Northwest Lifestyle Feature | Lake Coeur d’Alene

A blog by John Anderson, Broker, Licensed in MT, ID

Lake Coeur d’Alene is a paradise offering long summer days, cool evenings, dramatic sunsets, and endless recreation. Only 300 miles away from the hustle and bustle of Seattle, this gem is close enough to metropolitan areas for weekend getaways or long vacations.  The lake is large and possesses over 109 miles of shoreline, with hidden coves, cattail marshes, verdant meadows, lush forests, sandy beaches, and mountain views.  One can enjoy limitless outdoor recreational activities, but there is also a plethora of other amenities offered by the city of Coeur d’Alene, such as fine dining, an art gallery, an amusement park, and a winery.

Black Rock Ranch 

Summertime on Lake Coeur d’Alene is a time for recreational delights that appeal to almost everyone. Warm sandy beaches and calm deep coves provide the perfect environment to pursue every watersport imaginably.  Lodging accommodations are easy to find and range from the extravagant to a budget-savvy price for nearly anyone’s pocketbook. Multiple campgrounds, RV parks, and marinas provide the perfect spots for family outings. The Coeur d’Alene Resort offers year-round activities to include challenging the world’s only ‘Floating Green,’ a spa voted ‘Most-Romantic’ by MSNBC.com, winter sporting packages, and holiday celebrations fit for the entire family!

Reaching depths up to 220 feet, the lake provides multiple fishery habitats and is home to 23 different species. Anglers enjoy the vast openness of the lake and can target Chinook and Kokanee salmon, Rainbow Trout, Small Mouth Bass, Large Mouth Bass, Sun Fish, Pike, and several other species.  The shallow, warm bays provide the perfect habitat for Large Mouth Bass and Sun Fish.  Kids enjoy the thrill of action that these feisty fish provide.

Coeur d’Alene Resort Fly Fishing Idaho

The term “Lifestyle Ranch” has become a common term to describe ranches that provide a variety of recreational pursuits, but most of the lifestyle ranches available don’t really fit the true definition.  Lifestyle ranches should have equal access to a plethora of recreational pursuits, like horseback riding, horse training facilities, water sports, hiking, fishing, hunting, biking, dining out, shopping, and evening entertainment.  Most ranches provide an abundance of one of these attributes but only limited opportunities for the others.  Finding a ranch close to a metropolitan area is difficult.  The majority of these lifestyle ranches are actually hay farms, cattle ranches, or hunting ranches.

The Black Rock Ranch overlooks both the Coeur d’Alene and Anderson Lakes and offers a rare opportunity to enjoy a lifestyle of recreational pursuits.  A generous expanse of lakeshore with a private boat dock and picnic area exists for those warm summer afternoons and watersport activities.  Miles of trails through mountain meadows and forests beckon hiking and biking enthusiasts.  A state-of-the-art horse facility, second to none, boasts a 45,000 square-foot indoor riding arena, 96 equine stalls, and an equine laboratory.  A well-appointed, elegant home with a western flare rests on a slightly elevated knoll and has breathtaking views of both Coeur d’Alene and Anderson lakes.  A gorgeous barn provides top-notch lodging for the stallions and a guest house that offers elegant accommodations for visitors. Close to the quaint town of Harrison and only 35 miles from the city of Coeur d’Alene, this ranch provides country living at its finest and also quick access to a picturesque community with many amenities.

Black Rock Ranch: Arguably the largest and most sophisticated horse ranch in the Northwest. Conveniently located on the second largest lake offering endless amounts of recreational opportunities year-round!