadays it’s used for more recreational activities.

At Farragut State Park, you’ll find disc golf, hiking, biking, fishing, and a museum. If you want to extend your stay, the park has 10 camping cabins and 7 group camps for you to check out.

RED HORSE MOUNTAIN RANCH

Idaho has a rich equestrian history, and there’s no better place to appreciate that history than at Red Horse Mountain Ranch.

Red Horse Mountain Ranch is an all-inclusive dude ranch — where you can enjoy lodging, meals, and plenty of activities. They offer both cabins and lodge suites of all different sizes, to fit your group.

You’re at a dude ranch — so of course, one of the best things to do here is go horseback riding! You can ride your horse every day of your stay if you wish. With miles of trails, it’s a great way to explore the Idaho wilderness. Guests are paired with a horse before they arrive, and that horse is “their” horse during their stay. All the rides take you to beautiful vistas and views.

But there’s so much more to this ranch than just horseback riding. No matter what you or your group’s interests are, there truly is something for everyone. Try the challenge course and climbing wall, go mountain biking or ziplining, take a guided fishing trip or kayak tour, go hiking or geocaching, play a round of golf, shoot sporting clays, or sign the kids up for the Kids Program — that’s filled with all-day fun.

The ranch is open from May through October.

KOOTENAI COUNTY FARMERS MARKET

Farmers’ markets make the world go round, especially when a farmers’ market solely exists to help smaller local businesses get their name out there. In Idaho, the name of the Farmers’ Market that is on everyone’s lips is the Kootenai County Farmers Market.

The Kootenai County Farmers’ Market was established back in 1986, and it’s been serving the Northern Idaho community since then (from May through October). If you’re looking for a market that specializes in native plants, local food products, flowers, vegetables, and other wares, you must visit this location.

Check out the live music, peruse the wares, and enjoy all the products that the local artisans have made to show off their skill.

SEVEN STARS ALPACA RANCH

After you check out the Kootenai County Farmers Market, there’s another place you have to check out in Kootenai County before wrapping up for the day, and that is the Seven Stars Alpaca Ranch. This ranch is the premier alpaca ranch in the Northwestern United States, and if you’ve ever wanted to expand your knowledge of these amazing creatures, this is the time to do so.

The Seven Stars Alpaca Ranch was initially started when some Alaskans moved to Idaho and decided to start a ranch. The ranch stretches across 40 acres of land and is home to many beautiful hyacaya and Suri alpacas. Here at the farm, the owners do breed the alpacas, as well as groom them for their fibrous and luxurious coats.

MCEUEN PARK

Want to bring your four-legged family member with you on vacation? Then you’ve got to check out McEuen Park!

Bring your beautiful, fuzzy best friend and check out the dog park here at McEuen Park. Meet new dog friends (and dog owners) when you let your dog run wild in the off-leash area. They’ll absolutely love it.

Want to have as much fun as your pet? No worries, McEuen has fun things for you to do too! Kids will love the large playground and splash pad found here, and everyone in your group will love the recreational trails found in the park.

FORT SHERMAN CHAPEL

Back before modern times, the Fort Sherman Chapel was a place of worship, meeting, and learning. Back in the 1800s, there wasn’t a need to have all those buildings separated, and so the Fort Sherman Chapel became the most important part of the town for the community.

Fort Sherman Chapel was built in 1880, meaning that it is Coeur d’Alene’s oldest library, meeting hall, school, and church. It was abandoned only twenty years later, and it was only in the early 1940s that people began trying to preserve what remained of the chapel.

Nowadays, it’s managed by the Museum of North Idaho, and it’s become a popular place to snap a photo or host an event. It’s a beautiful place to visit, and a must-do when visiting Coeur d Alene Idaho.

TIMBERLINE ADVENTURES

Ready to see Coeur d’Alene from new heights? Head over to Timberline Adventures and zip through the trees above Coeur d’Alene Lake.

Let their UTVs take you to your launch point and then spend hours zipping through the beautiful scenery. Think you may work up an appetite? Book the Treehouse Lunch and Full Zipline Tour, where you can enjoy a delicious meal inside their treehouse! (The treehouse was featured on DIY Channel’s Treehouse Guys!)

They also offer a zipline and s’mores in the treehouse tour, that takes place as the sun is setting on weekend evenings in the summer months.

COEUR D’ALENE FAQ

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