The Pacific Northwest is a region of the United States that covers the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. It is renowned worldwide for its natural beauty, with numerous iconic state and national parks sitting within it.

From the deserts of southern Idaho to the rainforests of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, the Pacific Northwest is also home to a number of lakes that are worth checking out too. Let’s look at some of the best lakeside towns you can stop at in the PNW during your next trip to the region. From accommodations with great views to idyllic swimming holes, see what gems you can visit today!

Sandpoint, Idaho

Sandpoint, located on the northern shore of Lake Pend Oreille, is one of the most popular lakeside communities in the Pacific Northwest. This town of around 10,000 residents is surrounded by the Selkirk, Cabinet, and Bitterroot mountain ranges, making for a gorgeous backdrop against the waters of the lake.

Lake Pend Oreille, the largest lake in Idaho, provides ways for visitors and residents alike to go swimming, boating, and fishing during the summer months, while its 111 miles of shoreline offer plenty of scenic spots for picnicking and hiking.

Downtown Sandpoint contains many amenities, including locally owned shops, hotels, and restaurants. The town has a focus on the arts, which is showcased at the historic Panida Theater, which hosts concerts, plays, and film screenings throughout the year. For another unique experience in the summer, visit the Sandpoint Farmers Market, where local crafts, produce, and live music can be found.

Nearby, Schweitzer Mountain Resort is a year-round destination, offering skiing in winter and hiking and mountain biking in warmer months. Trails such as Mickinnick Trail provide unbeatable views of the lake and town below.

Chelan, Washington

Chelan is a cozy town in central Washington that is nestled at the southern tip of Lake Chelan, one of the biggest lakes in the state. It is a renowned gateway to both outdoor adventure and Washington’s thriving wine region.

Lake Chelan, stretching 50 miles into the Cascade Mountains, offers ample opportunities for boating, paddleboarding, fishing, and swimming. Visitors can also explore secluded areas of the lake by taking a ferry to the remote community of Stehekin, accessible only by boat, plane, or hiking.

Downtown Chelan is a walkable area with a mix of boutiques, art galleries, and eateries, many of which serve up wines produced in the area. The town is home to over 30 wineries, many of which are perched on hillsides overlooking the lake, offering tastings with picturesque views. Tsillan Cellars and Benson Vineyards are two popular stops for wine enthusiasts.

For outdoor enthusiasts, hiking trails such as Echo Ridge will take you to some excellent lookout points over the lake and surrounding mountains. During the warmer months, Slidewaters Waterpark is a family-friendly attraction, with a great selection of slides, pools, and a lazy river.

McCall, Idaho

Situated on the shores of Payette Lake, McCall is a central Idaho town best known for its plethora of outdoor recreational activities year-round.

Payette Lake is the clear centerpiece here, providing opportunities for boating, swimming, and fishing from its shores. Public beaches, such as North Beach, make it easy to enjoy the lake’s clear waters, while guided boat tours from McCall Lake Cruises will give you a unique look at the area’s immense natural beauty.

McCall’s downtown core is compact but lively, with a nice selection of craft breweries and restaurants to make a stop or two at. Also be sure to learn more about the region at the Central Idaho Historical Museum or visit while local festivals are being held, such as the annual Winter Carnival, which features intricate ice sculptures and family-friendly activities.

You will find miles of trails in nearby Ponderosa State Park, which juts into Payette Lake and offers options for hiking, biking, and wildlife sightseeing. In the winter, Brundage Mountain Resort, located just a short drive away, provides top-notch skiing and snowboarding.

Lake Oswego, Oregon

Located just south of Portland, Lake Oswego is centered around its namesake, Oswego Lake. Giving easy access to nature for many Portlandians gives this town a unique suburban atmosphere.

Oswego Lake is privately managed but both residents and guests of the town are invited to enjoy it for activities like swimming and boating. Public spaces like George Rogers Park along the Willamette River complement the lake with hiking trails and scenic picnic spots. Nearby, Tryon Creek State Natural Area offers a network of forested trails for hiking and biking, while Iron Mountain Park provides stunning views and native wildlife.

Lake Oswego’s downtown area near the lake is very walkable and features some fun locales like the Oswego Heritage House, a museum covering the history of the area’s earliest settlers.

With its proximity to Portland and its balance of natural beauty and other attractions, Lake Oswego is a standout destination for a lakeside escape near the Pacific coast of Oregon.

Priest Lake, Idaho

Priest Lake is located in Idaho’s panhandle near the Washington border. With a small year-round population, the area thrives as a destination for some true lakeside solitude in the mountains.

Often called “Idaho’s Crown Jewel,” Priest Lake spans 19 miles and features clear waters ideal for boating and fishing. Its northern end connects to the even more secluded Upper Priest Lake, accessible only by boat or hiking trails.

The nearby community of Coolin provides a quaint hub for visitors, with a handful of shops, lodges, local eateries, and other amenities. Bishop’s Marina, for one, is an idyllic boat launch, while Priest Lake Marina across the lake offers rentals for those wanting to explore the water. Shoreline beaches like Reeder Bay and Lionhead State Park provide excellent spots for swimming and sightseeing during the day.

Hiking and biking trails also weave through the surrounding Selkirk Mountains, where birdseye views of the lake and opportunities to spot wildlife, including moose and bald eagles, can be taken advantage of.

During winter, the area transforms when it is covered in snow, with options for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling dotting the nearby forests.

Loon Lake, Washington

Loon Lake, located in northeastern Washington just north of Spokane, is a small lakeside community seated on the shores of a lake of the same name.

Spanning over 1,000 acres, Loon Lake is known for its sandy bottom and clean waters, perfect for swimming on a hot summer day. Anglers will find trout, bass, and perch thriving in its depths too, as it is an ideal environment for these kinds of sport fish.

Surrounding Loon Lake, cabin rentals and campgrounds provide options for extended stays. In town, attractions like the Loon Lake Historical Society offer insight into the area’s pioneer history.

Scenic drives and quiet forest trails nearby offer additional opportunities for exploration in the wilds in this remote corner of the state, with the surrounding Colville National Forest a popular spot for hiking.

Roslyn, Washington

Roslyn, a small town in the Cascade foothills of central Washington, is near Cle Elum Lake. With a population under 1,000, Roslyn combines its rich history as a former coal-mining community that has since become a hotbed for outdoor adventure in the mountains.

Cle Elum Lake, located just a few miles west of town, stretches across 7,600 acres, and its pristine waters draw many who own boats or simply want to lounge on its sandy shores. Speelyi Beach Day Use Area is a large public area on the southern end of the lake (the end that is closest to Rosyln).

Roslyn’s historic downtown, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, retains its late 19th-century character, and features destinations such as the Roslyn Museum. Local favorites like The Brick, Washington’s oldest operating bar, make the town a great stop for a drink and some food too.

Nearby trails in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest provide options for hiking and mountain biking, while the northern end of the lake is full of scenic campgrounds like the Cle Elum River Campground.

Detroit, Oregon

Detroit, Oregon, is a small lakeside town located just south of Portland on the shores of Detroit Lake, near the Cascade Mountains. Detroit Lake is 9 miles long and wows visitors with its deep blue waters. Many anglers come to the lake for its stocked trout and kokanee salmon too.

The town itself is home to general stores and a handful of eateries. Nearby campgrounds at the Detroit Lake State Recreation Area, cater to visitors looking to spend the night in the outdoors, as hotel options in the surrounding area are slim.

For those looking to explore beyond the lake, hiking trails such as the Stahlman Point Trail provide panoramic views of Detroit Lake and Mount Jefferson. In autumn, the surrounding forests burst into vibrant fall colors, while in spring and summer, the area blooms with wildflowers.

Enjoy a Slice of Lakeside Living in the Pacific Northwest

You don’t need a lakehouse or a cottage to enjoy lakeside living in the Pacific Northwest, all you gotta do is stay a day or two at one of these idyllic towns. Whether you’re in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, or any of the other states nearby, these easily accessible communities have a nice mix of useful amenities for visitors and residents alike and natural beauty, often with towering mountains providing a scenic backdrop. You really can’t go wrong with a visit to any of these towns if you need an escape from the city.

The mother of University of Idaho student Madison Mogen has broken her silence with a blunt message about her daughter’s suspected killer’s murder trial. 

Karen Laramie interviewed for the first time since her daughter was named as one of four victims in the tragic Idaho murders on November 13, 2022. 

Mogen, 21, her best-friend 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves, 20-year-old Xana Kernodle, and 20-year-old Ethan Chapin were fatally stabbed in their off-campus home. 

Laramie gushed about her daughter Maddie on the Today show on Wednesday, and spoke about her experience in finding justice ahead of Bryan Kohberger’s trial which is to take place three years after the horrific murders. 

‘I feel like the legal system is not about the victims,’ she said, when asked about the length of time it has taken to reach the upcoming trial set for August 2025. 

Kohberger was charged in 2023 with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary.

Laramie hadn’t spoken publicly since the students’ lives were tragically taken but spoke about the toll of losing her daughter in such a horrific manner. 

‘It’s real but I know where the girls are, and faith is really the basis of how you get up every morning when you have a loss this deep,’ she said. 

Karen Laramie, Mogen’s mother, interviewed for the first time after her daughter was one of four victims in the tragic Idaho murders on November 13, 2022

Laramie gushed over her lost daughter and gave a blunt message about suspect Bryan Kohberger. She said: ‘I feel like the legal system is not about the victims, and I’ll leave it at that’

‘Madison is absolutely amazing and always has been… she was just a joy.’ 

Laramie appeared alongside the mother of Mogen’s best friend Ashlin Couch and discussed the Made with Kindness Foundation, created in honor of her daughter and her friends. 

‘So, I think the most important thing is it’s going to be really fun to be part of the scholarship committee and just watch kids, read what they have to say, what’s in their hearts, and be able to give them back something,’ she said. 

‘Everyone needs a helping hand, and I’m just really super excited to see.’

Laramie told the outlet that she was inspired for the foundation by a memory of the two visiting Seattle, she recalled: ‘I’m watching her as an adult, going shopping and being in these stores, and I’m like, “You’re just so kind to everybody.” Like, did I really, did we really ingrain that in you? Like, that’s amazing.’ 

‘One time, she called my cousin on Veterans Day and said, ‘Thank you for your service,’ after she lived with him and like, burned half his pans,’ she said.  

She described her daughter as someone who ‘had that genuine love’, and added: ‘We’re missing our kids, and to have something to put your heart into positively… there are no words.’ 

Ashlin Couch, Madison’s former roommate and close friend, shared earlier this year the gut-wrenching moment she knew from a text chain that something was wrong and the heartbreak of losing her friends.  

She had lived with the girls until May 2022 before Xana Kernodle took over her lease. 

Couch recalled receiving the alert that there had been a homicide near her former home and texted her friends to see if they were okay. 

The four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death in their off-campus home. Goncalves, 21 and Mogen, 21, were months away from receiving their degrees before their gruesome death

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Ashlin Couch recalled the gut-wrenching moment she received an alert that there had been a homicide near her former residence and texted her friends to see if they were okay

Ashlin Couch (left), the former roommate of Madison Mogen (center) and Kaylee Goncalves (right), revealed the last message she sent her friends

‘I texted like our group of friends, and I just had said, ‘Has anyone heard from Maddie?’ And I remember, like my last text message to her was like, ‘Are you okay,” Couch told KXLY.

 ‘I felt it like right then and there, I kind of just knew that something was wrong.’

‘It crosses my mind more that, that could have happened while I was there. And, you know, you never know like how long someone is watching your house,’ she said.

Couch was also involved in the creation of the Made with Kindness Foundation in remembrance of her friends. 

‘I just wish that I could do at least one more time is like, you know, just give her one last hug just to be able to say goodbye,’ Couch said. 

In November, earlier this year, the parents of Kaylee Goncalves also spoke out as Kohberger attempted to fight the death penalty and gave him a stern warning.

Kristi and Steve Goncalves said to the suspected killer that he would ‘burn in hell’, as they stated they were ‘100 percent’ adamant that he should face the death penalty. 

Kohberger’s defense claimed that he was suffering ‘anxiety and fear’ over his potential death sentencing, Kaylee’s parents called the claims ‘absolutely ridiculous.’ 

‘Did my daughter know the way she was gonna go? Did Maddie know? Did any of the kids know the way they were gonna go? Did they know they had two hours left, one hour left, five minutes left,’ Kristi asked.

Laramie described her daughter as someone who ‘had that genuine love’, and added: ‘We’re missing our kids, and to have something to put your heart into positively… there are no words’

Bryan Kohberger was arrested was arrested after a six-week manhunt and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. His trial is set for August 2025

The scenes inside the home were so gruesome that blood dripped down the outside of the wall of the property, which investigators described as the worst crime scene they have ever seen

As Kohberger’s defense issued their final arguments, stating that the death penalty does not reflect international law and modern-day standards of decency – Judge Hippler wasn’t convinced.

‘I understand the argument,’ he said. ‘It’s falling about as flat as you would expect it to fall.’

His defense team had successfully argued that Kohberger’s trial should be held outside of Moscow, Idaho, where the murders took place due to strong emotions and extensive media coverage.

Now, his trial – scheduled to begin with jury selection on July 30, 2025 – is being heard in Ada County in Boise in hopes of a more favorable jury.

Prosecutors have claimed that Kohberger’s DNA was found on a Ka-Bar knife sheath found at the victim’s off-campus home, though no murder weapon was ever found.

Officials have also claimed that cell phone data and surveillance put Kohberger’s car at the crime scene.

Kohberger was a PhD criminology student and teaching assistant at Washington State University’s Pullman campus, a 15-minute drive from Moscow, Idaho.

Kohberger has maintained his innocence since his arrest and filed his alibi in 2023 as ‘late night drives’.