Living in Kootenai County

Located in northern Idaho and home to approximately 150,000 residents, Kootenai County is surrounded by scenic mountains and more than twenty pristine lakes-an outdoor enthusiast's dream. The largest city and county seat is located in beautiful Coeur d'Alene, which is on the majestic shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Outdoor Activities

There are 39 miles of pedestrian and bicycle paths, including Tubbs Hill in the heart of downtown Coeur d'Alene. Diverse outdoor activities such as

  • Biking
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Golfing
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Hunting
  • Skydiving
  • Snowmobiling

There are also unique destinations to visit such as the Cataldo Mission, Idaho's oldest building or Farragut State Park, once the largest World War II Naval base.

Image from afar of lake and mountains
Aerial image of a golf course by lake

Parks

There are 34 parks with:

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • BMX bike courses
  • Frisbee golf
  • Playgrounds
  • Sledding
  • Soccer
  • Water pads

Events

There are 28 free Concert in the Park events each summer and two Farmers Market locations. Other family activities include theater, the Museum of North Idaho, the Salvation Army Kroc Center, and Triple Play Family Fun. A season ticket to Silverwood Theme Park and Boulder Beach Water Park is a must with the kids.

Living

"Our stable economy, low crime rate, and beautiful scenery attract many looking for a new place to call home, or relocate their business to a location that offers them and their employees an amazing lifestyle in the heart of paradise. Coeur d'Alene attracts visitors from around the world. Once here, many opt to make Coeur d'Alene their permanent home or invest in a vacation home." (CDA Chamber of Commerce). Interested in relocating to Kootenai County? Check out Relocate to Idaho website.

Image of a street covered in snow

Fast Facts

  • North Idaho's quality of life is exceptional. Thanks to the region's low population density, residents enjoy safe and quiet neighborhoods, mild traffic and clean air. 
  • The region has excellent access to all forms of transportation: air, trucking, rail and shipping. Seattle is five hours away via U.S. Interstate 90 (one hour by air), with Portland and Vancouver, BC, 6 and 7 hours away, respectively.
  • Kootenai County is home to four educational institutions, providing a variety of professional technical certifications: North Idaho College (NIC), Lewis and Clark State College (LCSC), and University of Idaho (UI) and Boise State University (BSU) are in a joint campus.
  • Our region is a nature-lover's paradise where both national and state parks abound and scenic byways pass through stunning natural attractions. Trails are within city limits for walking, biking, ATV rides, cross-country skiing and horseback riding with the Centennial Trail extending from Spokane through Post Falls to Coeur d'Alene and beyond to the Silver Valley. Three ski resorts are within an hour's drive and a five-star lake resort with the world's longest floating boardwalk and floating green for golfers is centered in Coeur d'Alene.