Spirit Lake

Spirit Lake is well known for its outstanding bass and Kokanee salmon fishing and offers clear, warm, uncongested boating and flat glass water skiing. Served by two resorts, Spirit Lake has 12 miles of shoreline, is 4.5 miles long and one mile wide. 100 feet at its deepest. Spirit Lake is the highest of all small lakes in North Idaho with an elevation of 2,400 feet and is one of only two sealed bottom lakes in the world. Sandpoint is 30 minutes north and Coeur d'Alene is 30 minutes south, and one hour from Spokane, Spirit Lake has easy access to cities, while maintaining the small town atmosphere. Rathdrum, Hayden Lake, and Athol are the closest communities. With timber land and majestic waterfront views it is a retreat to see the beautiful water of this fascinating "Lake of the Spirits". 

Spirit Lake is reputed to be one of only two lakes in the world with a sealed bottom -- an apt location for those phantom spirits that are said to haunt the beautiful waters of this fascinating Lake of the Spirits. Geologists relate that in the Pre-Cambrian Age and Paleozoic Age, which were made up of flows of lava and ice, and also during which the earth was ravaged by fire, glaciers moved down from the north and caused the lakes and mountains of today. Then, a lake extended from Coeur d’Alene to Missoula, Montana, and north to Canada. Coeur d’Alene, Pend Oreille, and all of the small lakes in this part of the Northwest are just small remnants of that immense sheet of water. The city of Spirit Lake rests on a plateau composed of glacial sand and gravel. Years ago a well digger dug a hole 3 feet square and 525 feet deep. He was almost 400 feet below the level of the lake and there was no trace of water and after a period of time there were no signs of seepage. Rumors have it that Spirit Lake has an underground outlet, but this has never been proven.

Spirit Lake was an attraction that brought summer excursion trains for vacationers in the early years. This traffic was gradually lost to the auto and regular passenger service on the I&WN ended in January 1937.The shores of Spirit Lake served as a site for summer homes for several years. Later, the summer people became year-round residents. City residents are now listed at approximately 900 in 1989, but lake residents boost the population to nearly triple that number. New construction is progressing. In the mid 70s a move was made to create an Old West appearance to the businesses on Maine Street. The city still serves as a bedroom community for workers employed elsewhere and still retains its small-town atmosphere.