Camping Gems - Idaho
North Idaho
From bicycle tours through the Silver Valley to fishing on North Idaho's mountain lakes and clear blue streams, this region was made for people who love the great outdoors. Head to Idaho's panhandle for terrific hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, and winter skiing. This is silver mining country, so you'll also find a number of mine tours available.
Old Idaho Penitentiary
Step inside the world of an old-time state penitentiary. Built in 1870, the Old Idaho Penitentiary offers self-guided tours of the cell houses, Death Row, a historic prison Rose garden, exhibits on prison tattooing, and the women's ward. (2445 Old Penitentiary Rd., 208-334-2844)
Bitterroot National Forest
Half of this forest is dedicated to the largest expanse of continuous pristine wilderness in the lower 48 states -- the Selway Bitterroot, Frank Church River of No Return, and the Anaconda Pintler. Much of its beauty can be attributed to the heavily glaciated, rugged peaks of the Bitterroot Range. The abundance of natural resources offers a wide range of opportunities for recreation, grazing, wildlife, fisheries, timber, and minerals.
Owyhee Uplands
See the high desert at its most majestic. This high-country region in southwestern Idaho contains high plateaus, canyons, and mountains, all waiting to be explored. Watch for coyotes, bighorn sheep, hawks, and badgers in this sagebrush-steppe ecosystem.
Boise Tour Train
Departs from Julia Davis Park, this 1890s-style puffer-belly locomotive carries you along the streets of Boise in an open air passenger car as your guide shares some of the town's colorful past and points out more than 75 of its historical sites during your one-hour tour. (Julia Davis Drive, daily May-October, 208-342-4796)
Coeur d'Alene Lake
What could be better than a day of camping on a gorgeous blue lake? Head to Coeur d'Alene Lake for superb fishing, swimming, and other water sports. Or spend the day exploring the 47 hiking trails, horseback riding areas, and golf ranges. There are family attractions like amusement parks and playgrounds right nearby.
Celebration Park, Boise
Just one-hour southwest of Boise, this former wintering ground for the Paiute Indians features a large concentration of petroglyphs and campsites. Learn the history of this nomadic tribe at the visitor center or take in the natural history of the park on a self-guided tour. Learn ancient Indian games or try your hand at the ATLATL bow range.
Idaho Historical Museum
History buffs will want to spend some time at the Idaho Historical Museum (610 N Julia Davis Dr., 208-334-2120). You'll be transported to the past as you tour an old west saloon, a blacksmith's forge, a Chinese apothecary's shop, and see the cowboy, Oregon Trail, and Native American artifacts.
Boise Shakespeare Festival
Enjoy fabulous theater in gorgeous outdoor setting. The Boise Amphitheater offers a mountain view, outstanding theater, and a comfortable environment. See Shakespeare's greatest works -- and some more modern plays -- from June to the end of September every year.
Bonner's Ferry and Boundary County
This majestic area is a haven for hikers, boaters, and horseback riders. Explore the over 300 miles of trails in the Panhandle National Forest. For fishing, take your pick of the scores of crystal blue lakes and 290 miles of alpine streams and creeks. Set your rod for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, bass, crappie, brook trout, sunfish and whitefish.
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Camping Gems - Places to Go in Idaho
Hells Canyon
America's deepest gorge is difficult to reach -- the easiest way to see it is by rafting down the Snake River. You'll see black basalt walls towering above you on either side, sometimes as high as 7,000 feet. The views are gorgeous, and the whitewater rafting is some of the best anywhere.
Stanley Lake
Set in the rugged Sawtooth Mountains, this lake is practically perfect. Its blue waters draw wildlife and birds (there's a popular birding trail here). This is a fabulous spot for rainbow and lake trout fishing, canoeing, boating, swimming, and hiking.
Boise and the Boise River
Stroll down Boise's streets or white-water raft down the Boise River -- whatever you do, you'll enjoy fair weather. Boise's setting on the high desert plain means dry, mild weather year round. Don't miss fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass on the Boise River or the outstanding Boise summer Shakespeare festival.
Anderson Ranch Recreation Area
You'll find picturesque mountains, streams, and forests at the Anderson Ranch Recreation Area (just outside Mountain Home, via Highway 20). Take your fishing rod, your water skis, or your bird guide, and enjoy a pleasant afternoon. The area is open year round and has plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Idaho's Wine Country
Taste award-winning wines and the latest vintages in the area southwest of Boise. Idaho's wine country is filled with idyllic vineyards and wineries. This region shares the same latitude as the famed wine regions of France, allowing Idaho wine makers to develop award-winning vintages.
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
Sheets of black basalt cover the ground at Craters of the Moon National Monument. Explore this unusual terrain, viewing the three major lava flows, the sagebrush fields, the Spatter Cones, and the Devil's Orchard Trails.
Bogus Basin Ski Resort
For great winter skiing -- or summer hiking and mountain biking -- head to Bogus Basin, a resort that's just 17 miles north of Boise. The 2,600-acre resort has 35km of groomed nordic trails and a lift-served tubing hill. There are hills for every skiing level. Be sure to check out the evening and night skis.
Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area
Visit this conversation area and see falcons, eagles, hawks, and owls -- all living, hunting, nesting, and raising their young in the wild. You can see birds during every season of the year, but visit during spring and summer in the early mornings to see the birds at their best. The area includes an interpretive trail.
Silver City and the Owyhee Mountains
Looking for an Old West ghost town? Head to Silver City, a ghost town that's nestled in the Owyhee Mountains south of Boise. More than 70 buildings are still standing in Silver City, a town that once boomed with silver miners and gamblers. Silver City is only accessible May - September due to snow in the Owyhees.
Lake Pend Oreille
Pronounced (pond-er-EYE), Lake Pend Oreille offers picture-perfect camping. Set up your camp in these deep woods and enjoy fishing for kokanee salmon, rainbow, brown, brook trout, and large mouth bass. With over 143 miles of shoreline, this is a boating paradise. Not only is Pend Oreille is Idaho's largest lake, it's one of the largest inland lakes in North America. |
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Camping Gems - Places to Eat in Idaho
Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene Brewpub
Hunters Steak & Pub
Cedars Floating Restaurant
Hauser
Chef in the Forest
Boise
Madhuban Indian Cuisine
Chandlers Steakhouse
Bardenay Restaurant
Yen Ching
Sun Valley
Globus
Ketchum
Ketchum Grill
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Camping Gems - Things to Do in Idaho
Take a whitewater rafting trip down the Snake River
Hike past the lava flows and cinder cones of Craters of the Moon National Park
Make photo-memories in Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America
See a bald eagle soaring through the sky
Go fly fishing on the Snake or Salmon Rivers
Take a horseback ride through the Bitterroot National Forest, one of the largest stretches of pristine wilderness in the country
Go mountain biking on the North Contour Trail on Moscow Mountain
See the wildflowers on the scenic Sawtell Peak Road
Go skiing and snowboarding at Bogus Basin, Idaho’s largest ski and snowboard area
View Shoshone Falls -- they're higher than Niagara Falls!
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Idaho
