Discover St. Maries: Water, Festivals, and History

St. Maries combines water activities, regional traditions, and engaging history to create a diverse destination. The St. Joe River is the setting for several unique experiences. If you are looking for a vacation rental or holiday home for a varied stay, you can choose St. Maries according to your preferred pace of travel—with active days on the water, events throughout the year, and peaceful opportunities to explore the town’s history.

Water Activities on the St. Joe River

The Aqua Park is located on the St. Joe River and features boat docks, a sandy beach, and a boat ramp for launching boats. Kayaking, whitewater rafting, water skiing, and boating are possible on the St. Joe River, the St. Maries River, Lake Chatcolet, and Round Lake. The St. Maries River is suitable for rafting and kayaking in spring. This allows you to combine different types of stays: You can plan an outing on the water or use the town as a base for days filled with various activities.

For a drive through the landscape, the St. Joe River Scenic Byway begins in St. Maries at the intersection of Idaho 3 and Forest Highway 50 (FS 50). The route provides a specific starting point for a scenic drive by car. If you enjoy incorporating special events into your trip, Race the Joe takes place every May along the banks of the St. Joe River. The jet boat event begins with races on Saturday morning and continues on Sunday.

Festivals, Markets, and Local Character

The Benewah County Fair takes place every August. The program includes 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitions, as well as contributions from local arts and crafts and regional products. Another annual event is Paul Bunyan Days, held over Labor Day weekend. It includes logging competitions, water events, motocross races, carnival attractions, food and craft vendors, music, and fireworks. These dates give your trip planning a clear seasonal focus without requiring you to organize your entire stay around events.

The St. Maries Farmers Market also showcases the regional character of the town. More than 45 local vendors offer homegrown, handmade, and homemade goods. For a self-catering trip, such a market is an interesting place to stop; at the same time, it provides an impression of the local products and crafts available in the area.

History and Days for Different Interests

The Hughes House Historical Museum displays photographs, antiques, and artifacts depicting early life in St. Maries and northern Idaho. The St. Maries 1910 Fire Memorial at St. Maries Cemetery is listed on Idaho’s National Register of Historic Places. At Logger's Memorial Park, the names of more than 250 loggers from the St. Joe River area commemorate people who lost their lives in the timber industry. These places offer different ways to engage with history—from a museum visit to quiet outdoor remembrance.

Central Park is suitable for a stay with several possible ideas for each day: The park includes a swimming pool, picnic areas, a playground, basketball and tennis courts, softball fields, a dirt track, and a soccer field. For another active outing, St. Maries Golf Course offers 9 holes, paved golf cart paths, a clubhouse, and a restaurant. The Benewah County Fairgrounds also have RV sites and a dump station. The Benewah County Fairgrounds also have an equestrian arena where riding events take place.

Planning the Right Stay

St. Maries is particularly well suited to trips where nature experiences, local festivals, and culture are not kept separate. If you want to focus on water activities, it is worth planning around the St. Joe River and the bodies of water mentioned above. For culture-focused days, the museum, memorials, and market are good options; if you are visiting an event, August, May, or Labor Day weekend will shape the character of your trip. If you would like to compare other destinations, you can also include Fernwood in your selection.

For the overall travel overview: Benewah County.