Priest Lake

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