Priest Lake, Lake in northern Idaho, United States.
The lake extends across 31 square kilometers with a maximum depth of 39 feet (12 meters), positioned at an elevation of 2,441 feet (744 meters) in the northern part of the Idaho Panhandle, surrounded by forested areas and mountains.
Pierre-Jean De Smet initially named the body of water De Boey Lake to honor his Belgian patron, while Captain John Mullan introduced its current name in 1865 after mapping the area during his surveying expeditions.
The name Kaniksu Lake means black robes in local indigenous language, referring to the area's importance for various tribes who maintained fishing grounds and seasonal camps here before European settlers arrived in the region.
The water connects with the Priest River system and offers year-round opportunities for fishing, boating, and water recreation, with several public access points along the shoreline available for visitors throughout different seasons.
During De Smet's first documentation of the water body in the 19th century, he recorded large populations of swans, ducks, and wild geese inhabiting the area, demonstrating the richness of wetland habitats in this remote mountain region.
Location: Idaho
GPS coordinates: 48.56667,-116.86667
Latest update: November 29, 2025 15:49
Idaho's remote locations offer access to diverse landscapes ranging from alpine lakes nestled in mountain ranges to volcanic formations and high desert terrain. The state contains geological features formed over thousands of years, including lava tubes that preserve ice year-round, sand dunes rising hundreds of feet, and one of North America's deepest river canyons. Historic mining towns preserve architecture from the silver boom era, while natural hot springs dot the landscape alongside waterfalls that cascade through forested valleys. These destinations span from the granite spires of City of Rocks National Reserve, where climbers tackle routes on 600-foot rock formations, to Priest Lake in the northern forests, stretching 19 miles through conifer-covered wilderness. Visitors can explore the black lava fields of Craters of the Moon, spanning over 1,100 square miles, or descend into caves where ice formations persist despite surface temperatures. The Snake River carves through Hell's Canyon at depths reaching 7,900 feet, creating opportunities for rafting and fishing. Whether hiking to Sawtooth Lake at 8,800 feet elevation, observing stars from an observatory at Bruneau Dunes State Park, or walking through the Victorian streets of Wallace, these locations provide experiences across Idaho's varied terrain.
Farragut State Park
70 km
Salmo-Priest Wilderness
36.3 km
Colville National Forest
34.4 km
Albeni Falls Dam
44.2 km
Mount Spokane State Park
73.8 km
Metaline Falls-Nelway Border Crossing
57.8 km
Fort Colvile
75.5 km
Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge
56.1 km
Crawford State Park Heritage Site
60.3 km
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge
37.2 km
Moyie River Canyon Bridge
53.7 km
Box Canyon Dam (Washington)
46.6 km
Round Lake State Park
48 km
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge
73.1 km
Metaline Falls Bridge
49.9 km
Northport Bridge
77.6 km
Eureka Community Hall
70.4 km
Dover Church
40.4 km
Boundary County Courthouse
43.2 km
Amanda Nesbitt House
39.7 km
Colville Opera House and Odd Fellows Hall
76.7 km
Sandpoint Federal Building
39.9 km
Salmo railway station
76.2 km
Russell and Pearl Soderling House
42.6 km
Box Canyon Bridge
46.5 km
Dr. John and Viola Phillips House and Office
45 km
United States Border Station
57.7 km
Spirit Lake Historic District
66.9 kmReviews
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