Honeysuckle Beach — Attraction in Hayden

Honey Buckle Beach in Hayden, Idaho is a small but popular local spot tucked away in the area. It’s a nice little beach with clear, crisp lake water and beautiful mountain views, but it definitely comes with some drawbacks depending on when you visit.

First off, the parking lot is tiny. On weekends, holidays, or any hot summer day, you’ll be lucky to find a single spot. It fills up fast, and the area around it doesn’t have much overflow parking, so unless you arrive early, you’ll likely be circling or turning back. After summer, though, it’s much easier and you’ll have no trouble finding parking and can actually enjoy some peace and quiet.

During the summer months, the beach gets very crowded. Families, kids, and boaters all pack in, so expect to be shoulder to shoulder with others on the sand. The designated swim area is enclosed by a dock, which helps keep swimmers safe, but boats are constantly loading and unloading nearby. Because of that, you’ll often smell boat fumes and notice a thin fuel film floating on top of the water, a reminder of how busy the lake gets. While the water itself is that typical cold, clear North Idaho lake water, it’s not exactly pristine during peak boating hours.

The water stays fairly shallow for the first half of the swim area, which makes it a good spot for families with kids who just want to splash around. You can also spot bald eagles flying overhead from time to time, which is always a beautiful sight.

Bathrooms are available but not very well maintained, and they tend to be a bit dirty and could definitely use more frequent cleaning during the busy season.

Overall, Honey Buckle Beach is a decent spot if you live nearby or are passing through the Hayden area and want to cool off for a bit. But if you’re planning a special trip or looking for a peaceful day at the lake, this probably isn’t the place. The crowds, parking hassle, and boat activity make it more of a local convenience than a...

One of only three public access points on Hayden Hayden is a public park managed by the City of Hayden.

Honeysuckle Beach is in a nook in the lake’s west shore and was created in the early 1990s after community fundraising efforts.

Backed by tall evergreen trees is a welcoming patch of golden sand beside a shallow swimming area. On the water the swimming area is contained by a walkable wooden dock for fishing.

The beach is staffed by lifeguards mid-June through late-August, noon to 6 pm. During this time there’s always a concession stand open, and you can take a picnic on the shaded grassy...

This was a bit of a drive from where we live but for our first time visiting, it was nice! The beach wasn't crowded but the parking is a minor nightmare as many big trucks are loading their boats into the water. The beach was nice and they have a designated swimming area that has a shallow and deep end that is 'docked' in. The water was great, the area was clean, and they even had a little pop-up vendor who was selling beach essentials. The only thing I recommend is that they work on the restrooms, they need more regular...