Pend Oreille Shores Resort

Overview

Pend Oreille Shores Resort sits on the north shore of Lake Pend Oreille at 47390 Highway 200 in Hope, Idaho, about 19 miles east of Sandpoint. The setting places the resort between the lake and the Selkirk Mountains, within reach of three national forests, and directly on the International Selkirk Loop scenic byway. Structurally, the resort is a condominium timeshare property — owned collectively by more than 1,400 timeshare owners — but it also rents its condominium units to the public as vacation rentals, so a stay here does not require any ownership stake.

The units themselves are one-, two-, and three-bedroom condominiums, each with a fully equipped kitchen, a wood-burning fireplace, an in-unit washer and dryer, a flat-screen TV, WiFi, and a walk-in or walk-out patio or deck. That combination of full kitchens and in-unit laundry makes the resort well suited to longer stays, and the range of unit sizes accommodates everything from a couple to an extended family. Because Lake Pend Oreille is Idaho's largest and one of the country's deepest lakes — depths exceed 1,150 feet — and because the small town of Hope sits at the edge of the property, Pend Oreille Shores functions as a genuinely lakefront base rather than a resort merely near the water.

Winter: Skiing at Schweitzer and a Quiet Lake

Winter at Pend Oreille Shores centers on proximity to Schweitzer Mountain Resort, the region's major downhill ski and snowboard area, located near Sandpoint across the lake from the resort. Guests staying at the condominiums have easy access to Schweitzer's lifts and terrain while still returning each night to a full kitchen and a wood-burning fireplace rather than a standard hotel room — an arrangement that suits ski trips involving families or groups who want to cook some meals rather than eat out every night.

Beyond downhill skiing, winter at the resort also means quiet lake scenery: Lake Pend Oreille's dramatic scale, framed by the snow-covered Selkirk and Cabinet mountains, is a different experience in winter than in summer, with far fewer boats and a stiller shoreline. The national forests surrounding the lake offer snowshoeing and cross-country skiing for guests who want to get outside without driving to a lift-served mountain. The resort's indoor pool and hot tubs are a particular asset in winter, giving guests a way to warm up after a day on the slopes or the trails without needing outdoor water access.

Summer on Lake Pend Oreille

Summer shifts the focus back to the lake itself. Pend Oreille Shores maintains a private on-site marina with complimentary boat slips for guests, meaning visitors who bring their own boats can moor them at no additional cost — a benefit that, combined with multiple swimming areas and beach access on the property, makes the resort a straightforward base for a boating-centered lake vacation. Fishing on Pend Oreille draws anglers after kokanee salmon and large rainbow and lake (Mackinaw) trout, both abundant in the lake's cold, deep water.

On land, the resort's tennis court and playground round out family-oriented recreation, and the on-site athletic club, Ascent Mountain Fitness, gives guests a workout option beyond water sports. Hiking in the surrounding Selkirk foothills and scenic drives along Highway 200 and the broader International Selkirk Loop are popular ways to see more of the region beyond the resort property itself. Massage therapy is also available on-site for guests looking to unwind after a day of hiking or boating.

Where to Stay

All lodging at Pend Oreille Shores is condominium-style, in one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations, each unit privately owned within the timeshare structure but rented to the public when not in use by its owner. Every unit includes a fully equipped kitchen, a wood-burning fireplace, in-unit washer and dryer, a flat-screen TV, WiFi, and a private patio or deck with walk-in or walk-out access. That standard feature set holds across unit sizes, so the main choice for guests is simply how much space they need.

Because the resort is a timeshare community with more than 1,400 owners, unit availability and specific interior finishes can vary somewhat from one condominium to the next, since individual owners furnish and maintain their own units within the resort's overall standards. Guests booking through the public rental channel should expect the core amenities listed above in every unit, with the resort's marina, pool, and fitness facilities shared across the property regardless of which condominium a guest is staying in.

Dining

On-site dining at Pend Oreille Shores is casual and limited by design, centered on Roam Café/Coffee Co., which serves coffee and light fare and hosts live music on select Saturday evenings during the season. The Outpost, the resort's convenience and resort store, supplements the café by giving guests a place to pick up groceries and basic provisions, which matters given that every condominium unit comes with a full kitchen — a combination well suited to self-catering rather than restaurant-dependent stays.

For guests wanting a full restaurant meal, the nearby towns of Hope and Sandpoint carry the bulk of the area's dining options, with Hope being the small historic town immediately adjacent to the resort and Sandpoint, about 19 miles west, offering a considerably larger selection. Guests planning a stay heavy on restaurant dining should factor in that short drive, while those planning to cook most meals in-unit will find the on-site café and store sufficient for day-to-day needs.

Getting There & When to Go

Pend Oreille Shores Resort sits at 47390 Highway 200 in Hope, Idaho, about 19 miles east of Sandpoint along the lake's north shore, and directly on the International Selkirk Loop. The drive from Sandpoint follows Highway 200 along the lake, offering water and mountain views for most of the route, and the resort is within reach of three national forests for guests interested in exploring beyond the lakeshore itself.

Because the resort operates through both winter ski season and summer lake season, timing a visit depends mainly on which activities matter most: winter travelers come primarily for proximity to Schweitzer Mountain Resort's skiing and snowboarding, while summer travelers come for the lake, the complimentary marina, and the beach access. Shoulder seasons — spring and fall — tend to be quieter at the resort, with fewer visitors on the water or the slopes, which can suit travelers more interested in scenic drives along the Selkirk Loop and general relaxation than in a specific activity. Because units are timeshare-owned, availability through the public rental channel can vary by season, and booking ahead is advisable during both peak ski weeks and peak summer weekends.

A Genuinely Lakefront Marina Resort

What sets Pend Oreille Shores apart from most condominium resorts is its marina: complimentary boat slips for guests make this a genuinely lakefront property in a functional sense, not just a resort with a lake view. Guests who own boats can bring them, moor at no additional cost, and use the resort as a true water-access base for the length of their stay — a benefit that ordinary hotel-style lodging on the lake typically cannot match.

The resort's setting reinforces that identity. It sits at the edge of Hope, a small historic town on Lake Pend Oreille's north shore, ringed by the Selkirk Mountains and within reach of three national forests. And the lake itself adds an unusual layer of context: Pend Oreille's extraordinary depth, over 1,150 feet in places, is quiet and cold enough that the U.S. Navy operates an acoustic research station at Bayview, on the lake, to test submarine technology — a striking fact for a body of water otherwise known for kokanee fishing, condominium vacations, and complimentary boat slips. Established as a condominium and timeshare community in approximately the 1980s and grown since into a stable ownership base exceeding 1,400 timeshare holders, Pend Oreille Shores has had decades to become an established fixture of the lake's north shore.

Frequently Asked Questions