10 Stunning Small Towns In Idaho
Idaho is a naturally stunning state, famous for its abundance of precious stones, which earned it the Gem State nickname. Located in the Pacific Northwest, this state is also filled with more small towns than big cities, known for their warmth, friendliness, and strong sense of community. These towns are also naturally beautiful and host premier natural attractions such as the Sawtooth National Forest, Yellowstone National Park, and Stanley Lake, among others. Whether you seek a peaceful retreat away from crowds or exciting adventures in nature, these stunning towns in Idaho are the perfect destinations to visit.
Moscow
Located in the Columbia River Plateau, the charming town of Moscow is home to the University of Idaho and is surrounded by mountains of the Palouse Range. Hence, visitors here will be spoilt for options on things to do and see. First off, the University of Idaho should be the first port of call for tours, as the campus is green and scenic, with a beautiful Arboretum and Botanical Garden filled with over 8000 species of plants from around the world. Visitors can then proceed to the McConnel Mansion to admire the house built in the 1880s by a former Idaho governor, with a mix of Queen Anne and Eastlake architectural styles.
For those visiting in the summer, the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center is open during the hot season and has a lazy river, a large pool, and waterslides for a refreshing, fun experience. In the meantime, art lovers will have a field day at the Third Street Gallery, where they can explore various amazing paintings and artworks by regional artists.
Priest River
Priest River is a small, beautiful town along its namesake river, with several interesting attractions to offer. Naturally, visitors here are drawn to the town’s namesake river as it is great for paddling, swimming, and fishing. Besides the waterbody, however, Priest River is home to interesting attractions like TerBest Alpacas, where visitors can take a quick tour to see and meet dozens of alpacas. The Priest Lake Museum is another interesting attraction in town where artifacts offer a look into the Priest Lake region's prehistory, history, and culture.
This town also hosts the Beardmore Block, one of the region’s most historic buildings constructed in 1922 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the meantime, the town is home to Priest Lake Brewing, a lively business with a great selection of craft beer.
Post Falls
Post Falls is one of the bigger towns in Idaho but has a small-town charm and character. The town is also scenic, as it is along the Spokane River, and has exciting attractions like the 500-acre Post Falls Community Forest and 78-acre Q’emlin Park. The Community Forest has more than 10 miles of hiking and biking trails and opportunities for swimming, kayaking, and rock climbing. Q’emlin Park has a swim beach, boat lunch, BBQ grills, picnic areas, a playground, and more opportunities for rock climbing.
Falls Park is another great attraction in town, where visitors will be met with fishing ponds, a playground for kids, picnic areas, and sights of a picturesque waterfall of the Spokane River. After exploring these parks, visitors can head to the Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center to relax with music, live performances, and more creative shows. Moreover, art lovers can also check out some rich metal artwork collections at the Iron Mountain Studios.
Wallace
Nicknamed the “Silver Capital of the World,” Wallace sits in the heart of a silver mining district along the south fork of the Coeur d'Alene River. Once here, begin a tour of the town's museums, starting with the Wallace District Mining Museum, to explore over 50 exhibits and thousands of photos and maps reflecting the town’s mining history. Step up the experience with an underground mine tour at the town’s Sierra Silver Mine, and proceed to the Oasis Bordello Museum for something more interesting. The latter was once a bustling brothel that closed down in 1988 after an FBI raid. Today, the museum remains as it was closed in the 1980s and now offers tours to see the rooms of the industry workers and equipment.
For more history, head to the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Museum to see railroad and train artifacts. Afterward, proceed to hike the 4-mile round-trip Pulaski Tunnel Trail that a firefighting crew once used as an escape route in the 1910 fires that destroyed more than three million acres of Idaho.
Riggins
Riggings is a small town at the confluence of Salmon and Little Salmon Rivers, famously known as “Idaho's Whitewater Capital.” Visitors here can begin their Riggins small-town experience with whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and swimming on the Salmon Rivers. Also, more adventures await at the nearby Hells Canyons National Recreational Area, home to North America's deepest canyon, carved by the Snake River. Principal activities in this recreational area include jet boat tours on the Snake River, hiking, photography, fishing, rafting, and kayaking. Next, visitors can head to the Seven Devils Mountains at the canyon's entrance and stop by the Heaven's Gate Lookout at 8,500 feet to see four states - Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Montana.
McCall
McCall is one of the most beautiful resort towns in Idaho, ideal for vacations and retreats from the noise. It lies on the southern shores of Payette Lake in Valley County and presents a few interesting outdoor attractions for visitors. Payette Lake, for one, is simply gorgeous as it is overlooked by mountains and surrounded by parks. The Ponderosa State Park is one such park where visitors can kayak in the water, hike to see wildlife, and camp in nature. The Art Robert Park is also on Payette Lake and has a beach, a public dock, picnic areas, and a magnificent Bear Statue.
Away from the lake, McCall is home to the Central Idaho Museum, featuring exhibits reflecting local and regional history. The Burgdof Hot Springs is also nearby and is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing soak after a long day of thrilling adventures.
Lewiston
Lewiston is a large town at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers, with captivating scenery and plenty of adventures. Once here, hikers and bikers can head to the Lewiston Levee Parkway to explore the 13-mile trail that winds along both rivers and is lined up with plaques describing the historic journey of Lewis and Clark. Next, visit the Hells Gates State Park to ride a jet boat on the Snake River as it courses through one of America’s deepest canyons. While in this park, be sure to visit the Lewis and Clark Discovery Center to immerse in the journey of the two explorers. Just near Hells Gate, the Nez Perce National Historical Park invites visitors to learn about the lives of the Nez Perce people, who inhabited the area for thousands of years before the arrival of European fur traders.
Furthermore, the Lewis-Clark State College Center History and Arts is a great stop in downtown Lewiston to see interesting rotating art exhibits and a restored 19th-century Chinese temple. Before leaving, visitors can always visit the Clearwater Canyon Cellars or Lindsay Creek Vineyards to taste delicious wines with incredible scenery.
Salmon
Salmon is a historic town in Lemhi County, renowned as the birthplace of Sacagawea, a lady who served as a guide and interpreter for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Therefore, visitors to this town must visit the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural & Educational Center to learn about this Lemhi Shoshone Indian woman and the cultural and natural history of the area. Discover more history about the county at the Lemhi County Museum through Shoshone and Chinese artifacts and mining exhibits, among others. For something different, visitors here can head to the Lemhi and Salmon Rivers for some water adventures like rafting, paddling, boating, and fishing.
In the meantime, Salmon is the gateway to the 2.3 million-acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the largest designated wilderness area in the U.S. outside Alaska. This wilderness preserves stunning features from steep, rugged mountains to deep canyons, whitewater rivers, waterfalls, petroglyphs, lakes, and rich wildlife, and has over 2,500 miles of trails and campsites.
Stanley
Stanley is one of the smallest towns in Idaho, with a population of just above 100 people. Yet, this small, close-knit town is naturally stunning as it lies in the Sawtooth Valley, overlooked by Sawtooth Mountain and surrounded by the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Many visitors here come for the gigantic Sawtooth National Recreation Area, as it is a hub of adventures with over 700 miles of trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, and rich fauna and flora. Activities offered in this park range from hiking and biking to rafting, skiing, snowshoeing, and backpacking. The recreational area is also home to lakes like Stanley Lake and the more popular Redfish Lake, both offering exciting adventures like fishing and boating.
The Stanley area is also home to several hot springs perfect for relaxation, like the Mountain Village Resort and the Boat Box. Back in town, visitors are always welcome to delve into some history at the Stanley Museum or taste some of the best beer in town at the Rod and Gun.
Sandpoint
The beautiful town of Sandpoint lies next to the magnificent Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho's largest lake, and is surrounded by the Selkirk, Bitterroot, and Cabinet Mountains. Naturally, this kind of setting calls for adventures, and for starters, the lake is a vast playground for cruising, boating, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing activities. Meanwhile, hikers in town can explore the 3.7-mile Gold Hill Trail, which overlaps the lake and offers scenic views of the town and the towering Selkirk Mountains in the background.
Additionally, Sandpoint City Beach is a lovely place in town to picnic, swim, admire the lake, and boat or fish. On the lanes of history, the Bonner County Historical Society & Museum is an excellent stop in town to learn about the county's past, including its industries and railroad, Kootenai and Kalispel people, and the Ice Age floods. Before leaving town, check out one of the town’s art galleries, like the Pend Oreille Art Council gallery, to appreciate and shop for incredible works of art or enjoy an art class.
Conclusion
These small towns in the gemstone state beckon travelers to come and experience picturesque natural scenery, immerse in rich histories, relax, and enjoy thrilling outdoor adventures. From Stanley to McCall, these towns are beautiful destinations promising unforgettable vacations. Even more exciting, most have populations less than 5,000, and even those with larger populations have that small-town vibe, making them all perfect escapes from larger cities. Regardless of what you love, there’s something in these towns for everybody across all seasons.
