Idaho is the thirteenth largest state in the United States, but don’t expect to find sprawling large cities here. In fact, the state’s natural beauty is the main reason to visit Idaho: high snow-capped mountain peaks, towering waterfalls, volcanic sites, crystal-clear lakes and monoliths all combine to create a splendid landscape. Explore the breathtaking beauty of the state along its incredible scenic byways, as well as its small towns, which are full of personality and western spirit. Let’s discover the best things to do in Idaho.
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Parks and Other Natural Beauty
As I just mentioned, Idaho’s main attractions are in nature. Here are the ones you cannot miss out on.
Mesa Falls
Two majestic waterfalls, a scenic road nestled in the forest, short and easy trails with breathtaking views… Mesa Falls is truly a must-see destination if you’re in Idaho. The falls are located west of Yellowstone, so a visit to the falls could be made on the way to the famous national park. The Mesa Fall Scenic Byway is a detour off U20 that begins in Ashton. The forests and sunny prairies along the byway make the drive enjoyable. By taking this byway, you will reach the Mesa Falls Visitor Center and from there, hike trails to see Upper Mesa Falls and Lower Mesa Falls up close. If you prefer to avoid walking, you can also view Lower Mesa Falls from the Grandview Overlook.
- Find out more about Mesa Falls, Idaho.
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve
Idaho’s moonscapes will no doubt leave an impression on you… Craters of the Moon National Monument, located in the central part of the state, is a 1,117-square-mile protected preserve between Arco and Carey. You could include a stop here as a detour during a road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone. As you travel the Scenic Loop Road you can see how lava has altered this entire area. There are countless caves and, if you have time, don’t miss the chance to hike up the Inferno Cone, which entails walking about 0.5 miles round-trip on solidified lava, a 164-ft slope, and from the top of the cone you’ll also get a nice view of the entire surrounding area.
- Read our article on the things to see at Craters of the Moon National Monument
Shoshone Falls
If you liked Mesa Falls, Shoshone Falls will leave you speechless. These stunning waterfalls are also known as the Niagara Falls of the West, and with good reason; they may not be as wide and billowing as Niagara Falls, yet they are 46 ft taller than their eastern counterpart. Therefore, I absolutely recommend that you visit this natural wonder.
There are three main viewing points, and you will be able to look at the huge waterfall from a distance of about 656 ft away. It is not possible to get any closer, but the view and the sound are still astounding. In addition to Shoshone Falls, there are many smaller and equally impressive waterfalls in this area, such as Twin Falls and Perrine Coulee Falls.
- Read our guide to the Shoshone Falls
City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park
City of Rocks National Reserve is located in south central Idaho. Its rock formations and spires up to nearly 600 ft high with very distinctive shapes make it a particularly popular park for climbers and hikers. The trails here are countless and vary according to difficulty and duration. Admission is free.
Castle Rocks State Park is located a short distance from the City of Rocks National Reserve. However, visitors here are required to pay an entrance fee. In Castle Rocks, not only will you admire the rocky landscapes formed over time, but you can also go hiking, climbing, camping, and stargazing at night.
- For more information about these two parks, read our guide City of Rocks and Castle Rocks
Bruneau Dunes State Park
Huge sand dunes and small ponds are the main features of Bruneau Dunes State Park, located in southwestern Idaho. Covering about 7 square miles, here you will find the tallest dune in North America, which reaches almost 460 ft. In this state park you can “surf” the dunes, camp in designated areas, fish and swim in the many lakes here, and also stargaze. In fact, there is a telescope located in the Bruneau Dunes Observatory near the Visitor Center.
Just over a 30-minute drive away is the Bruneau Canyon Overlook, the only easily accessible vantage point where one can see Bruneau Canyon and the Bruneau River in all their glory.
Thousand Springs State Park
Thousand Springs State Park is in a valley in southern Idaho known as Magic Valley. And it is the magic of the landscape that will make your experience inside the park so incredible. Established in 2005, the park is divided into 5 different areas that can be easily reached by car: Billingsley Creek, Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve, Malad Gorge, Niagara Springs, and Ritter Island.
Visitors can explore a portion of the Oregon Trail along Kelton Trail or Box Canyon where you can see eagles, picnic in the beautiful Malad Gorge, a 250-ft-deep canyon carved by the Malad River, enjoy the scenery on Ritter Island, fish at Niagara Springs, and view Crystal Lake.
Black Magic Canyon
Black Magic Canyon is a small canyon north of Shoshone in southwestern Idaho. The canyon is estimated to be about 10,000 years old and was formed by the relentless Big Wood River, which paved its course by eroding 800,000-year-old volcanic basalt rocks. The passage of the Big Wood River left behind twisted rock formations that appear to be supernatural and almost magical. Needless to say, this place is particularly striking and deserves to be explored. However, getting there is far from easy. Traversing it may be tricky, there is frequent risk of dangerous floods, and, at the hottest times of the year, this area seems to attract rattlesnakes.
Black Cliffs
The Black Cliffs are located near Boise, Idaho. These towering columns of lava rock that kiss the sky are popular for rock climbing and attract rock climbers from all over North America. The area around Lucky Peak Reservoir and the stunning views of the Boise River are rewards visitors can look forward to. The Black Cliffs are ideal for climbing due to their shape and there are countless climbing routes with safe rock holds.
Small towns and Cities
But Idaho is not all wilderness! Here are a number of interesting small towns and cities to include in your itinerary.
Boise
Outdoor markets, lush parks, a variety of museums, and even a tour of a penitentiary await you in Boise, Idaho’s capital city. With a population of about 235,000 people, it is not hard to imagine the city’s historical and cultural importance. Excursions to the Boise River Greenbelt, Barber Park, Hulls Gulch Reserve, Kathryn Albertson Park, and the Botanical Gardens are not to be missed.
If you love museums, you could spend some time at the Boise Art Museum, or the Discovery Center of Idaho. Whereas if you like street art, take a walk along the Freak Alley Gallery with graffiti of all kinds. The city also has a zoo, an aquarium and a center where they care for birds of prey. I also highly recommend the tour of the Old Idaho Penitentiary. Finally, Boise is also a city known for the craftsmanship of its artisan glass workers. Stop by Boise Art Glass to see their creations come to life.
Wallace
The historic town of Wallace is located in Shoshone County in the Silver Valley. As the name implies, this valley was rich in silver, so many prospectors came here for gold and precious minerals in the mid-nineteenth century. The town was founded in 1884 by Colonel William R. Wallace and was named after him. Want to hear a bizarre piece of trivia? In 2004 the town’s mayor, Ron Garitone, proclaimed a Wallace manhole cover as the ‘Center of the Universe‘ and even engraved this inscription on the manhole cover itself. Since then, on the third Saturday of every September the town commemorates the event!
Idaho Falls
In the 1800s the city was called Eagle Rock, but after the construction of the man-made waterfall at the hydroelectric plant on the Snake River, the name was changed to Idaho Falls. The downtown area is dotted with historic buildings, cultural centers, stores and restaurants. Don’t miss the Museum of Idaho, which connects the Carnegie Library with the Masonic Temple with a large glassed-in corridor, the ARTitorium on Broadway for entertainment for kids, the Japanese Friendship Garden alongside a waterfall and the first bridge built over the Snake River, the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho, TautPhaus Park, which also houses a zoo, and Melaleuca Field. Lastly, I recommend taking a leisurely stroll along the Idaho Falls Greenbelt River Walk and visiting the Idaho Brewing Company for a good craft beer.
Lava Hot Springs
Located in Bannock County, Lava Hot Springs is the perfect place for hot spring lovers. This beautiful town in the Portneuf Valley is surrounded by high snow-capped mountains much of the year, making it even more picturesque. In addition to the thermal baths in the many pools there, I suggest you visit Chesterfield, a small town founded by the Mormons. It is now a ghost town and is located only 14 miles away. Pocatello, where Lava Hot Springs is located, is full of things to do and see including the Shoshone Bannock Tribal Museum to learn more about Native American history, the Idaho Museum of Natural History, the Fort Hall Replica Village, and, for children there is the Outer Limits Fun Zone.
Coeur d’Alene
If you love outdoor activities, Coeur d’Alene is the town for you. It is located on the north shore of a large glacial lake and is surrounded by forest-covered mountains. There is no shortage of hiking and biking trails around town, beaches on Lake Coeur d’Alene where you can relax, Farragut State Park, and McEuen Park. Not to mention the historic downtown is full of life and events. IYou will also find the Silverwood Theme Park, and Timberline Adventures where you can ziplining through the woods.
Idaho Scenic Road Trips
- Sacajawea Historic Scenic Byway: Along this byway you can enjoy beautiful natural landscapes and places rich in history and culture. From some Pleistocene fossils to indigenous rock art, from Sacajawea to the Lewis and Clark expedition, stories and legends about Native Americans and Gold Rush pioneers are tied to these lands of rare beauty. Along the way you can see the furnaces where lead and silver were processed and the former Gilmore Mine. The Sacajawea Historic Scenic Byway starts at the intersection of Interstate 15 and Idaho 33 and goes all the way to Salmon. The byway in all is about 132 miles.
- Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway: This byway that crosses through the heart of Idaho is about 140 miles long and offers a wide variety of scenery. From lava rocks to desert areas via high mountain peaks. The route starts at the intersection of US20 and Idaho 75 near Carey and a short distance from the Lost River Mountain Range, which is home to some of Idaho’s highest peaks. Once in Arco, you’ll find the lunar landscapes of Craters of the Moon waiting for you, then on to Richfield and Shoshone, where another amazing scenic byway, the Sawtooth Scenic Byway, begins.
- Pend Oreille Scenic Byway: Located in the northern part of the state, this byway overlooks the expanses of crystal-clear water found along State Highway 200 to the border with Montana. Lake Pend Oreille is the largest lake in the state. The road begins at the intersection with US95 north of Sandpoint and is about 34 miles long. Among the attractions of this beautiful road, in addition to views of the lake, are those near the Clark Fork River and the mountains near Schweitzer Mountain Resort.
- Sawtooth Scenic Byway: The Sawtooth Mountains are called the ‘American Alps,’ and their rugged peaks will remind you of their Italian counterparts. The road winds at the base of this mountain range through the Boulder Mountains. It is not uncommon to encounter deer, elk and antelope along this scenic route in central Idaho about 115 miles long from Shoshone to Stanley. Sawtooth peaks, Shoshone lava cones and caves, Black Magic Canyon and the Wood River valley make this one of Idaho’s most beloved scenic roads.
Ghost Towns
Idaho City
Just over 40 miles from Boise, there is Idaho City, founded in 1862 during the Gold Rush. In reality, the town is still inhabited by about 500 people – nothing like the population of 7,000 people it had in 1864 that made it the largest city in the entire Northwest, surpassing even Portland. Notably, a large Chinese community settled here. It is estimated that in the 1860s there were more than 200 businesses in the city.
Besides mining, the economy was based on the production and sale of wood, and the city even burned four times between 1865 and 1871. Want to hear more interesting facts? Idaho’s first Catholic church, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, was founded here in 1863 and a major Masonic lodge, the Grand Lodge of Idaho, in 1867. As in the case of many other ghost towns in the United States, Idaho City began to lose importance in the early 20th century and saw its population and popularity decline rapidly. A must-see of this town is the Boise Basin Museum, where you can learn about the history of this town and view numerous historical artifacts.
Custer Ghost Town
To get a taste of what life was like during the Gold Rush, I suggest you visit another historic town named after General Custer: Custer Ghost Town. Founded in 1881, it reached a population of 600 in 1896 and then became a ghost town in 1910. Today you can prospect for gold yourself, take a tour to discover the old schoolhouse, saloon, and other historic buildings that really give an idea of how the pioneers and miners once lived.
Also a short distance away is a town called Bonanza with an interesting dredge to visit (Yankee Fork Gold Dredge, it is estimated that this massive barge recovered about $1,000,000 worth of gold and silver from the gravel) and, between Bonanza and Stanley, there are the Sunbeam Hot Springs, which are not easy to see from Highway 75, but it is worth it to make a stop here if you love natural hot springs pools and have a bathing suit with you.
Idaho Amusement Parks
Silverwood Theme Park
On US 95 near Coeur d’Alene there is Silverwood Theme Park, the largest amusement and water park in the northwestern United States. Inside there are more than 70 different rides and of course there is no shortage of themed roller coasters and thrilling rides. The park opened in 1988 with a limited number of rides and a picturesque steam train that circled the entire park every 30 minutes. In a matter of just a few years it grew enormously, and in 2003 the Beach Water Park opened alongside the Silverwood Theme Park. You can purchase a single ticket and get access to both parks.
Yellowstone Bear World
Yellowstone Bear World is a drive-thru wildlife park. It is located in Rexburg, Idaho, just over 60 miles from Yellowstone. Inside you can see 8 animal species native to the Yellowstone ecosystem and is the only park in the United States where you can give baby bears a bottle of milk to drink. Yellowstone Bear World also has an amusement park and an educational farm. This amusement park was founded in 1998, and since then, visitors come to see free-roaming moose, bears, bison and deer, and other wildlife.
