Higgens Point

Amenities: Restrooms, picnic tables, beaches, public docks.

Higgens Point is one of the best kept secrets in North Idaho. The Point sits right off the freeway but can only be accessed from Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive and the Centennial Trail. Once you park, it's about a five minute walk up hill to the top of the point. From there you have a well shaded picnic area with incredible views on all sides. And if you're a boater, there's a boat launch near by and 2 public docks on the point itself.

Higgens Point is the endpoint of the 34 acre Coeur d'Alene Parkway, a thin strip of park land running along the Centennial Trail for about 1/2 mile before meeting Higgens Point. This park is managed by Idaho Parks and Recreation.

This park is often incorrectly spelled as "Higgins Point," including in local newspaper reports dating back to shortly after the land was purchased by the state in 1971. Perhaps this is because of confusion with Higgins Point, a former settlement in El Dorado County, California. Most official sources from the state of Idaho spell it as Higgens, but a U.S. Geological Survey from 1996 referred to it as Higgins Point. Regardless of the origins of the name, it seems as if Higgens is the appropriate spelling as it is used on the park's signage and most other official state documentation.

If you happen to know more about the origins of the Point's name, please let us know in the comments!