CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

Located at approximately 2,070 feet, Sandpoint has a four-season climate. Average highs in the summer tend towards 81 degrees, while average lows in the winter sit around 21 degrees. Sandpoint receives an average of 33 inches of annual precipitation and an average snowfall of 88 inches, with variances for higher elevations. The hottest and driest month is July, while the coldest is January, and the wettest is December.

Beautiful summer weather allows locals to enjoy a day in the sun at City Beach, sail across Lake Pend Oreille, explore the Cabinet or Selkirk Mountains on horseback, and more. In the winter, there is ample snow to alpine ski, snowboard, cross country, or telemark at Schweitzer Ski Resort or in the surrounding backcountry, in addition to plenty of local trails for snowshoeing and alpine hiking.

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HEALTHCARE

Sandpoint is home to Bonner General Health, which serves a population of approximately 57,000 in a widely-dispersed geographical area that extends to the borders of Canada, Washington, and Montana. The hospital is a full service acute care facility accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and is a member of the Voluntary Hospitals of America. As a not-for-profit hospital, Bonner General operates under the guidance of a board of directors. The hospital is continuously upgrading technologies, exploring new services, and seeking employees who demonstrate the very best in patient care.

In addition to Bonner General Health, there are many independent dentists, doctors, physical therapists, and specialists ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics in the area who are well-equipped to handle your health needs. For extraordinary cases, nearby Spokane offers additional support and care with several large hospitals and specialized facilities. 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Sandpoint has a proud history of the arts, going back to the opening of the Panida Theatre in the early 1900’s. Community theater productions take place during the summers, while small touring shows also pass through. For off-Broadway productions, the city of Spokane regularly hosts shows like Cats, West Side Story, and other major plays and musicals. Sandpoint has allowed talented artists to blossom, such as photographer Ross Hall and musicians like Kristy Osmunson, Holly McGarry, and the band Biddadat. Local talents are often on display with a host of events like the Festival of Sandpoint, the Artists’ Studio Tour of North Idaho, and the Arts & Crafts Fair. The Festival at Sandpoint, which takes place in late July and early August, hosts world-class musicians from Jackson Browne, to Sublime, to Jake Owen on the beautiful shores of Lake Pend Oreille. Galleries align downtown’s corridor, events like the Summer Sampler offer the opportunity to experience a variety of local food, and BeerFest and Schweitzer’s FallFest serve up a stunning mix of Pacific Northwest microbrews. 

RECREATION

Sandpoint has eight city parks, three state parks, two national forests, two golf courses, one ski resort, and miles of hiking, biking, and walking trails. In a town of approximately 8,000 people, you can still get social with nature. Read on for a partial list of outdoor recreation opportunities. 

City Parks

The expansive Travers Park complex, which includes Great Northern Field and Centennial Park, is home to baseball and soccer fields, as well as a skatepark, while a mile-long walking/running trail offers a scenic loop. Lakeview Park boasts a sizable arboretum, tennis and basketball courts, the Bonner County Historical Society and Museum, and play areas for kids of all ages. Other, smaller, parks still offer plenty of recreational activities.

Farragut State Park

A former WWII Naval Training Facility, this park offers 4,000 scenic acres alongside the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille with year-round recreation including camping, fishing, biking, frisbee golf, hiking and cross-country ski trails.

Idaho Panhandle National Forest

With far too many hiking and biking trails, backcountry campsites, and alpine fishing streams to list here, the Panhandle National Forest encompasses most of the mountains and forests around Sandpoint. Trail guides and maps for national forests are provided by rangers with offices located in Sandpoint.

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge

Nestled in the Selkirk Mountains, this almost 3,000 acre wildlife refuge hosts a wide variety of birds and beasts alike. The refuge is located near Bonners Ferry, 30 miles north of Sandpoint. 

Lake Pend Oreille

Known as Idaho’s Crown Jewel, and for good reason, Lake Pend Oreille is accessible from downtown Sandpoint or any of the dozens of public beaches and campgrounds scattered around the lake. Sandpoint’s City Beach offers accessible public swimming, while the lake itself is home to fishing, boating, sailing, and other recreational opportunities, such as ice-skating and ice-fishing in the winter months.

Priest Lake

Beautiful Priest Lake is located in the northern tip of Bonner Country. Camping, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling are all fixtures of the remote area.

Round Lake State Park

Eleven miles south of Sandpoint in Sagle is scenic Round Lake, home to camping, fishing, hiking, ice skating, trail-running, and cross country skiing.

Schweitzer 

Approximately 11 miles northwest of Sandpoint, this first-class ski resort offers year-round recreation, including both alpine and nordic skiing, snowshoeing, snow cat tours, biking, hiking, geocaching, and more. 

Silverwood Theme Park

Located 25 miles south of Sandpoint is the Northwest’s largest theme park with over 65 rides and attractions, including an extensive outdoor water park.