Priest River combines waterfront living and outdoor recreation
Priest River is a rural community in northern Idaho known for its outdoor lifestyle. The vast area is centered around its namesake river, stretching from Priest Lake south to the Pend Oreille River. The lake offers a wide variety of recreational activities, and public lands make it easy to enjoy the pristine water. You’ll find most of your daily essentials and errands in the community’s southern end along U.S. Route 2, which also leads east to Sandpoint for bigger shopping trips, just over 20 miles away.
How Priest River connects you to lakes, forests and a ski resort
One of the biggest appeals of Priest River is its abundance of recreation. “Priest River is in good proximity to Priest Lake, which is a spectacular recreational area,” says Jacob Humble, a team member at eXp Realty with over a decade of experience. “All sorts of hunting and snowmobiling, dirt bikes, hiking, camping. There’s any type of lake and water recreation.” Some popular recreation spots in the area include:
- Priest Lake State Park on the lake’s eastern shore
- National Forest lands like Luby Bay Campground on the western shores of the lake
- Bonner Park West on the Pend Oreille River
- Priest River Recreation Area just off Route 2
- Schweitzer Mountain, east of the community, for skiing
Home styles and prices vary from small lots to large properties
Priest River has a mix of housing styles. The city proper is located in the community’s south end, where you’ll find small cottages and bungalows on gridded streets. Head north into the countryside, and you’ll be driving along roads that stretch out for miles in front of you, with tall pines on either side. Homes here are often cabins or Craftsman builds, sometimes on properties of 5 to 10 acres. Private wells and septic tanks are common here. This area is ideal if you want to be closer to nature or have a small farm. Some homes have river frontage that makes it easy to fish or go kayaking. Homes on lots under half an acre typically cost between the upper $200,000s and mid-$500,000s. Larger properties can range from the mid-$300,000s to around $1 million. The area is a popular destination spot for homebuyers who want to be close to the larger cities to the east. “Priest River is a bedroom community to Sandpoint, and it offers a little bit more economical price point for similar homes,” Humble says.
Everyday shopping is split between local stores and large chains
Running errands is easy in Priest River, with stores on both ends of the community and in nearby cities.
- Mitchell’s Harvest Foods, Ace Hardware and White Cross Pharmacy serve people in the southern end near Route 2.
- The Tamrak and Leonard Paul are full-service grocery stores near Priest Lake.
- Sandpoint and Ponderay have big-box stores like Walmart, Home Depot and North 40 Outfitters.
Hands-on experience at local public schools
Students in Priest River will likely be part of the West Bonner County School District 83 and attend Priest River Lamanna Junior/Senior High School. The school is known for its forestry program, which gives students hands-on experience at a 20-acre forested property owned by the school.
Regional connections to Sandpoint, Spokane and other destinations
Route 2 is the main east-west highway in the area, connecting to Sandpoint about 22 miles away. The closest hospital is across the Washington state line in Newport, about 7 miles away. Other larger cities within the general area include Coeur d'Alene, about 44 miles south via state Highway 41. The drive to Spokane, Washington, will take you about 56 miles southwest along Route 2.
How the county manages heavy snowfall
The area averages around 80 inches of snowfall per year. Bonner County is responsible for maintaining over 700 miles of roadways and starts plowing once several inches of snow have accumulated. School bus routes and major collectors are the first priority, followed by all other county roads. Winter tires are recommended for your car, and you should always keep extra blankets, gloves and warm clothes in your car in case of emergency.
Utilities and service options in Priest River
Despite its somewhat isolated location, utilities like internet and cell service and readily available in Priest River, with multiple providers to choose from. You can find coverage maps on the Federal Communications Commission's website. As for other household utilities, many homes in the rural parts of the community rely on private wells or springs and septic systems. Propane heating is also common in the area.
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Written By
Matthew Simmons
