10 Incredible Vacation Spots In Idaho
Idaho is a naturally endowed and often overlooked state that surprisingly makes for a great vacation destination. In the Pacific Northwest region, this state is blessed with a host of attributes, from rugged mountains to dense forests, charming lakes, and serpentine rivers, particularly the iconic Snake River. While these natural elements give Idaho a pristine and lush feel, the state is sparsely populated with a population of around 2 million people, even though it has an area bigger than those of Florida and New Jersey combined. All of these combine to make Idaho a paradise for vacations, whether you like it peaceful or full of adventures. From a lake town with beautiful beaches to state parks packed with mountains and rivers, here are the top vacation spots in the Gem State.
Thousand Springs State Park
Relish one of the most memorable vacations in Idaho at the Thousands Springs State Park, where several attractions await exploration. Nicknamed the Magic Valley, this beautiful park is divided into multiple units, each preserving a little slice of the state’s rich biodiversity and geological features. The units include Earl M. Box Canyon Springs, Ritter Island, Niagara Springs, Malad Gorge, Billingsley Creek, and Kelton Trail. On a visit to this park, travelers can hike the 4.3-mile loop trail at the Box Canyon Spring to see the 11th largest spring in North America, sapphire blue pools, a 20-foot waterfall, and wildlife. At Ritter Island, natural lovers will enjoy a fulfilling experience gazing at birds like herons and raptors, hiking along the Snake River, and paddling crystal clear waters. Meanwhile, Malad Gorge is a great place to hike, picnic, and see waterfalls, a 250-foot deep canyon, and more birds, while the Kelton Trail offers a step back to the period when the route served wagons along the Oregon Trail.
McCall
McCall is a resort town in Valley County, Idaho, along the southern shores of Payette Lake. This massive 4,900-acre reservoir is the highlight outdoor attraction in the town, offering a host of recreational activities, including cruises. The lake also boasts parks, such as Ponderosa State Park, where vacationers can hike, camp, picnic on the beach, and kayak or boat in the water. Besides the water, history lovers can visit the Central Idaho Museum to glimpse at the region's glorious past through oral and written stories, artifacts, and photographs. Art lovers can check out the pottery collections at Mountain Monet, and just anyone can head to The Cove to relax with massages and various body treatments.
Bruneau Dunes State Park
The Bruneau Dunes State Park is one of Idaho’s magical destinations where a pretty blue lake surrounded by towering sand dunes awaits to enchant the eyes. Among these dunes is one of North America's tallest single-structured dunes, standing at 470 feet tall. Visit this park to hike, sand sled, and sandboard on the dunes or swim and fish for bluegill and bass in the lake. The park also has campsites and trails for horseback riding. Additionally, there is a Dark Sky Observatory in the park for viewing the gorgeous night skies. In the meantime, keep an eye out for wildlife such as coyotes, rabbits, ducks, geese, great blue herons, and lizards.
Driggs
Driggs is a charming little town in the Teton Valley, perfect for a vacation full of adventures. First off, its location at the headwaters of the Teton River makes it a hub of water sports like kayaking, rafting, and tubing. The river is also an amazing place to catch rainbow and cutthroat trout. Driggs is even home to the Teton Valley Lodge, the oldest operating fly fishing lodge west of the Mississippi. This lodge has great accommodations, WiFi, and a hot tub, as well as guides to help guests find the best spots for fishing around. As for history buffs, the town hosts the Teton Valley Museum, where exhibits covering more than two hundred years of the area’s history can be explored. If there’s still time, visitors can always grace the Spud Drive-in Theatre for entertainment or drive 11 miles to Grand Targhee Resort for a host of adventures from skiing and snowboarding to hiking and mountain biking.
Priest Lake State Park
Priest Lake State Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Idaho on the eastern shores of Priest Lake and at the foot of the Selkirk Mountains. Visitors here will be delighted at the lake’s crystal clear waters, which set the stage for a myriad of water sports, including stand-up paddleboarding and fishing. Additionally, the park’s thick forest of fir and cedar trees invites hikers to explore its over six miles of trails and spot wildlife such as bald eagles, moose, black bears, and whitetail deer. For lodging and accommodations, there are several options like cabins within the park, including campgrounds in Indian Creek, Lion Head, and Beaver Creek.
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Sawtooth National Recreation Area is one of the top outdoor destinations in Idaho, covering a whopping 756,000 acres. Just a few miles from Sun Valley, this recreational area is a mecca for all kinds of adventures, with more than 300 mountain lakes, over 700 miles of trails, and 40 peaks rising over 10,000 feet. The headwaters of several rivers, including the Salmon River and Payetter rivers, are in this area, and there is a wide range of wildlife, from wolves to Canadian lynx.
A vacation here is sure to be unforgettable as adventurers can spend their days windsurfing and kayaking at Redfish Lake, fishing at Stanley Lake, and hiking various trails like the 11-mile Redfish to Alpine Lake. The recreational area also has hundreds of campsites, with some areas offering RV camping and Group camping.
Tamarack Resort, Donnelly
Tamarack Resort is a four-season vacation destination offering breathtaking scenery and year-round recreation. In winter, it is a prime ski resort with over 1,100 skiable acres, 56 runs, and six lifts, offering endless winter adventures. The resort also features a cozy spa where visitors can unwind with massages and various treatments. Meanwhile, the resort is positioned on the western shore of Lake Cascade, which makes it a prime summer vacation destination, offering activities like boating, fishing, and kayaking. In addition, the Tamarack Zipline Adventure opens up in late spring and invites visitors to soar over treetops and the lake to witness the scenery of the entire valley.
Bear Lake State Park, St. Charles
Vacations can be about relaxation and laid-back recreational activities; that is where Bear Lake State Park in St. Charles comes in. This lovely park is centered around Bear Lake, a charming turquoise freshwater body nicknamed the "Caribbean of the Rockies." This lake’s north end has a soft sand beach where tourists can enjoy picnics with the views, watch the sunset, stroll, or swim in the turquoise waters.
The beach is also a great spot to launch a boat, jet ski, or kayak onto the water for fishing adventures or to just explore the area. Camping is equally a prime activity in Bear Lake State Park as it has over 50 campsites. Furthermore, the 19,000-acre Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to the park and invites animal lovers to see some of the area’s wildlife, such as sandhill cranes, ducks, swans, rabbits, and geese, among others.
Harriman State Park
Harriman State Park is one of the foremost state parks in Idaho, where vacationers will lose track of time having outdoor fun. In a 16,000-acre area, the park offers 22 miles of multi-use trails, cutting through forests, meadows, and along the Henry’s Fork which is a tributary of the Snake River stretching eight miles through the area. This stream is famous as one of the country’s best fly-fishing destinations. In winter, the park features 24 miles of groomed trails for skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking. Moreover, the area has a rich wildlife population, and some to keep an eye out for include moose, elk, occasional grizzly bears, and an army of trumpeter swans.
Sandpoint
Sandpoint is one of the coolest towns in Idaho on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho's largest lake. The town is also surrounded by three mountain ranges, making it a hub of adventures and breathtaking natural scenery. Travelers here will love to spend time at the Sandpoint City Beach Park as it overlaps the lake and offers opportunities for leisure walks, beach lounging, and swimming. The beach also has multiple marinas perfect for launching boats and kayaks into the glimmering waters. History enthusiasts can stop by the Bonner County Historical Museum to explore exhibits covering the county’s industries and its early years.
Even more exciting, Sandpoint is around 40 minutes from the 4,000-acre Farragut State Park, which is on the lake’s northern shores and presents a host of activities from hiking and mountain biking to fishing, boating, swimming, and camping. Additionally, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Idaho’s largest ski resort is in Sandpoint, making the town a a hub for winter vacations.
Idaho's Unforgettable Vacation Destinations
Idaho is not called the gem state for nothing. While the abundance of rare minerals and gemstones is responsible for the nickname, this state is home to a high concentration of hidden treasures in terms of tourism. These treasures come in the form of parks, resorts, and sometimes towns, mostly tucked deep in remote areas and often visited by few people yearly. Thousands Springs State Park, McCall, Sandpoint, and others listed above are some of these destinations, and within them are plenty of things that make vacations exciting and unforgettable. From pristine rivers and large lakes full of various fish species to tall sand dunes, mountains towering over 10,000 feet, and forests teeming with wildlife, there’s so much to discover on vacation in these destinations in Idaho.
