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WELCOME TO THE PRIEST LAKE RANGER DISTRICT
Breathtaking view of Priest Lake |
Priest Lake, which is often referred to by
the natives as "God's Country", was originally
called Roothaan Lake by Father Desmet in 1846 in honor of his Jesuit
Superior in Rome. One of the prominent peaks in the Selkirk Range
still bears the name Roothaan.
In 1865, Captain John Mullan designated this same lake as Kaniksu
Lake on one of his maps. It is believed that "Kaniksu" was the Indian
name of Black Robe, although this has never been authenticated. The
name was gradually changed in the early 1900's from Kaniksu Lake to
its present name of Priest Lake, which refers to the early-day Jesuit
missionary priests who had established a base camp at Kalispell Bay
in the 1840's.
The lake is one of three largest and most beautiful lakes in the Idaho
Panhandle, and a very popular recreation attraction. The world's largest
Makinaw trout was caught here in 1963. Dolly Varden, Cutthroat, and
Kokanee are also caught in the lake. It is now illegal to fish for
Dolly Varden and they are to be returned to the lake when caught.
Upper Priest Lake is part of the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. There
were five small parcels of private land totaling about 420 acres on
Upper Priest Lake. The Forest Service purchased these tracts in 1967
with the assistance of Nature Conservancy. The entire shoreline of
Upper Priest Lake is now in either the State of Idaho or Federal ownership,
and is administered as a scenic area.
Upper Priest River, which flows into Upper Priest Lake, is one of
the rivers to be studied for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers
system along with the lower Priest River which was famous in the early
days as a log-drive stream. The first recorded drive was in 1901 and
the last in 1949. The greatest drive took place in 1931 when 50,000
cedar poles and 125,000,000 board feet or logs were herded down the
river by the "river pigs".
Priest Lake: |
- Length - 19 miles
- Width - 2-1/2 to 3miles
- Acres - 26,000
- Elevation above sea level - 2,438 feet
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Upper Priest Lake: |
- Length - 3-1/2 miles
- Width - less than a mile
- Acres - 1,700
- Elevation above sea level - 2,438 feet
- Thorofare connecting Upper Priest and Priest Lake - 2-1/2 miles
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DISTRICT INFORMATION
Priest Lake Ranger District
32203 Hwy. 57
Priest River, ID, 83856-9612
(208) 443-2512
FAX: (208) 443-6845
Office hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Located on St. Hwy. 57, mile post 32, 3 miles south of Nordman
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Last updated: 11/25/08
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