The community of Sandpoint came to life as an intercontinental rail hub. Today, it is a departure point for a wealth of outdoor excursions.

The only international scenic byway in North America, the International Selkirk Loop, winds 280 miles through Washington, Idaho and Southern British Columbia, with its valley-bottom route circling glacier-carved lakes and the lofty peaks of the Selkirks.

The dramatic landscape belies a lightly traveled, well-paved road system that attracts road-trippers from around the World. Wildlife watchers can scout for bighorn sheep, mountain goats and birds, and history buffs can tour the many interpretive sites showcasing the pioneer history of the region. All will admire the sky-scraping Selkirks mirrored in the myriad of lakes and rivers on the loop.

Closer to home, residents and visitors alike pick huckleberries—the signature harvest of Northern Idaho—at Schweitzer Mountain, or visit the sandy, cedar-shaded shores of Priest Lake to the West.