Heyburn State Park
Encyclopedia
Heyburn State Park is an Idaho state park in Benewah County
, Idaho
in the United States. The park, founded in 1908, is the oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest
. There are 5744 acres (2,324.5 ha) of land and 2332 acres (943.7 ha) of water in the park on three lakes. Heyburn Lake State Park is open for year-round recreation including camping, boating, hiking, horseback riding, fishing and picnicking.
were the first inhabitants in what is now Heyburn State Park. Originally members called themselves, "Schitsu'umsh," meaning "The Discovered People" or "Those Who Are Found Here." The Natives found an abundance of fish in the three lakes of the park as well as in the Saint Joe River
. Waterfowl inhabited the wetlands and deer, bear and various birds were plentiful in the grassy meadows and slopes of the surrounding mountains. Prior to the arrival of European American settlers, the Coeur d'Alene lived in what would become the Idaho Panhandle
. The first Europeans to encounter the Couer d'Alene were French traders and trappers. They found the tribe to be experienced and skilled at trading, thus the name "Coeur d'Alene," meaning "heart of the awl." One French trader described the tribe as "the greatest traders in the world." The tribe ranged over an area of over 4 million acres (16,000 km²) of grassy hills, camas-prairie
, wooded mountains, lakes, marshes and river habitat in northern Idaho, eastern Washington and western Montana
.
The Coeur d'Alene lands were reduced to approximately 600,000 acres (2,400 km²) in 1873 when U.S. President Ulysses Grant established the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation. Successive government acts trimmed their property to 345,000 acres (1,400 km²). Heyburn State Park was formed from 5500 acres (22.3 km²) of land and 2333 acres (9.4 km²) of water that were taken from the Coeur d'Alene on April 20, 1908 when President William H. Taft deeded the land to the state for the creation of Heyburn State Park named for United States Senator Weldon B. Heyburn
of Idaho.
Construction of many of the park's facilities took place during the Great Depression
. The Civilian Conservation Corps
was one of the many New Deal
programs enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
to provide work for the unemployed. Members at Camp SP-1 in Heyburn State Park built a lodge, roads, bridges, trails, picnic areas and shelters and campgrounds. Many of the facilities built by the CCC are still in use.
is a 72 miles (115.9 km) paved bike trail that passes through the park. It crosses the Saint Joe River in the park on a 3100 feet (944.9 m) high trestle
. The river and Hidden Bay, Chatcole Lake, and Benewah Lake, all sections of the larger Lake Coeur d'Alene
, are open for fishing. Common game fish include bass, pike and pan fish. The lakes are open to boating, water skiing, canoeing and sailing. Rock Point Marina provides a public boat launch, fuel dock, and sells boating supplies.
s, some over 400 years old, are on the mountain sides overlooking grassy hills that are covered with wildflowers. Other trees in the park included cedar, hemlock
and white pine
. The margins of the lake are marshy homes to wilflowers and plants.
Benewah County, Idaho
Benewah County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. Established on January 23, 1915, from sections of Kootenai County, it was named for a chief of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. As of the 2010 census the county had a population of 9,285. The county seat and largest city is St...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
in the United States. The park, founded in 1908, is the oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. There are 5744 acres (2,324.5 ha) of land and 2332 acres (943.7 ha) of water in the park on three lakes. Heyburn Lake State Park is open for year-round recreation including camping, boating, hiking, horseback riding, fishing and picnicking.
History
The Coeur d'AleneCoeur d'Alene Tribe
The Coeur d'Alene are a Native American people who lived in villages along the Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe, Clark Fork and Spokane Rivers; as well as sites on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene, Lake Pend Oreille and Hayden Lake, in what is now northern Idaho, eastern Washington and western Montana.In...
were the first inhabitants in what is now Heyburn State Park. Originally members called themselves, "Schitsu'umsh," meaning "The Discovered People" or "Those Who Are Found Here." The Natives found an abundance of fish in the three lakes of the park as well as in the Saint Joe River
Saint Joe River
The Saint Joe River is a river in northern Idaho that winds through the Saint Joe River Valley, through Avery, Calder, and St. Maries. Eventually the river dumps into Coeur d'Alene Lake...
. Waterfowl inhabited the wetlands and deer, bear and various birds were plentiful in the grassy meadows and slopes of the surrounding mountains. Prior to the arrival of European American settlers, the Coeur d'Alene lived in what would become the Idaho Panhandle
Idaho Panhandle
The Idaho Panhandle is the northern region of the U.S. State of Idaho that encompasses the ten northernmost counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone. Residents of the panhandle refer to the region as North Idaho...
. The first Europeans to encounter the Couer d'Alene were French traders and trappers. They found the tribe to be experienced and skilled at trading, thus the name "Coeur d'Alene," meaning "heart of the awl." One French trader described the tribe as "the greatest traders in the world." The tribe ranged over an area of over 4 million acres (16,000 km²) of grassy hills, camas-prairie
Camassia
Camassia is a genus of six species native to western North America, from southern British Columbia to northern California, and east to Utah, Wyoming and Montana...
, wooded mountains, lakes, marshes and river habitat in northern Idaho, eastern Washington and western Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
.
The Coeur d'Alene lands were reduced to approximately 600,000 acres (2,400 km²) in 1873 when U.S. President Ulysses Grant established the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation. Successive government acts trimmed their property to 345,000 acres (1,400 km²). Heyburn State Park was formed from 5500 acres (22.3 km²) of land and 2333 acres (9.4 km²) of water that were taken from the Coeur d'Alene on April 20, 1908 when President William H. Taft deeded the land to the state for the creation of Heyburn State Park named for United States Senator Weldon B. Heyburn
Weldon B. Heyburn
Weldon Brinton Heyburn was a U.S. Senator from Idaho from 1903 1912. The city of Heyburn is named for him, as is Mount Heyburn.-Early life:...
of Idaho.
Construction of many of the park's facilities took place during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. The Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
was one of the many New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
programs enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to provide work for the unemployed. Members at Camp SP-1 in Heyburn State Park built a lodge, roads, bridges, trails, picnic areas and shelters and campgrounds. Many of the facilities built by the CCC are still in use.
Recreation
Heyburn State Park is open for year-round recreation. The Trail of the Coeur d'AlenesTrail of the Coeur d'Alenes
The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is a rail trail in Idaho, USA, which follows the former Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way from Mullan, a mountain mining town near the Montana border, to Plummer, a town on the prairie near the Washington border....
is a 72 miles (115.9 km) paved bike trail that passes through the park. It crosses the Saint Joe River in the park on a 3100 feet (944.9 m) high trestle
Trestle
A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...
. The river and Hidden Bay, Chatcole Lake, and Benewah Lake, all sections of the larger Lake Coeur d'Alene
Lake Coeur d'Alene
Lake Coeur d'Alene is a natural lake in the Idaho Panhandle, located in the vicinity of the city of the same name. It spans long, ranges from 1 to wide and has over of shoreline for boaters and vacationers to explore and enjoy.-Geology and geography:...
, are open for fishing. Common game fish include bass, pike and pan fish. The lakes are open to boating, water skiing, canoeing and sailing. Rock Point Marina provides a public boat launch, fuel dock, and sells boating supplies.
Ecology
Heyburn State Park is home to a variety of habitats. Ponderosa pinePonderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
s, some over 400 years old, are on the mountain sides overlooking grassy hills that are covered with wildflowers. Other trees in the park included cedar, hemlock
Hemlock
The word hemlock may refer to:*Hemlock, several poisonous plants in the Apiaceae family :**Hemlock , two species, one formerly used as a method of execution**Water Hemlock...
and white pine
White Pine
-Trees:* Trees in the pine subgenus Pinus subgenus Strobus** Eastern White Pine , one of these species, native to northeastern North America...
. The margins of the lake are marshy homes to wilflowers and plants.