6 Most Memorable Small Towns In Idaho
Prevailing in rugged topography but also the scenic countryside, there is nearly every known type of gemstone within the Gem State, particularly in its small-town scene. Idaho's most memorable towns are like postcards, with memorable ways to feel part of the perfect setting, like scaling peaks, whitewater rafting, or soaking in the hot spring. Hope and McCall are your ultimate lakeside towns, and both have a peninsula worthy of a detour. From summertime camping at Hope's destination, the Sam Owen Campground, to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in McCall and Hailey, the latter, the first town on this list, is the rural je ne sais quoi!
Hailey
Welcome to the heart of the beautiful Wood River Valley of Idaho, Hailey, home to the oldest functioning courthouse in the state! As the largest in the Wood River Valley with 8,000 locals, it is culturally diverse and home to the Friedman Memorial Airport—a big deal for a tiny town! From hospitable lodging to the finest restaurants, you will be well rested and satiated for the exciting recreational opportunities at the doorstep of the four-season destination, the majestic Central Idaho Rockies! Nestled at the edge of the Sawtooth and Challis National Forests with wild, public lands around, it is no wonder that Hailey is "Idaho's Hometown in the Mountains!" Big Wood River snakes through the valley on the western edge of the city, just another point for Hailey, one of America's top 50 small towns—the "I don't know how she does it" type of lady!
Originally a pioneer settlement during the harsh winters, this off-beaten-path town is a top destination for snow enthusiasts today, with modern amenities to stay warm while enjoying skiing and snowboarding at the snowy northern end of the Rockies. Visitors can immerse themselves in the summertime natural beauty via hikes and watersports like swimming, waterskiing, and fishing, while festivals take place year-round. Bringing "herds" to visit the nearby Ketchum for its Trailing of the Sheep Festival, you can also rock with locals and tourists right here during Hailey's Northern Rockies Music Festival and the Sun Valley Film Festival. Just 11 miles south, Ketchum is en route along the iconic Wood River Bike Path!
Hope
Are you seeking more than just any place away from the city, but in search of beautiful sunsets, expansive lake views, and a friendly local atmosphere? Welcome to the tiny town on the north shore of Lake Pend Oreille, an unforgettable and inspirational place for nature lovers, with just the right degree of chit-chat and solitude at some great campsites in the summer. Hope has come a long way since its railroad hub days—now posing as two unique cities, East Hope included, and home to under one hundred people! The serene little Hope offers all the comforts of eating and sleeping on a memorable lakeside getaway with Lake Pend Oreille for swimming and boating right in town and at the gateway to virtually endless outdoor adventures!
"Beyond Hope" is a destination in its own right, like Hope Peninsula with its David Thompson Game Preserve, to commune with nature, home to the grazing whitetail deer and gaggling Canadian geese along the wild shoreline! Also here, Sam Owen Campground offers 80 sites, but as a highly sought-after destination, plan in advance because it really is worth all the hype with a wonderful beach and boat ramp. After all, this is the place of those incredible sunsets you've been dreaming about among free-roaming wildlife and flying eagles overhead in fall and winter when you can just visit for a picnic or sightsee instead of camping.
Ketchum
Ketchum, one of those towns you see in pictures—totally overrun by sheep—evokes a scene from Ireland. Get the first-hand experience of the spectacle next fall during the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival in October, courtesy of Sun Valley! Paying homage to the West's ranching heritage in the most flamboyant way, visitors can enjoy five days of cooking classes, sheepdog competitions, wool workshops, and 1,500 woolies strutting their stuff on the main drag in town during the sheep parade! From hiking and fly fishing to hot springs and horseback riding at your doorstep, Ketchum is a memorable town for nature lovers, where nothing is off the table, while Sun Valley's events calendar is also full of jazz festivals, wine auctions, and summertime concert series.
The thoroughfare delights the eye with boutique shops for local art, outdoor gear, and high-end fashion, and tastebuds with great restaurants and bars in old buildings. Mingle with the locals at Sawtooth Club and the Pioneer Saloon if you are hankering for traditional Idaho fare of elk and bison meat! Sun Valley Lodge is for all you Hemingway fans to stay or just wander the halls in the author's footsteps when he worked on For Whom the Bell Tolls here! There is no better trail than the flat, paved 18-mile Wood River Bike Path between Ketchum, Hailey, and Bellevue for a bike ride along the crystal-clear cold mountain runoff from the nearby Sawtooths!
McCall
Adventure is calling from every crevasse surrounding this picturesque town on the shores of Payette Lake against the sprawling Payette National Forest. McCall, home to under 5,000 locals, is an ideal destination for residents of Boise, who don't take lightly the first sign of hankering for nature! Hidden away from the eyes of the oblivious, the forest is an intimate treasure for hikers, backpackers, and relief seekers, with destressing hot springs. There's the approaching Winter Carnival at the end of January, with ice sculpture displays at the Idaho State Snow Sculpting Championships and downhill skiing along the snow-covered foothills of the Rockies.
There is the nearby Tamarack Resort and great slopes at Brundage Mountain, from easy to challenging courses or snowmobiling to Burgdorf Hot Springs. Come in the summer to the lake for waterskiing, boating, and fishing, parallel to other summertime alpine activities such as hikes and camping! Ponderosa Pine State Park is right at the back door, on a 1,000-acre peninsula, for instant access to the secluded part of Payette Lake. A little further, one of Idaho's best, Lake Cascade State Park, offers its immense, lush embrace with intense flora and fauna, water, and campsites.
Stanley
Stanley, a town directly on the Salmon River, is one of the state's most charming, hidden from the highway within the Sawtooth and White Cloud Ranges. Home to only 131, it is an intimate destination in Idaho's beautiful backcountry for remote wilderness experiences! Among the many alpine lakes, Sawtooth Lake is stocked with trout species, while steelhead cruises the river in the spring through town and upstream 900 miles! From backpackers and summit scalers, families can enjoy easy day hikes in between exploring the lovely town, like Sawtooth Valley Pioneer Park within limits and Mountain Village Resort and Hot Spring!
The central location in the state favors Stanley as a premier destination, with many rock climbers among sightseers to the nearby peaks of White Cloud, Sawtooth, and Lost River. There's no adventure off the table here in one of the whole state's most scenic spots, with opportunities for horseback riding and whitewater rafting, while many trails suitable for hiking and biking are minutes from downtown. Charmingly isolated, full of rustic charm and rural ambiance, it doesn't get more idyllic than Stanley, home to friendly locals and fantastic dining options at the hospitable Redfish Riverside Inn!
Wallace
Wallace, once a thriving silver mining town in the late 1800s, is today one of the wealthiest mining towns in the world! After booms, busts, and "the Big Burn," Wallace's legacy is downtown, with old architecture proudly on display among the modern-day attractions, void of too much franchisement. Visitors can tour the fascinating Sierra Silver Mine with a trolley ride as part of the memorable experience. Truly a postcard-like town to visit, Wallace is a popular destination for adventures, with natural charms through the lush mountain valley and Idaho Panhandle National Forests all around!
From friendly, locally owned shops to restaurants incorporating fresh ingredients into classic, delicious American fare, it's easy to vibe with Wallace while browsing for unique arts and crafts from local artisans, as well as clothing and gifts with Idaho-style flair. A drive along Interstate 90 in northern Idaho offers views of its historic downtown profile, with every part of it on the National Register of Historic Places! From the 73-mile Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes right through the heart, cyclists, backpackers, and hikers enjoy thousands of miles of trails and retired mining roads, like a dream for bikers, the Route of the Hiawatha, just 20 miles east!
Every town on this list is on the verge of a wild environment, like snowbound mountains, turbulent rivers, and dense forests! Discover hot springs hidden within Ketchum's and McCall's forests, or drive along Interstate 90 for Wallace's architectural profile on the National Register of Historic Places! Stanley looks like Ireland, while the flat, paved 18-mile Wood River Bike Path between Ketchum, Hailey, and Bellevue is a dream for bikers to visit two towns on this list, plus a bonus along the crystal-clear cold mountain runoff from the nearby Sawtooths!
