Lake Pend Oreille is Idaho’s largest lake and the fifth deepest in the country, with depths reaching 1,152 feet. Set in a valley carved by glaciers from Canada and surrounded by two national forests, the 38,000-hectare lake was formed during the last ice age and resembles the shape of an ear. It was used for testing equipment by submarine researchers during World War II, but today its picturesque waterways and rocky banks are reserved for recreational purposes such as pleasure boating, fishing for rainbow trout, sailing, and swimming. The dense woodlands and lush landscapes around the lake are home to a plethora of wildlife, including grey wolves and grizzly bears.

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