Anyone paddle this lake? I'll be there next month for business and might get some free time to get out and paddle. Would need to find a local outfitter first... The lake looks beautiful.
These guys seem to be a good option: http://www.kayakcoeurdalene.com/
Last Summer
I paddled the lake last summer and it was beautiful but had heavy traffic. I did a couple of exploratory spots and found some areas that had fewer boats and pretty scenery.
I brought along my boat so I did not need an outfitter and I tried a number of different spots. It seemed like the eastern side of the lake was less busy. I pulled off 97 and explored several alcoves and calm waters.
I imagine if you head south on 97 you can find less traffic as it moves away from the tourist center. I only had two days there so I was limited in the area I could explore.
While there, check out Michael D's eatery. It was very good for breakfast and the owner was really a nice guy. He was cute with my kids and the food was great.
Mike
Carry-on?
Thanks Mike. Not sure I could get my tandem canoe through security at Newark Airport… 
Unfortunately, I’m flying there on business and staying at the big Coeur d’Alene resort. I’ll be there a full week, so that’s nice. I’ll have no car, but that outfitter I linked to will deliver the boat to the lake for you, so it might just work out. I could very well have a full day on the lake, so I should be able to cover a lot of ground and find some nook-n-crannys away from the speed boats.
Thanks for the restaurant tip too!
South End
I prefer to paddle the south end around St. Marie. The area around the city of Coeur d'Alene can be a motor boat zoo. Heyburn State park has some good put-ins and rents a few boats. http://www.idahoparks.org/parks/heyburn.aspx
Unlike motorboat heaven up north there is some nice paddling here (though there will still be some motorboats). There is a strange spot where the St. Maries river empties into the lake and the river actually has 2 small banks around it while it flows though the lake. There can be good birding here and I have seen numerous ospreys.
The St. Maries river here is slow and a flatwater paddle. It can be paddled upstream a ways from the lake if you desire. Above St. Maries it is called the St. Joe and has whitewater from class I-IV.
http://www.sckc.ws/reports.html
The St.Joe is also know for its west-slope cutthroat fishery on its upper slopes (you may have seen some news clips of Sandra Day O'conner up there a while ago.
Above all, explore. There is to much to do in a month within 2-3 hours of Coeur d'Alene. I'd for sure rent a car if I could and GET OUT OF TOWN.
Probably because it’s French
it’s pronounced Lake Coeur d’Alene. We stay at the KOA at the east end of the lake and put in our own boats there. Had it all to ourselves. Except for the occasional bald eagle.
While you’re there, you should rent a car and drive up to the NRS main store in Moscow! Only a pan handle away.
French
Damn French…
Sorry for the name mix-up.
Thanks for the advice and info about the NRS store. Didn’t realize it was driving distance.
A panhandle away
That’s panhandle as in the length of the state, not a coffee cup full of spare change.
gotcha
Had a great time!
Just got back from my business trip to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and got a chance to rent a kayak one morning for a good paddle on Lake Coeur d’Alene. I tooled around the northern end of the lake and had a great time. Just wanted to thank you all for the advice.