When to go
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Spring
Cool and green, with high lake levels and mud lingering on shaded trails.
Pack Layers, waterproof footwear, and a rain shell.
Summer
Warm and bright, the prime camping, boating, and swimming window with busy weekends.
Pack Camp reservation, swim and water gear, and sun protection.
Fall
Crisp and quieter, with cool nights and strong forest color.
Pack Warm layer, headlamp, and footwear for cool, damp mornings.
Winter
Cold and snowy, with quiet groomed and ungroomed trails for skiing and snowshoeing.
Pack Insulation, traction, and a plan for limited seasonal services.
Top things to do
Lake Pend Oreille shoreline
The park sits on the southern tip of Idaho's largest lake, a strikingly clear body of water over 1,100 feet deep, with boat launches, swimming, and fishing.
Bernard Peak via the Scout Trail
The big-effort hike: climb from the park onto the Scout Trail toward Bernard Peak for a long look back across the lake. Treat it as a real mountain day, not a casual lakeshore stroll.
Multi-use trail network
Miles of trail thread the forested park for hiking, mountain biking, and winter skiing, including connections out to the longer Bernard Peak loop.
Anchor the day around Lake Pend Oreille shoreline
Lock the boat, ferry, tide, or water access first, then fit the route list around that schedule. For one day in Farragut State Park, make Lake Pend Oreille shoreline the non-negotiable, add Bernard Peak via the Scout Trail only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Multi-use trail network as the flexible finish.
- 1Start with Lake Pend Oreille shoreline: The park sits on the southern tip of Idaho's largest lake, a strikingly clear body of water over 1,100 feet deep, with boat launches, swimming, and fishing.
- 2Add Bernard Peak via the Scout Trail: The big-effort hike: climb from the park onto the Scout Trail toward Bernard Peak for a long look back across the lake. Treat it as a real mountain day, not a casual.
- 3Use Multi-use trail network as the optional finish, not as a reason to rush the whole day.
Plan your trip
Turn Farragut's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around access
Plan the transfer before the trail list.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Farragut State Park. Tune the route, pack weight, weather margin, and overnight setup after the access plan is real.
What to pack
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Farragut State Park packing list
0 of 21 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Decide what Farragut State Park asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
- First constraintHydration and exposureWater, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, Navigationmap, downloaded GPS, or a GPS watch, 3 more
- Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
- Load choicePack and carry systemDaypack
- If overnightSleep and shelterTent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad
Checklist mode
21 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
- Dates and season are set.
- Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
- Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.
One researched pick
The first gear decision for Farragut
A stable daypack is the one purchase that organizes water, layers, food, first aid, and the small safety margin.
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THE DAY-HIKE PICK
Osprey Talon 22
- Volume
- 22 L
- Weight
- 2 lb 1 oz (945 g)
- Back Panel
- AirScape foam with ventilation channels
- Hipbelt Pockets
- 2 zippered
- Hydration
- Compatible up to 3 L reservoir (sold separately)
- Warranty
- All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime repair or replace)
The Talon 22 is the daypack you see on the trail more than any other for good reason: it packs in a padded hipbelt, adjustable torso harness, and dual hipbelt pockets into a 22-liter package that handles loads up to 20 lb without complaint. Owners across hundreds of Amazon ratings consistently cite its adjustability and durability as standouts.
- Adjustable torso fit covers a wide range of body sizes
- Padded hipbelt and dual hipbelt pockets at this size are rare
- At 2 lb 1 oz it runs heavier than ultralight rivals for the same volume
Best for
Hikers who want a proven all-around daypack with solid load support, plenty of adjustment, and a warranty they can actually use.
Gear for Farragut
The buying guides that match what Farragut asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Where to stay
Camp inside the park, where multiple large campgrounds put you minutes from the lake and the trail network. Athol is the nearest small town, and Coeur d'Alene, about a half hour south, is the practical hotel, food, and resupply base.
Camping reservations
Camping reservations
Reserve Farragut early; its lakeside campgrounds fill on summer weekends.
Farragut runs several large campgrounds with a mix of standard and hookup sites, and Lake Pend Oreille is popular enough that summer trips need real reservation planning.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Idaho State Parks handles reservable campsites and facilities through its reservation system, with non-resident rates running higher than resident rates.
- An Idaho motor-vehicle entrance fee or annual pass is required in addition to camping fees.
- Non-resident camping fees are higher than Idaho-resident fees.
- Summer holiday weekends should be treated as high-demand booking windows.
Where to book or verify
Official Idaho State Parks reservation portal for Farragut campgrounds.
Park profile with campgrounds, trails, lake access, and history.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Whitetail and Snowberry campgrounds
Details- Booking
- Reserve through the Idaho State Parks reservation system.
- Sites
- Standard and hookup campsites in forested loops near the lake and trails.
- Best first check for most campers; the larger developed loops with the broadest site mix.
Group and specialty sites
Details- Booking
- Check availability through Idaho State Parks.
- Sites
- Group camping areas and specialty facilities for larger parties.
- Use when group logistics are the point of the trip.
Getting there and practical info
Make the transfer plan before the trail plan.
Weather windows, boat schedules, flight buffers, and backup days shape what is realistic.
Getting there
Get to Farragut State Park by solving the transfer first.
- Access rhythm
- Plan the last mile
- Region
- Idaho
Arrival note
Farragut is about five miles east of Athol in the Idaho Panhandle, roughly a half hour north of Coeur d'Alene and an hour from Spokane.
Car strategy
A car is required, and the park is big enough that you will drive between the campgrounds, the lake access points, and the trailheads.
Pair this with lodging: the best base is the one that protects the departure window, pickup point, or weather buffer.
Can you photograph here? Permit and drone rules
Idaho issues no statewide permits and most cities require none; the real rule is the Idaho state parks filming permit with its 100 dollar application fee.
- Permit
- Usually fine for personal shoots; commercial or large productions can need a permit
- Drones
- Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107
- Land
- Yes: you can photograph what is visible from public space in the US
From our photography sister site, Aperture Authority. Verified 2026-07-01.
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Pend Oreille at Farragut State Park?
Very deep. Lake Pend Oreille is Idaho's largest lake, with depths exceeding 1,100 feet, which keeps the water strikingly clear and cold even in summer.
Do you need a reservation to camp at Farragut?
Reservations are recommended, especially in summer. Farragut's lakeside campgrounds are popular, and you book through the Idaho State Parks reservation system, with non-resident rates running higher.
Is the Bernard Peak hike hard?
Yes. Reaching Bernard Peak from the park involves a long, sustained climb on the Scout Trail and should be planned as a full strenuous day with plenty of water, not a casual lakeshore walk.