Laclede, ID

Laclede is a small, scenic community stretched along Highway 2 where Riley Creek flows into the Pend Oreille River. Located about fifteen minutes west of Sandpoint, it offers a quiet, wooded setting while keeping everyday amenities within an easy drive. The area is home to just a few hundred residents, and life here moves at a relaxed pace centered around the outdoors. Just south of the highway, the Riley Creek Recreation Area provides convenient boat launches, campsites, and walking paths right along the water.

The settlement began as an early river crossing and steamboat stop along the historic Wild Horse Trail before growing into a busy timber town. In a famous piece of local lore, dozens of Laclede's original buildings were loaded onto barges and floated upriver to Dover after a major mill fire in 1922. Today, Laclede has settled into a peaceful rural enclave, perfect for anyone looking for quiet woods, easy water access, and classic North Idaho scenery.