Things To Do
Hiking, Trail Running, and Berry Picking
Schweitzer has multiple hiking trails that take off from the Village. We suggest taking the Nature Trail to Colburn Lake or the Summit. If you hike to the summit, the Sky House is open for lunch and beverages with a view! Huckleberries should also be in season during the wedding. The ski area is covered in bushes. If you're looking for something more adventurous, Scotchman Peak outside Hope, Idaho is the local test piece. You will see incredible views of the Cabinet Range, Lake Pend Oreille, and may get licked by a mountain goat. You will not be disappointed. Similarly, the trails to Harrison Lake and Beehive Lake in the Selkirk Range north of Schweitzer are spectacular and home to Kait and Breyden's first backpacking trip together.
Swimming, Boating, and Fishing
With three of the largest, most pristine lakes in the region, it's easy to find great water activities in the Panhandle. Schweitzer is 20 minutes north of Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho's largest lake and 38th largest in the country. The City Beach Park in Sandpoint is lined with golden sand and is a great place to spend an afternoon swimming. Boat rentals are also readily available in Sandpoint for getting on the water. If you have more time, we particularly love the crystal clear waters and colorful cobbles of Green Bay on Lake Pend Oreille. There is also hiking and camping at Green Bay. Outside of Lake Pend Oreille, nearby Priest Lake and Lake Coeur d'Alene are enough to satisfy even the most ardent lake loungers. You could easily spend a week at each.
Mountain Biking
Schweitzer has a lift served bike park. While it's no Whistler, it's plenty worthy of an afternoon. Just down the road, Panhandle Bike Ranch is a new shuttle accessed park built by the same outfit who built many trails at Whistler's park. Our pick would be to pedal or shuttle the lower basin trails just downhill from the Village. Missing Lynx is an amazing trail. For intermediate riders, Galaxie to Phone Home are also excellent. For $10/ride, Selkirk Recreation District offers shuttle service from the Lower Trailhead or Red Barn parking lot at the bottom of Schweitzer Mountain Road. For big vert, you can pedal or shuttle from the lower parking lot and ride all the way to Schweitzer's summit, grab a beer at the Sky House, and rip 4k down Highpoint, Gnarnia, and Sidewinder to reconnect to the lower basin trails. Beacon Hill and Mica Peak in Spokane as well as Canfield Mountain in Coeur d'Alene are all worthy of a day's visit if you're passing through.
Shopping and Dining
Schweitzer Village contains multiple bars and restaurants on site, including the Chimney Rock Grill, Pucci's Pub (Breyden's favorite apres ski spot), Powderhound Pizza, and the Crow's Bench. Just down the hill, Sandpoint is a charming lakeside town with many shops and restaurants waiting to be explored. Don't miss Panhandle Cone and Coffee for ice cream.
Silverwood Theme Park
Bringing the kids? We would be remiss to discount that Silverwood, the Northwest's largest theme park, is 40 minutes from Schweitzer, between Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene.