Location: Northern Idaho around Lake Pend Oreille Length: 33 miles (53.11 km) Time To Allow: 2 hours Description/Highlights/Points of Interest Pend Oreille Scenic Byway is truly a water lover's paradise. The byway follows the shore of Lake Pend Oreille for the majority of the length of the byway, and then winds alongside the Clark Fork River to the Montana state line. Mountains surround the lake and the byway, and peaceful mountain landscapes can be seen reflected in the many miles of water along the byway. The area is largely undeveloped, ensuring that visitors will be treated to the serene outdoors of Idaho by viewing waterfowl, other species of wildlife, and a variety of plants. Suggested Itinerary Your tour of the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway begins at U.S. 95 north of Sandpoint, Idaho and follows Idaho State Highway 200 to the Montana state line. Although the byway is open year-round, it can become icy in winter, causing precarious driving conditions. Spring and fall colors are dramatic along this scenic route. Originally known as "Point of Sand," Sandpoint is located on the north end of spectacular Lake Pend Oreille. Settled in the 1880s, Sandpoint became an important logging, milling and rail center. Today, it is a thriving resort community with lively visual and performing arts, shopping and nightlife. Summers allow for hiking, boating, swimming, fishing and mountain biking. Winter activities include skiing at Schweitzer Mountain, Nordic skiing and snowmobiling. With a dazzling view of Lake Pend Oreille, Schweitzer Mountain Resort lies high in the Selkirk Mountains and offers a wide variety of activities in every season. A lift can take you to the top of the slopes for hiking, huckleberry picking, music festivals or a thrilling mountain bike ride down the mountain. Schweitzer partners with Hidden Lakes to provide golf packages on one of the most beautiful courses in the northwest. In the winter, abundant snowfall buries the slopes in more than 300 inches (762 cm) of delightful white snow annually. With 2,500 skiable acres, Schweitzer is Idaho's second largest ski area. Facilities include the Selkirk Lodge, the White Pine Lodge, a gift shop, a general store, restaurants and cafes, a lounge and a chapel. Formed by glaciers and encircled by mountain peaks and deep green forests, Lake Pend Oreille is one of the largest inland lakes in North America. The name came from the early French trappers, referring to the earlobe pendants worn by the local Indian tribe. A renowned recreation and fishing mecca with a shoreline of 143 miles (230 km), its depth has been measured in excess of 1,170 feet. For more information on this byway, contact: Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce