Heyburn State Park

The oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest, featuring three interconnected lakes, historic CCC stone lodges, and the paved Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.

Heyburn State Park, established in 1908, holds the distinction of being the oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest. Comprising 5,744 acres of land and 2,332 acres of water, the park sits at the southern tip of Lake Coeur d'Alene, encompassing three interconnected bodies of water: Chatcolet, Benewah, and Hidden Lake. The shadowy St. Joe River, the highest navigable river in the world, meanders along the eastern boundary, its waters separated from the lakes by narrow natural levees. Long before it became a park, this region was a vital gathering place for the Schitsu'umsh, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, who relied on the rich wetlands for fish and waterfowl, and hunted the timbered slopes for deer and bear. The park was created from their reservation land through an act of Congress spearheaded by Idaho Senator Weldon B. Heyburn, with the deed eventually signed by President William Howard Taft.

During the Great Depression, the park underwent a massive transformation under the hands of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp SP-1, Company 1995. Between 1934 and 1942, these young workers built the park's roads, trail networks, water systems, and several iconic buildings that still stand today. In 1995, three major CCC-built zones were placed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Rocky Point CCC Properties, the Plummer Point CCC Picnic and Hiking Area, and the Chatcolet CCC Picnic and Camping Area. The Rocky Point Lodge, now serving as the park's interpretive center, showcases the classic National Park Service rustic style of architecture, utilizing heavy timber and native stone. These structures sit comfortably beneath a canopy of old-growth ponderosa pines, western red cedars, hemlocks, and western white pines, which is Idaho's state tree.

Today, visitors explore the park through an extensive network of trails and waterways. The 72-mile paved Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes runs directly through the park, crossing the St. Joe River over a dramatic 3,100-foot trestle bridge. Hikers can tackle the 3.5-mile Indian Cliffs Trail, a loop that climbs through light timber to basalt ledges, offering views of the river and the marshy lake channels below. For a shorter walk, the adjacent one-mile CCC Nature Trail winds through a level forest, perfect for identifying different evergreen species. Water recreation is centered around the Rocky Point Marina, which offers boat rentals, while the newly upgraded Chatcolet Marina provides seasonal moorage and a long public promenade. Overnight guests can pitch tents or park RVs at Hawleys Landing, Benewah, or Chatcolet campgrounds, or book one of the cozy camper cabins, such as Blue Heron or Osprey, to fall asleep to the sound of wind in the pines.