2024's Towns In Idaho That Come Alive In The Fall
While the summer is an extremely popular season to visit Idaho, come in the fall one time and find your calling as a leaf peeper, particularly through its small towns, drowning in nature. The mountainous Gem State—no wonder—offers plenty of ways to chase those aspens, flaming maples, and a thread of scarlet oaks and dwarf euonymus against the evergreens. Carpeting the mountains and reflecting in the cobalt blue lakes, Island Park is just a hop from Yellowstone, where the autumnal haze daze clouds your mind.
As the crowds are thinning in 2024, it is the perfect temperature to appreciate nature. Home to Ponderosa State Park, McCall is a small lakeside town with some of the best foliage through the Ponderosa Satete Park along the peninsula into Payette Lake. From the Rockies in Sandpoint at the crossroads of Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River to the rolling hills of the Palouse in Moscow, Stanley, surrounded by peaks like Observation, William, and Hortsman, is a premier leaf-peeping destination in Idaho. Find towns in Idaho that come alive in the fall.
Elk City
Are you dreaming of getting away from it all in the fall? Consider Elk City in the reaches of the 4 million-acre Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. Once a gold mining town of many more residents, discover the legacy right from the doorstep. Stepping out into autumnal colors shimmering in the wind and the musky scent of the fallen leaves rising from the earth—the cold is on the nose, but the sun is still shining. Appealing to every type of city escapee, pack a picnic from the General Store for a day at Shearer Park and enjoy a drink with a new friend at Elkhorn.
Often overlooked, drowning in beautiful nature, Elk City is home to some 300 residents, avidly welcoming the few tourists at the end of Highway 14. And while you will see the most horned residents in the spring—up to 100 elk in the meadow, amid a variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, osprey, and quail—Elk City Wildlife Area is a habitat for waterfowl, upland and small game, deer, and turkey. Take a stroll along Elk Creek through the heart of the American River to the south into the largest continuous wilderness in the lower 48 US states for its stillness and magnificent vistas. Many enjoy fall foliage drives with overlooks to soak up the natural splendor of the fall forest.
Island Park
Stretching along Hwy 20 next to Wyoming, Island Park boasts the longest Main Street in America, at one of the highest elevations in Idaho. Enjoy easy access to Yellowstone, a whole other type of "park," 20 minutes east for hikes through the first national. But first, one of the state's prettiest towns along Island Park Reservoir, with another cobalt lake highlighting the colorful foliage, will warm up your soul for the rest of the year. The 585-acre Henrys Lake Park in the north is great to start leaf-peeping along hiking trails with native wildlife, plus fishing and boating in the picture-perfect Henry's Lake. Break at Cafe Sabor along Henry's Fork to the south before fitting a riding lesson with Yellowstone Horses at Eagle Ridge Ranch prior to dinner at Last Chance Bar & Grill at TroutHunter.
Caribou-Targhee National Forest is best for up-close and personal with foliage through the middle of October. The subalpine forests and whitebark pines are the canvas for the bright yellow aspen trees and the flaming red dwarf euonymus. For comfort in woodsy digs, stay at Lakeside Lodge and Resort while Box Canyon Campground is closest to the historic Island Park Dam, and Buttermilk Campground is a hop from Rexburg Boat Club, all pet-friendly. Just south, Harriman State Park is a huge wildlife reserve with trails. The scenic byway meanders further south under curtains of yellow birches to a cascade amid the most exquisite foliage. The elegant and powerful Mesa Falls inspire a storybook, with access to the Upper Mesa Falls via a short walk from the visitor center.
McCall
Two hours from the outdoors hub, Boise, McCall is a resort town in its own right on the western perimeter of Valley County. The small town on Payette Lake comes alive in the fall like no other through its state park. Ponderosa State Park offers a lakefront recreation area with varied hiking trails, including snowshoeing, plus swimming, kayaking, and basic campsites in the summer. From your Shore Lodge, take the Lily Marsh Trailhead, or hike all the way to the tip of the peninsula into the lake reflecting forest colors from the Narrows Overlook. Little Payette Lake is just east for more waterside recreation and views, alongside the fishing Rowland Pond.
Christened after its founder, Tom McCall, stop by the lakefront Legacy Park and visit the historic McCall Fish Hatchery along the river, in operation since the 1930s. Bear Basin Trailhead is a popular hike just off the highway to the west, while Camp Alice Pittenger is top-rated among those who prefer the comforts of stepping out into the forest. Cherish the falltime beauty via a rejuvenating trek through the Payette National Forest. Hotel McCall or Nordic Inn will host you warmly when you return for the activities during the McCall Winter Carnival, plus Brundage Mountain Resort and Tamarack Resort for snowboarding and skiing nearby.
Moscow
Set stunningly against Moscow Mountain to the northeast, visit Moscow from late September to late October for the best of fall colors along the slopes covered in dark green conifer trees, aspens, and other local vegetation. Just north of downtown Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center is a beloved seasonal water park with a lazy river, a large pool, waterslides, and an interactive play area. From City Park with a bright playground to the Vandal Golf Course, hit the Arboretum & Botanical Garden at the University of Idaho. Specializing in native hardwood plants, it is awe-inspiring this time of year to go on a peaceful walk through several varieties of maple trees, box elders, and cottonwoods.
There is so much variety in beautiful foliage along the eastern edge of the Palouse Range in the Columbia River Plateau. The Palouse features hilly farmland for miles along western Idaho and eastern Washington, turning into a beautiful patchwork of golden wheat fields and bright, green grasslands framing the small town along the rolling hills. Stop by the Serenity Ridge Farm Riding Academy and Equestrian Center for a lesson along the fall-carpeted countryside as far as the eye can see. Just 25 minutes north, Kamiak Butte County Park features wildlife and picnic spots to relax after a stroll or a summit overlooking the lake.
Priest River
Just over two hours from Moscow, access this town sharing its falltime beauty between the mountains and Pend Oreille River. Drowning in nature at the base of the Selkirk Mountains, filled with various types of fir, pine, and old-growth cedar trees, Priest River is just 75 miles south of the Canadian border. After a stroll along the cobbled streets of the sleepy town, grab your morning brew from Greenhouse Coffee Co., the local espresso bar, and stop by City Park with a picnic from Mitchell's Harvest Foods. You will be pressed to find more stunning panoramic scenery on a drive than the International Selkirk Loop, from Priest River to Sandpoint to Bonners Ferry.
The dominating evergreens in the area offer a delicious canvas of deciduous vegetation that comes out through autumn, including various rich, golden aspens, flaming maples, and a thread of scarlet oaks carpeting the mountain range. Home to its own UFO landing site of 1917, plus John Iwanow's excavation and a small airport, Eagle's Nest Motel is a popular riverfront accommodation just a hop from Bonner Park West. Cross POVA Priest River Bridge to the Priest River Recreation Area. Onward, Settlement School is a historic landmark on the National Register. Return for a savory pie at Vicki Rae's Pizza, with a salad bar, french dip, and delicious breadsticks.
Sandpoint
At the crossroads of Lake Pend Orielle and the Pend Orielle River, Sandpoint reflects its falltime beauty in the pristine waters against the Rocky Mountains, framing the small town. Sandpoint, a launching point to traverse the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains, is home to its own Sandpoint City Beach Park, a laid-back lakefront sandy beach with placid waters on a charming peninsular knob. The Schweitzer Mountain Resort offers information on the surrounding landscapes, while the Bonner County History Museum presents exhibits of Native American artifacts for history and archaeology lovers. Don't miss Panhandle Cone & Coffee at breakfast time or in the summer, and traverse the iconic Long Bridge above Lake Pend Oreille for the best views across.
Serenity persists through the lower altitudes at the Kaniksu National Forest, a loopy scenic drive—first along the river through Riley Creek Recreation Area—then to the shores of the Priest Lake. Lakeview Park, home to the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society's arboretum, is a beautiful place for a stroll amid thriving Idaho flora. From pizza to Italian and a great steakhouse, inspire a seaside retreat at Spuds Waterfront Grill, serving baked potatoes and breakfast over marina views along a mellow deck. The Schweitzer, Hotel Ruby Ponderay, or Pend Oreille Shores Resort extend their warm welcome to the leaf peepers, while the Museum at the Brig reiterates the military activities that transpired in Sandpoint just 38 minutes south at Farragut State Park.
Stanley
A small town for every outdoor enthusiast and leaf peeper, Stanley offers incredible opportunities to chase the foliage through over 1,000 miles of breathtaking wilderness on a hike, a horseback ride, or a mountain bike adventure. The town stays quiet through the fall, allowing for unobscured views along the crowdless trails, where the vibrant yellows, fiery reds, and oranges cover the mountains and line the fishing rivers. Surrounded by peaks like Observation, William, and Hortsman, among others, Stanley is a premier leaf-peeping destination in Idaho. Home to just over 200 residents in the Sawtooth Valley near the Sawtooth Mountains, spend a leisurely day at Sawtooth Valley Pioneer Park with views of granite peaks and shimmering slopes.
Coming alive through spectacular foliage, it is the perfect temperature before the colors start to dwindle, then falling leaves and the musky Earth scent after rain. Whether you are in for scenic recreation, adventures, or rewarding vistas, the Stanley Lake Trailhead and the Iron Creek Trailhead are popular hikes. With easy access to Redfish Lake, see if you can find the hidden Baron Creek Falls, or enjoy Park Creek Overlook and Ski Area for views in any season. Stanley High Country Inn is a popular place to stay next to your morning brew scent wafting from Stanley Baking Company & Café, as well as Mountain Village Hot Spring. Take an adventurous raft with The River Company and sightsee the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway Sign before heading on a drive.
Wallace
Some two-hour drive southeast of Sandpoint, Wallace, in the Silver Valley mining district of the Idaho Panhandle, has that imitable old-world charm. Wrapped in the warm autumnal tones, it is spectacular. Don't mind the rain, with droplets reflecting the colors of saffron-colored aspens, hemlocks, and burnt orange maples. Originally settled for silver mining and still thriving in the industry, Wallace starred in Dante's Peak. The historic downtown offers awe-inspiring vistas of the distant, bright fall colors against the dark green of the douglas firs and lodgepole pine trees. Snug up against Silver Mountain in the heart of the Idaho National Panhandle Forest, Wallace is one of only four cities in the US on the National Register of Historic Places.
Stop by the Northern Pacific Depot Railroad Museum with artifacts of the day. The small town welcomes leaf peepers to chase foliage through Silver Valley, forest trails, and carpeted mountains. Many enjoy a trip through the past via the Sierra Silver Mine Tour in the Bitterroot Mountains, next to the Center of the Universe, a scenic manhole cover with symbols of the great regional mines. The picturesque Pulaski Tunnel Trail, a reminder of a deadly wildfire in 1910, runs two miles along waterfalls and historic sites. After exploring along the Route of the Hiawatha and Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes towards the Coeur d'Alene National Forest and the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, return to recharge at the Hercules Inn, Wallace Inn, or Ryan Hotel.
Each town wakes up in colors, like the imitable old-world charm of Wallace or the small town on Payette Lake coming alive through Ponderosa State Park. Wallace, one of only four cities in the US on the National Register of Historic Places, boasts Hollywood fame, while Priest River shares its falltime beauty between the mountains and Pend Oreille River. Immersing you in a soothing hiatus from the pandemonium of city life, Moscow and Sandpoint boast an arboretum each.
The higher the elevation, the soon leaves turn color, like in Island Park, boasting the longest street in the US at one of the highest elevations in the state. Take a scenic drive south to the most exquisite foliage around the elegant and powerful Mesa Falls—straight from a storybook cover. Idaho boasts the greatest percentage of its land in national forests at 38.2 percent. In Moscow and the lower altitudes, like the Kaniksu National Forest, you can chase the foliage until Hallow's Eve.
