Hayden Lake, Idaho, USA

Hayden Lake is located in the scenic panhandle of North Idaho in Kootenai County. With its sparkling water, pristine sandy beaches and timbered shoreline, 3800-acre Hayden Lake is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the region. The first known inhabitants in the Hayden Lake area were the Coeur d’Alene Native Americans who camped along the shoreline and lived on the abundance of fish and berries…
Keep scrolling to read more.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Hayden Lake! Article topics include:

Looking for Hayden Lake cabins or other accommodations? Save time and use this interactive map to find, compare and book at the best rates. Or explore more of our favorite travel partners.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase, we may earn a small referral fee at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure.

Explore Area Hotels

Nearby offer more hotel accommodations:

  • Check TripAdvisor
  • Check Expedia
  • Check Hotels.com
  • Check Booking.com

    • All About Hayden Lake, ID

    Lake Locations: USA - US West Region - Idaho - Northern Idaho -

    Hayden Lake is located in the scenic panhandle of North Idaho in Kootenai County. With its sparkling water, pristine sandy beaches and timbered shoreline, 3800-acre Hayden Lake is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the region.

    The first known inhabitants in the Hayden Lake area were the Coeur d’Alene Native Americans who camped along the shoreline and lived on the abundance of fish and berries in the area. In 1878, a homesteader named Matt Heyden built a sprawling farm on the southwestern shore and planted the first fruit orchard in the area. The lake eventually became known as Heyden’s Lake. Throughout the years the spelling of the name has changed and today it is called Hayden Lake. The nearby communities of Hayden and Hayden Lake take their name from this sparkling body of water.

    Hayden Lake’s irregular shape stretches for seven miles, giving the lake about 40 miles of shoreline. Three sides of Hayden Lake are surrounded by towering tree-covered mountains that rise to an elevation of 6,000 feet and extend to the east as part of the Bitterroot Mountain Range. Much of this panoramic landscape is part of the 726,362-acre Coeur d’Alene National Forest, famous for its camping, fishing, hunting, hiking trails, nature walks, horseback riding, bike riding, ATV trails, and skiing.

    Several hundred permanent residences and vacation rentals dot the shoreline of beautiful Hayden Lake. Celebrity Bing Crosby chose to build his summer home on the northwestern shore of the lake in the 1950s. Crosby’s love of golf and fishing attracted him to the peaceful area. For campers, there are campgrounds at the north end and eastern side of the lake. Hayden Lake’s public beach, known locally as Honeysuckle Beach, is located at the southwest edge of the lake. The sandy beach is a great spot for relaxing in the sun and building sand castles. A public boat ramp and picnic area can also be found near the beach.

    Like most of the lakes in the Idaho panhandle, Hayden Lake offers some superb fishing opportunities. The old state record for northern pike was tied in 2002 with a 38-pound, 9-ounce fish pulled from Hayden Lake. Other fish include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, walleye, brown bullhead, and bluegill. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game also stocks the lake with cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. Note: Although most fish taken from Idaho lakes and streams are safe to eat, refer to the Idaho Fish Advisory (link below) before eating fish caught from any Idaho waterway.

    For additional outdoor recreation, the city of Coeur d’Alene, located on shimmering 30,000-acre Coeur d’Alene Lake, is just 15 minutes south off Highway 95. Coeur d’Alene offers a variety of seasonal festivals and fairs, culinary delights, a summer theater, and an art walk and multiple art galleries. The downtown area features over 100 merchants offering unique gifts and collectables. North of Coeur d’Alene is the Silverwood theme park, complete with roller coasters, rides and attractions for all ages. Whitewater rafting, boat rentals, golf courses, and a casino can be found within a short drive from town. Being right on the lake, visitors can enjoy sandy beaches, a hike around a 120-acre waterfront preserve on the downtown waterfront or a stroll along the world’s longest floating boardwalk. Walkers, runners and bikers will love the North Idaho Centennial Trail that stretches along the shoreline east of Coeur d’Alene to the Washington state line.

    The Cities of Hayden and Hayden Lake provide the area with complete shopping facilities and restaurants. Lodging and all kinds of private real estate are also plentiful. For golfers, there are a number of world-class golf courses within five to 30 minutes of Hayden Lake. Skiers and winter sports enthusiasts will find major ski resorts, hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails and plenty of opportunities for ice fishing in the area. Located in where mountains and forests abound, the opportunities at Hayden Lake for hiking, biking, hunting, wildlife viewing and camping are unlimited.

    Close to the city, yet still offering privacy and an abundance of wildlife, beautiful Hayden Lake has it all. Championship golf courses, lakeside restaurants, antiques, museums and all the hiking, hunting and water-related sports you can handle make Hayden Lake ideal for your next vacation or place to call home.

    Things to Do at Hayden Lake

    These are some activities in the Hayden Lake, ID area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Whitewater Rafting
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Snowmobiling
    • Horseback Riding
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • National Forest
    • Museum
    • Antiquing
    • Shopping
    • Casino Gambling

    What Kind of Fish Are in Hayden Lake?

    Hayden Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Bluegill
    • Brown Bullhead
    • Crappie
    • Cutthroat Trout
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Trout
    • Walleye
    • Yellow Perch
    divider

    Find Places to Stay at Hayden Lake

    If you’re considering a Hayden Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Hayden Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Hayden Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

    Check TripAdvisor
    Check Expedia
    Find a Campspot
    All Travel Resources

    Hayden Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

    divider

    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Surface Area: 3,800 acres

    Shoreline Length: 40 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 2,239 feet

    Average Depth: 100 feet

    Maximum Depth: 185 feet

    Lake Area-Population: 500

    Hayden Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

    More local lakes to explore in this area:

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Coeur d’Alene Lake, ID

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Hauser Lake, ID

    LakeLubbers heart icon

    Lake Pend Oreille, ID

    We strive to keep information on LakeLubbers as accurate as possible. If you’ve found something here that needs updating, please touch base by filling out our Content Correction form.

    Shop Hayden Lake Gifts

    Custom Lake Tumblers

    Create Your Own Captain / First Mate Custom 20oz Tumbler

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake T Shirt

    Create Your Personalized My Boat My Rules Unisex T-Shirt

    ORDER HERE
    Custom Lake Coffee Mug - On Lake Time

    Create a Custom Coffee Mug – 11oz or 15oz

    ORDER HERE
    VIEW ALL CUSTOM LAKE PRODUCTS

    More Hayden Lake news from LakeLubbers.com

    • Advertise your vacation rental property or local business: DETAILS HERE
    • The Hayden Lake forum has been discontinued: HERE’S WHY
    • New Hayden Lake photos coming soon!
    • You’re invited to join our lake-lovin’ community on Facebook and Instagram!
    • Share this Hayden Lake article with your fellow LakeLubbers: