Clark Fork offers active living surrounded by forests and mountains
Clark Fork is a small community by Lake Pend Oreille in Northern Idaho. Framed by the Cabinet Mountains, the city sits on the shores of the Clark Fork River, making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. “We have four seasons here, and we don’t have extreme weather,” says Terry Stevens, broker at Heritage Shores Realty with nearly 30 years of experience. “It’s a small community with thousands of acres of forest reserves, and it’s about 8 miles from Montana.”
Rural homes with river or mountain views and forested lots
Mnany homes in Clark Fork have a rural feel, and many have mountain or river views. Single-family homes typically sell from $200,000 to $650,000, ranging from 20th-century wood cabins, cottages and farmhouses to newer ranch-style properties and contemporary homes. Houses usually have quarter-acre or half-acre parcels, often with outbuildings, detached garages or patios on forested lots. Larger homes are priced between $670,000 and $2 million. “The million-dollar homes are either on the river or have large acreage,” Stevens says. Manufactured homes sell from $150,000 to $600,000.
Outdoor recreation includes kayaking, hunting and hiking
The town has several parks. Veteran’s Memorial Park and Railroad Park have expansive green fields, with play equipment and picnic tables. Lake Pend Oreille is a few miles away, offering boating and fishing. Hikers can also explore the Kootenai National Forest, which has miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. “This is also a big fishing and hunting area, the mountain has forest service trails and there’s a kayaking group by the mouth of the Clark Fork River,” Stevens says.
Public schools offer school choice and career-focused programs
Lake Pend Oreille School District No. 84 serves the community, offering school choice and interdistrict transfers. Students may start out at Hope Elementary School, which earns a B-plus grade from Niche. Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High School rates a C-plus, and offers career and technical education courses in woodworking and carpentry.
Distance to nearby medical facility and international airport
Idaho state Highway 200 connects Clark Fork to other communities by Lake Pend Oreille, including Ponderay, which is about 25 miles away. The area is approximately 25 miles from Bonner General Health in Sandpoint, and 105 miles from Spokane International Airport. “Many people come here to retire and want to be close to medical facilities,” Stevens says.
Shopping and dining options in Sandpoint and Ponderay
Clark Fork Pantry is an old-fashioned, family-run bulk food grocery store with a bakery and deli. Down the street, Cabinet Mountain Bar serves classic comfort food and has live music nights and community events. For bigger stores and more dining options, Stevens says people need to drive to Sandpoint, which has a Safeway and a diverse array of restaurants, including the Hydra Steakhouse. There's a Walmart and a Home Depot in Ponderay.
Local organizations host events and celebrations
“Our community center has low-cost meals for seniors, and there’s a youth center that has events,” Stevens says. The Filling Station, a local organization, has sports tournaments and races for the local community. Clark Fork-Hope Area Senior Center also organizes events throughout the year.
