The first position on the list of the best lakes to visit in Idaho is Lake Pend Oreille. With a surface area of 380 km2, Lake Pend Oreille in the northern Idaho Panhandle is the largest lake in the U.S. state of Idaho and the 38th-largest lake in terms of size in the country. It is 69 km long, 350 m deep in certain places, and has a volume of 43,939,940 acre-feet, or 54 km3, making it the fifth-deepest body of water in the country. The lake receives water from the Pack and Clark Fork rivers and empties into the Pend Oreille River and the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer underneath. All but a small portion of the shoreline is uninhabited.

National forests and small settlements surround it; Sandpoint has the lake's highest population density. With the exception of the southernmost point, the lake's entire shoreline is uninhabited and located in Bonner County. The Farragut State Park, which used to be the Farragut Naval Training Station during World War II, is located near the southern tip of Kootenai County. A tiny portion of this park is still operational and used for U.S. Navy acoustic underwater submarine research.

Location: Bonner / Kootenai counties, Idaho

80 miles northeast of Spokane, Washington, at the northernmost part of the Idaho Panhandle, there lies a lake called Priest Lake. The lake's northern end reaches the Canadian-American border in 24 km. Lower Priest, the main lake, is 19 miles long and reaches a depth of more than 300 feet. A 2.5 mile highway links lower Priest with upper Priest.

Nearly 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, the lake first appeared. Humans began to colonize the region after the enormous glaciers that had covered the majority of it retreated and flora began to reemerge. That is clear from local historical relics and prehistoric rock art by the lake.

Activities like swimming, fishing, boating, and water sports have an added scenic appeal thanks to the lake's rocky backdrop provided by the Selkirk Mountains. Priest Lake, dubbed "Idaho's Crown Jewel," offers much of entertainment ashore as well. The shoreline is largely made up of long sandy beaches, and numerous hiking routes wind around the lake. Tents and RVs are welcome at more than 150 campsites run by Priest Lake State Park on the lake's eastern coast.

Location: Bonner County, Idaho, United States

One of the best lakes to visit in Idaho is Coeur d'Alene Lake, often known as Lake Coeur d'Alene, is a lake in North Idaho in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States that is controlled by a natural dam. The City of Coeur d'Alene is located at its northernmost point. It is 25 miles long, 1 to 3 miles wide, and has more than 109 kilometers of shoreline.

In the summer, many people like visiting Lake Coeur d'Alene because of its beautiful beaches and stunning vistas. Some locals enjoy watching the bald eagles dine on the lake's kokanee as a seasonal pastime, especially from Wolf Lodge Bay. Bluegill, yellow perch, white crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, kokanee, Chinook salmon, and northern pike are some of the fish that live in the lake. The north and northeastern shores of the lake are followed by the North Idaho Centennial Trail, which is well-liked by bikers, pedestrians, and joggers. Along the southern shoreline is also where the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes runs.

Location: Kootenai / Benewah counties, Idaho, U.S

Just south of Stanley in Custer County, Idaho is an alpine lake called Redfish Lake. Within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, it is the largest lake. On the northern end of the coast, Redfish Lake Lodge offers lodging options including rooms, cottages, and boat rentals for water recreation. There are many hiking paths across the region, some of which go all the way to the Sawtooth Wilderness.

On Redfish Lake, the U.S. Forest Service has built a few amenities for water activities, hiking, and camping while largely preserving the Sawtooth Mountains' natural beauty. Redfish Lake Lodge, a seasonal hotel and marina on the north side, provides hikers and tourists with a cross-lake ferry service during the summer.

The magnificent sockeye salmon that once returned from the Pacific Ocean in such large numbers that the lake shimmered red during the breeding season gave rise to the lake's name. Only a small portion of the wild sockeye salmon currently manage to cross the numerous hydroelectric dams on their way back to the lake to breed. When fishing, sockeye must not be the primary target and must be released right away if they are captured.

Location: Custer County, Idaho

On the North Fork of the Payette River in Valley County, Idaho, there is a reservoir called Lake Cascade in the western part of the country. It is the fourth largest lake or reservoir in the state and is situated in the Boise National Forest. Its surface area is 47 square miles. The closest towns are Cascade, Donnelly, and McCall, which are all located in Valley County's Long Valley.

The earthen dam was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation after a delay brought on by World War II, and it was finished in 1948, 74 years ago. After the federal name was changed in 1999, the phrase "Lake Cascade" became widely used in the 1990s.

Fishing, camping, and boating are all very popular in the sizable artificial reservoir known as Lake Cascade. With 86 miles of shoreline, Lake Cascade State Park has hundreds of campsites dispersed among various campgrounds. At Lake Cascade, windy afternoon conditions frequently appeal to sailors and windsurfers. The lake also offers a wealth of fishing options throughout the year, with ice fishing being one of the more well-liked pursuits in the winter.

Location: Valley County, Idaho

At the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, in Custer County, Idaho, is Stanley Lake, an alpine lake in the western United States. The lake is conveniently accessible through a three-mile spur road from State Highway 21 and is located roughly seven miles west of Stanley. The lake's elevation above sea level at its surface is 6,513 feet.

In addition to being close to the significantly smaller Elk Peak, Stanley Lake is located northeast of the base of the 9,860-foot McGown Peak. The lake feeds into the main Salmon River through Stanley Lake Creek and Valley Creek and is located two miles (three kilometers) downstream of Lady Face Falls on Stanley Lake Creek.

Vehicles can access this calm environment by parking close to the Stanley Lake Campground, with the imposing McGowan Peak dominating the background. The campground offers a public boat ramp, and many hiking trails take you to other breathtaking vistas of the lake. Stanley Lake is one of the best lakes to visit in Idaho.

Location: Custer County, Idaho

Alice Lake Provincial Park is located approximately 13 km outside of Squamish. Alice Lake contains four lakes (Alice, Stump, Fawn, Edith) surrounded by towering mountains, dense forests, and grassy meadows.

Alice Lake is one of Idaho's most popular hiking and backcountry lakes, and it is located in the Sawtooth National Forest beneath a range of rugged mountain peaks. From the Tin Cup Trailhead near Pettit Lake, Alice Lake is a moderate 6.9-mile hike with some creek crossings and an elevation gain of 1,600 feet. Alice Lake's mountainous setting, though, makes the effort worthwhile.

Huge mountains, lush forests, and open spaces surround Alice Lake. The scenery is dominated by four freshwater lakes, which are great for swimming and fishing. For an evening stroll, many people use the trail that circles Alice Lake, and for the more daring, there is the Four Lakes Trail. The Tantalus Range and the Squamish River can both be seen beautifully from the DeBeck's Hill Trail. This park is a favorite among families.

Location: north of Squamish, Idaho

Located in the Albion Mountains of the Sawtooth National Forest, Lake Cleveland is an alpine lake in Cassia County, Idaho, in the United States. Paved Forest Road 549 leads directly to Lake Cleveland and is very accessible. The lake is located in the basin to Mount Harrison's north. One is located at the east end of the lake, and the other is located at the west end. Three other campgrounds are nearby.

Kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards are perfect for use on Lake Cleveland because motorized boats are not permitted on the water. This wilderness lake is frequently inaccessible by vehicles for the majority of the year due to early winter snow accumulation. The campground in Lake Cleveland is a well-liked summertime destination. The campground's East Side and West Side loops are separated by their namesake. Every weekend from early July to Labor Day, the campground, which is quite popular with locals, is frequently full. Lake Cleveland is one of the best lakes to visit in Idaho.

Location: Cassia County, Idaho

Located near McCall, west-central Idaho, Payette Lake is a natural lake in the western United States. It is located in the upper drainage basin of the Payette River, which empties into the Snake River, and was created by glacial activity. A modest dam built in 1943 controls the lake's outflow for agricultural reasons. The normal descent of 5 feet 7 inches is finished by December, while the normal maximum lake surface elevation of 4,990 feet above sea level is reached in July.

The hub of McCall's activity is Payette Lake. The lake offers several things to keep the family occupied, including swimming, sailing, waterskiing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and boating. Just over two hours north of Boise, Payette Lake offers a picturesque escape. Similar to the glittering Cascade Lake coastlines nearby, Payette Lake is a well-liked spot for boating and lounging on sandy beaches. Ponderosa State Park manages various hiking routes, campsites, and picnic areas on a sizable peninsula that cuts into Payette Lake.

Location: Valley County, Idaho, U.S

Palisades Reservoir, which has a four-turbine hydroelectric generating plant, was finished in 1957 and supplies irrigation water, flood control, and recreational opportunities. Potentially, the dam may produce 176.5 MW of energy. Palisades Reservoir, the resultant water impoundment, has a 1.2 million acre-foot storage capacity. 2018 saw the inclusion of the dam and power plant on the National Register of Historic Places.

This enormous body of water includes many public access spots within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest to enjoy activities like boating, fishing, and hiking. Along with numerous campgrounds surrounding the shore, the surrounding woodland also offers opportunities for basic camping.

Just north of the Palisades Reservoir, the backcountry Palisades Lakes are well-liked backpacking and hiking locations for those seeking a more secluded lake experience. Upper Palisades Lake is about a seven-mile hike from the Palisades Creek Trailhead in the Swan Valley; hikers pass Lower Palisades Lake on the way. The path, which is well-traveled during the summer weekends, offers numerous breathtaking views of the Snake River Range.

Location: Bonneville County, Idaho, USA

On the boundary of Idaho and Utah in the Western United States is a natural freshwater lake called Bear Lake. It is roughly 109 square miles (280 km2) in size, divided evenly between the two states, and contains Utah's second-largest naturally occurring freshwater lake after Utah Lake. The lake's distinctive turquoise-blue color, brought on by the refraction of calcium carbonate (limestone) deposits suspended in the water, has earned it the moniker "Caribbean of the Rockies." Several distinct faunal species that are exclusively found in the lake have evolved as a result of the water characteristics of the lake. Bear Lake dates back more than 250,000. Fault subsidence, which still occurs today and is gradually deepening the lake on the eastern side, is what created it.

Due to the large number of attractions and recreational opportunities that are offered all year long, Bear Lake has become a well-liked vacation spot. Swimming, water skiing, jet skiing, boating, and sailing are popular summertime activities that lure people to the water. Travelers can also kill time by playing golf, exploring the nearby caverns, or riding their horses, bikes, ATVs, or foot along the mountain routes. Hunting, snow skiing, snowmobiling, or ice fishing are popular wintertime activities. Many visitors visit a nearby restaurant to try the "renowned raspberry shake" or the Pickleville Playhouse to attend a performance.

Location: Bear Lake County, Idaho

Located in eastern Idaho, Henrys Lake is a tiny, shallow alpine lake in the western United States. Its size is around 21 km2, and its length and width are 6.4 km and 3.2 km, respectively. Its surface elevation is 1,973 m above sea level. It is located in northern Fremont County on the southwest side of the Henrys Lake Mountains, directly west of Targhee Pass and north of Sawtell Peak, and about two miles south of the continental divide along the Montana state line.

Sport fishing is very popular in Henrys Lake. Yellowstone cutthroat is the most prevalent fish in the lake. They represent 55% of the whole trout population. Biologists found some fish over 20 inches in length in 2015, with the average size being 15 inches. Rainbow-cutthroat hybrids, which make up 24% of the population, are the second most common species. Although Idaho Fish and Game discovered hybrids longer than 25 inches, the average size is 19 inches. 21% of brook trout are found in this species. Despite having an average length of 16 inches, researchers have discovered numerous brook trout that were longer than 20 inches. On the lake's northern shore is a fish hatchery that contributes to lake replenishment.

Location: Fremont County, Idaho, U.S.

Alturas Lake which is one of the best lakes to visit in Idaho is an alpine lake located in the Sawtooth Valley of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in Blaine County, Idaho, in the United States. The lake is located roughly 48 kilometers northwest of Ketchum and 34 km south of Stanley. From State Highway 75, take Sawtooth National Forest Road 205 to get to Alturas Lake.

Alturas Lake, the second-largest lake in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, is located in the southern part of the Sawtooth Valley and is easily accessible from a number of campgrounds and private camps on its northern bank. Alturas Lake is upstream from Leah Lake and Logjam Lake.

The majority of motorized boating activities are popular on the lake, however, jet skis are not permitted. Alturas Inlet Campground is only one of the several campgrounds that line Alturas Lake's coastline. Fishing, swimming, and strolling along the picturesque shoreline are all excellent things to do at the day-use area on the north side of Alturas Lake.

Location: Blaine County, Idaho