Both the sandy beach and cool grassy shoreside park at Payette Lake provide summertime pleasures in McCall.
Standup paddle boards, kayaks, and sailboats are popular ways to enjoy Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint.
The paved Latah Trail between Moscow and Troy takes bikers out into rolling farmlands.
Sandpoint has many bike paths that meander alongside Lake Pend Oreille.
riverside trail and breathed in the refreshing spirit of small town living where life moves at a slower pace and every view is backed by majestic mountains. This brief foray into Idaho’s spectacular back country on our south-to-north route inspired us to explore another scenic byway a few months later as we traveled back through Idaho from north to south. This time we were on the western side of the state, and we followed U.S. Highway 95 from the top of Idaho’s panhandle down toward the southern part of the state. Our first stop was in the summer beach town of Sandpoint on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. Who knew that the Rocky Mountains embrace lakeside beach towns that are every bit as fun as those on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts? Sandpoint City Beach Park is a big grassy peninsula that juts out into the lake. Boats of every description line the marina docks and seagulls fill the air with their cries. Out on the water we watched people enjoying standup paddle boards while we got our exercise riding our bikes on the lovely Pend Oreille Bay Trail that meanders along the waterfront. This trail is popular with walkers, joggers, and cyclists, offering sweeping views of the lake in several spots, and it is well shaded from the hot summer sun by tall leafy trees for much of its length.
Sandpoint is a lively town and we were amused when the locals suggested we check out the Libation District where both microbrew pubs and wineries line the streets. But adult beverages aren’t the only specialty in Sandpoint. Looking to quench our thirst in the morning, we visited Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters and sampled their heavenly dark and rich Guatemalan roast and even took home a pound for later. Not to be outdone by the many yummy brews available around town, Litehouse Bleu Cheese Factory, nationally known for their salad dressing, has its headquarters in Sandpoint and we did a little sampling there too! While the beach is Sandpoint’s hotspot in the summertime, the nearby Schweitzer Ski Resort brings skiers to town all winter long. We took a drive up to the now quiet resort where we got a wide-angle view of the town snuggled up against the lake with mountains all around. Hopping back on U.S. 95 and heading further south, we continued on to the tiny village of Moscow where we found the Latah Trail, a delightful paved bike path that goes out over rolling hills and into the furrowed farmlands. Slowly and leisurely pedaling our bikes, we soaked in the picturesque scenery all around us as we rode eleven miles to the village of Troy. The sleepy
IDAHO SCENIC BACKROADS
COAST TO COAST SUMMER MAGAZINE 2018
23
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online