EXPERIENCE HISTORIC BEAUTY!

From Industrial Roots to a Recreational Retreat

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Lake Coeur d'Alene Cruises' Mission Statement:

"To be the premium provider of the best on-the-water experience."

proud heritage

DISCOVER THE HISTORY OF LAKE COEUR D’ALENE

The lake – and later the city of Coeur d’Alene – was named by French fur traders. It means “heart of the awl” and is thought by some to be a reference to the tribe’s “sharp” trading practices.

This region has a proud timber and mining heritage. At one time, there were more than 50 steamships working on the lake, hauling logs, mine ore and transporting passengers. In fact, the area became so busy that General William T. Sherman ordered a fort to be constructed on the lake in the 1870s, named Fort Coeur d’Alene. That site, later called Fort Sherman after the city’s founding in 1887, is now occupied by North Idaho College, a junior college on the lake.

While the timber and mining industry are not a major industry on the lake anymore, Coeur d’Alene is still very much a part of life in North Idaho. Coeur d’Alene landed on the international travel scene with the opening of The Coeur d’Alene Resort in 1986 and has since become a playground for millions of visitors.

the wildlife

A Rich Ecosystem Awaits

Lake Coeur d’Alene is home to Idaho’s famed bird of prey – the Osprey. A large bird with wingspans up to six feet, Osprey hover above the water while searching for fish. Once they lock onto their prey, Osprey is known to dive feet-first into the water to catch its dinner with a unique foot designed to catch and hold the slippery fish.

Lake Coeur d’Alene is also a winter migratory stop for the American Bald Eagle. Each December and January, large numbers of eagles return to the lake to feed on spawning kokanee salmon.You can see the birds on a drive out towards Beauty Bay, or you can go on an eagle-watching cruise with Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises.

EAGLE WATCHING CRUISES
SCENIC CRUISES

the landmarks

Noteworthy Sites Around Lake Coeur d’Alene

Once described by National Geographic as one of the five most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Coeur d’Alene is 25 miles long and 10 miles across at its widest point, with an average depth of about 100 feet.

Lake Coeur d’Alene was carved by repeated flooding during a glacial period when ice covered much of the lands to the north. It is a natural lake fed by two rivers, the Coeur d’Alene River and the St. Joe River. The single outlet is the Spokane River, which flows to the west to join the Columbia River on its way to the Pacific Ocean.

Hundreds of years ago, Coeur d’Alene’s waters served Native American canoes, cargo steamships, tugboats, and more. Now, it has become a recreational lake for family and friends to enjoy all year long.

Coeur d'Alene Resort

The Resort has 338 beautiful guest rooms and suites, a top-ranked destination spa, excellent restaurants and lounges and an award-winning golf course. Conde’ Nast Traveler named The Coeur d’Alene Resort “America’s Top Mainland Resort and the World’s Top Travel Product.”

Tubbs Hill

Tubbs Hill is a 120-acre natural preserve with hiking trails, mountain views, a swinging bridge and access to secluded beaches. You can reach the three-mile loop trail at the Tubbs Hill entrance just east of The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

The Floating Green

The green weighs 5 million pounds and is moved using cables attached to the lake bottom. These cables help change the distance of the Floating Green between 75 and 175 yards from shore. Each year there are 3 or 4 hole-in-ones recorded on the green. About 24,000 balls per year miss the target and end up on the lake bottom where they are recovered by divers.

Floating Boardwalk

Completed in April 1985, is the world’s longest of its kind at 3,300 feet long, 12 feet wide and 10 feet deep, with a 60-foot-long bridge on the west side. The boardwalk and 362-slip marina are built with 16,000 cedar logs, 28,000 pounds of spikes, 16,000 lag screws, 8,000 pounds of bolts, 500,000 board feet of lumber and 5 miles of bumper strips.

COEUR D'ALENE RESORT

The Resort has 338 beautiful guest rooms and suites, a top-ranked destination spa, excellent restaurants and lounges and an award-winning golf course. Conde’ Nast Traveler named The Coeur d’Alene Resort “America’s Top Mainland Resort and the World’s Top Travel Product.”

TUBBS HILL

Tubbs Hill is a 120-acre natural preserve with hiking trails, mountain views, a swinging bridge and access to secluded beaches. You can reach the three-mile loop trail at the Tubbs Hill entrance just east of The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

THE FLOATING GREEN

The green weighs 5 million pounds and is moved using cables attached to the lake bottom. These cables help change the distance of the Floating Green between 75 and 175 yards from shore. Each year there are 3 or 4 hole-in-ones recorded on the green. About 24,000 balls per year miss the target and end up on the lake bottom where they are recovered by divers.

THE FLOATING BOARDWALK

Completed in April 1985, is the world’s longest of its kind at 3,300 feet long, 12 feet wide and 10 feet deep, with a 60-foot-long bridge on the west side. The boardwalk and 362-slip marina are built with 16,000 cedar logs, 28,000 pounds of spikes, 16,000 lag screws, 8,000 pounds of bolts, 500,000 board feet of lumber and 5 miles of bumper strips.

testimonials

Enjoying the Best On-Water Experience

We did our wedding through the Coeur D’Alene Resort cruise package and had literally the most amazing perfect wedding. Becky, our Event Planner at the Resort, was amazing. She had everything organized to the last detail … Our wedding was coordinated, decorated, performed beyond our expectations. The entire experience was literally perfect and everything was done just as we had hoped for.

– Unknown Individual

We did our wedding through the Coeur D’Alene Resort cruise package and had literally the most amazing perfect wedding. Becky, our Event Planner at the Resort, was amazing. She had everything organized to the last detail … Our wedding was coordinated, decorated, performed beyond our expectations. The entire experience was literally perfect and everything was done just as we had hoped for.

– Unknown Individual

reach out

Speak with our cruise event planners to help

Interested in booking a private charter cruise for your special event? Imagining your wedding on a luxurious cruise? Questions about our scenic cruises or upcoming events? Get in touch with a cruise specialist today!

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