Explore the best things to do at Schweitzer in summer, including hikes, huckleberry picking, mountain biking, and chairlift rides. Our complete guide has everything you need to know to plan a fun summer getaway to Schweitzer.

Looking for the best things to do at Schweitzer in summer? From hiking and mountain biking to huckleberry picking, scenic chairlift rides, and relaxing mountain views, Schweitzer offers the perfect summer escape. We spent three days exploring the resort in July and LOVED how peaceful and uncrowded it felt. Here’s everything you need to know before you visit, and why I think Schweitzer is the perfect summer weekend getaway spot for the Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Sandpoint region.

The best things to do at Schweitzer in summer

Looking for the best things to do at Schweitzer in summer? Below I share what to expect during summer at Schweitzer. I also share my favorite summer activities and experiences from our visit, and some tips for getting the most out of your time on the mountain! 

Our trip didn’t coincide with these, but Schweitzer also has a handful of special events in summer, which you can learn more about here.

What it’s like to visit Schweitzer in summer

Summer is the perfect time of year to visit Schweitzer, especially if you’re looking to escape the heat. Since Schweitzer Village sits at an elevation of 4,700 feet, temperatures are typically cooler and more comfortable than in the valleys below, making it an ideal summer mountain getaway.

We visited in mid-July 2026, and the conditions were absolutely perfect. Thanks to the higher elevation, wildflowers were in full bloom, the forest was lush and vibrant green, and we spotted tons of bright Indian Paintbrush lining the trails. Huckleberries were also abundant, which you can pick for free! 

One of the things that surprised me most was just how peaceful Schweitzer felt. While the resort is best known for its incredible winter sports, summer offers a completely different experience. Instead of busy lift lines and crowded slopes, you’ll find that the hiking trails and viewpoints were relatively quiet. There were several times during our visit when it felt like we had entire trails all to ourselves. On clear days, you can see across Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains, creating some truly stunning scenery.

Whether you’re interested in hiking, mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, huckleberry picking, or simply relaxing with a view, you’ll find plenty of things to do at Schweitzer in summer without the crowds.

How to get to Schweitzer

Located above the charming town of Sandpoint, Idaho, Schweitzer is one of the most accessible mountain destinations in the Inland Northwest!

The best way to get to Schweitzer is by car or plane. We drove from Spokane, Washington, and it was an easy 1.5-hour drive with no mountain passes to cross. If you’re visiting from farther away, the closest major airport is Spokane International Airport (GEG), which is about 80 miles from Schweitzer and offers direct flights from destinations throughout the west and beyond. From the airport, you can rent a car to the resort.

Need a rental car to get around? We find that booking.com usually has the best prices on rental cars. 

Schweitzer is also within easy driving distance of many Pacific Northwest cities. See below for approximate driving times from major regional hubs:

• Spokane, WA: 1.5 hours
• Coeur d’Alene, ID: 1 hour
• Missoula, MT: 3.5 hours
• Seattle, WA: 6 hours

No matter how you get there, the drive to get to Schweitzer in summer is part of the fun. There are beautoful lakes and stops along the way, and the nearby town of Sandpoint is super charming!

Where to stay at Schweitzer

Summer in Schweitzer is considered the “off-season” as winter is generally the most popular time to visit. As such, there are plenty of great lodging options around Schweitzer in summer, generally at off-season pricing. Below I list a few of the options for where to stay at Schweitzer.

Humbird Hotel

Humbird Hotel is located in the heart of Schweitzer, and is where we stayed during our 3 day trip to Schweitzer. We stayed here because of its excellent access to the surrounding trails – a true “hike-in-hike-out” lodge. This boutique hotel was constructed in 2022 and has 31 rooms; it feels modern, light, and bright! Most rooms have views over Lake Pend Oreille. All hotel guests have access to free made-to-order espresso drinks and hot chocolates in the lobby, available all day, which was a wonderful touch.

The rooms have nice touches such as binoculars that you can use on your hikes, plush robes for the hot tub or spa, and air purifiers (in case of wildfire smoke). There is a rooftop hot tub overlooking Lake Pend Oreille, a well-appointed fitness room, as well as a co-working space where you can work and take private calls. Humbird Hotel is within easy walking (or chairlift!) distance from all of the restaurants listed below. Parking is free!

Selkirk Lodge

Selkirk Lodge is located in the Village, just across the plaza from Humbird. It is also a fantastic spot to stay if you want easy access to the surrounding trails and restaurants. While Humbird gives modern, light and bright vibes, Selkirk Lodge leans into the classic mountain lodge vibes. My favorite features of Selkirk Lodge are the rooftop pool and hot tub, which overlook the mountain. Selkirk Lodge also has the Cambium Spa, where you can book an appointment for a massage. Parking is free!

Private rentals

In the hills around Schweitzer there are tons of privately owned vacation rentals. During our stay, we did a short walk around the neighborhood and noticed that in summer, most properties are rather quiet. While I don’t have any recommendations on where to stay in a private rental, there are vacation rental sites that you can peruse if you are looking to rent a private stay. Many houses are quite large and could accommodate large families and groups, while still being within easy walking distance of Schweitzer. 

What to do in summer at Schweitzer

Huckleberry picking

Schweitzer has an abundance of huckleberries in summer that are free to pick! Huckleberries usually start to ripen in July and last through August. I recommend picking up a summer trail map from the Humbird front desk and asking where the huckleberries are currently ripening, since location and timing does change throughout the season. When we went in mid-July, we picked the berries on the “Lower GRR” trail, which was a short hike from the Humbird Hotel. Make sure to BYOB (bring your own bucket), and be aware of bears while you’re out and about!

Fun fact: Schweitzer offers a Huckleberry shuttle on select days in summer!

Take a hike

With panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Pend Oreille, hiking is one of the best things to do at Schweitzer in summer. I recommend picking up a summer trail map, which shows all of the hiking, biking, and multi-use trails on the mountain.

For a challenging but rewarding adventure, hike the Nature Trail from the Village to the summit. The trail is 2.5 miles one way and gains nearly 1,700 feet of elevation. Be sure to bring plenty of water and take your time enjoying the scenery along the way.

If you’re looking for an easier option, take the Great Escape chairlift to the summit and explore from there. The Summit View Loop is an easy 0.5-mile round-trip hike with spectacular views of the valley and lake below. You can also hike to Colburn Lake, a peaceful alpine lake located on the backside of the mountain. The round trip from the summit is approximately 1.5 miles.

When you’re finished exploring, you can either hike back down to the Village via the Nature Trail or ride the Great Escape chairlift back down for free.

One important thing to note: not all trails are open to the same types of users. Some trails are designated for hikers only, others are reserved for downhill mountain biking, and some are shared by both hikers and bikers. Be sure to check the trail map before heading out.

Looking for more things to do around Schweitzer? Check out our guide to Spokane, Washington, as well as our guide to the best fall hikes in the region.

Mountain bike

Mountain biking is one of the most popular summer activities at Schweitzer, with more than 40 miles of trails ranging from scenic cross-country rides to challenging downhill runs. Start from the Village and pedal out to Picnic Point for incredible views of Lake Pend Oreille before choosing your next adventure. Riders looking for more adrenaline can take advantage of lift-served terrain, with downhill trails dropping 1,700 feet from the top of the Great Escape Quad back to the Village. If you’re up for an even bigger ride, the Highpoint Trail connects to the Little Sand Creek Basin trail system, offering 4,000 feet of descending singletrack.

E-bikes (Class I ONLY) are allowed on Schweitzer trails. Don’t have your own bike? Rentals are available on the mountain.

Take the chairlift to the top

One of my favorite things to do at Schweitzer in summer is ride the Great Escape chairlift to the summit. Located just a short walk from the Humbird Hotel, the lift climbs about 1,700 vertical feet and offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and Lake Pend Oreille along the way. The ride takes about five minutes each way.

If you’d rather earn the views, you can hike the Nature Trail to the summit instead. While there is a fee to ride the chairlift up, hiking to the top and taking the chairlift back down is completely free. Once you’re at the summit, make sure to spend some time soaking in the panoramic views, taking a summit hike, and visiting the Sky House restaurant, before heading back down to the Village.

Enjoy a huckleberry ice cream sandwich

One of the best summer treats at Schweitzer can be found at the summit. The Sky House restaurant serves a giant huckleberry ice cream sandwich made with locally picked huckleberries and sandwiched between two large ginger cookies. It’s the perfect treat after a hike or chairlift ride to the top.

I recommend grabbing a seat on the patio, where you can enjoy both the incredible views and your ice cream sandwich. The portion is generous, so you may want to bring a friend to share, unless you’re arriving with a serious sweet tooth!

Enjoy a spa treatment

After a day of hiking, mountain biking, or exploring the Village, treat yourself to some well-deserved relaxation at Cambium Spa. Located in the Selkirk Lodge in the heart of Schweitzer Village, the spa offers a variety of restorative experiences, including yoga and wellness classes, massages, and soothing foot and leg treatments. If you’ve spent the day on the trails, the foot and leg treatment is especially worth considering.

Relax in the a rooftop hot tub OR POOL

For travelers looking for relaxing things to do at Schweitzer in summer, spending an evening in a rooftop pool or hot tub is hard to beat. The pool at Selkirk Lodge offers beautiful mountain views, while the rooftop hot tub at the Humbird Hotel overlooks Lake Pend Oreille and the mountains.

Both are open daily until 10 PM, making them a great way to relax after a day of hiking, biking, or sightseeing. Even better, guests staying at any Schweitzer lodging property can access all of the resort’s pools and hot tubs, regardless of which hotel they’re staying in.

Play pickleball and disc golf

Schweitzer’s pickleball courts and disc golf course are both conveniently located in the Village, making them easy to enjoy between other activities. If you have your own gear, you can play for free. If you don’t have equipment with you, rentals are available in the Village for a small fee, typically around $5.

Enjoy family-friendly activities in the Village at Schweitzer in summer

If you have kids, Schweitzer has TONS of kid-friendly and family-friendly activities in the village. In addition to summer camps, there is rock climbing, yard games, rock-hounding, and play structures in the village, as well as horses you can visit.

Where to eat at Schweitzer in summer

Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drinks, Schweitzer has several great options in summer! All of these options listed below are within easy walking or chairlift distance from Humbird. All restaurants are relatively casual, so “mountain wear,” hiking, or biking clothes are a-okay no matter where you dine. Note that summer at Schweitzer means a more limited selection of restaurants to choose from when compared with winter. Additionally, some of the Schweitzer summer food offerings are only open on weekends.

Gourmandie

If you’re looking for an easy lunch option in Schweitzer Village, stop by Gourmandie. They offer wines, craft beers, meats, cheeses, fruit platters, and sandwiches. Be sure to spend a few minutes browsing the gift shop, too. It’s filled with unique mountain-inspired gifts, local products.

Mojo Cafe

Across the plaza from Humbird, Mojo Cafe is a great spot for a quick breakfast and coffee drinks. For breakfast, I recommend the cinnamon roll, which is HUGE (ask them to heat it up). We split it between the two of us! They also serve a full suite of espresso drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, etc, as well as breakfast burritos, bagels, and a breakfast sandwich.

Sky House at the Summit

Truly the most spectacular dining view at Schweitzer! This restaurant is at the top of the mountain. You can hike the Nature Trail 2.3 miles to the top (one way; about 1,700 ft elevation gain), or you can take the chairlift to the top. They offer sandwiches, burgers, and kids meals, as well as a delicious huckleberry ice cream sandwich! 

Crow’s Bench

Located in the same building as Humbird, Crow’s Bench is open for lunch and dinner daily and is the most ‘elevated’ of the summer dining offerings that we experienced. Their indoor and outdoor seating options are wonderful, and on colder evenings they turn on the patio fire pits. We had the fried brussel sprouts, the Bench Burger, and the vegetarian mushroom pasta! All were delicious, with generous portion sizes! 

Powder Hound Pizza

This pizza shop is just steps from Humbird. As the name implies, they serve freshly made pizzas. This shop is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday making it a great option for weekend visitors. We didn’t get to eat at this location during our trip, but have heard GREAT things!

Schwagon

The newest food offering at Schweitzer. This food truck serves tacos and drinks near the Clock Tower. We didn’t have a chance to eat here, since its grand opening was a few days after our visit. 

Final thoughts on visiting Schweitzer in summer

If you’re looking for a mountain getaway with cooler temperatures, beautiful views, and plenty of outdoor activities, Schweitzer is hard to beat in summer. From hiking and mountain biking to huckleberry picking, scenic chairlift rides, and relaxing in a rooftop hot tub, there are countless things to do at Schweitzer in summer for every type of traveler. It’s a destination that is both adventurous and relaxing!

Looking for more things to do around Schweitzer? Check out our guide to Spokane, Washington, as well as our guide to the best fall hikes in the region.