Top Things to do in Idaho
Top Hotels in Idaho
- 1. The Riverside Hotel, BW Premier Collection
- 2. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Boise Towne Square
- 3. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Coeur d Alene
- 4. Modern Hotel
- 5. My Place Hotel-Twin Falls, ID
- 6. Hampton Inn & Suites Boise-Downtown
- 7. Best Western Plus Coeur D'Alene Inn
- 8. The Grove Hotel
- 9. La Quinta by Wyndham Pocatello
- 10. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls
10 Bodies of Water in Idaho That You Shouldn't Miss
A mixture of forested mountains, alpine peaks, wildflower meadows, deep river canyons, and high plains deserts, Idaho is a paradise for golf, skiing, fly fishing, and river rafting. Boise, the capital, is the state's largest city and airline hub. North of Boise are golf, lake, and ski resorts from McCall in the south to Sandpoint and Coeur D'Alene in the north. East of Boise are the ski slopes of Ketchum and Sun Valley. East of Sun Valley are Craters of the Moon National Monument, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and the small town of Island Park just across the border from Yellowstone National Park. Boise's Basque Museum and Cultural Center reflects having the largest Basque population in the U.S. Reflecting Idaho's diverse heritage, near the Idaho Historical Museum in Boise's Julia Davis Park is the Idaho Black History Museum's chronicle of the slave York who served the Lewis & Clark Expedition. After a family visit to the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey and an outdoor performance at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, the next stop after Boise is likely to be Payette Lake in McCall or Sun Valley and Ketchum. About 100 miles north of Boise, past Cascade Lake, McCall takes you to the shores of Payette Lake. Go golfing, fishing, hiking, biking, waterskiing, sailing, boating, or whitewater river rafting. Ski or snowshoe Brundage Mountain or Tamarack Resorts, as well as Ponderosa State Park in winter. Ice skate year-round at Manchester Ice & Event Centre. About 450 miles north of Boise, there are resort lakes near skiing and golf at Coeur d'Alene, Hayden Lake, and Sandpoint. Golf, tennis, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, rafting, and hunting are popular in Sun Valley and Ketchum. Sockeye salmon may no longer do much spawning in Redfish Lake, but the boating and mountain scenery in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area make the short trip north to Stanley worthwhile. When the snows come the whole family will head for the slopes of Soldier Mountain, Bald Mountain, Dollar Mountain, or the Sun Valley Resort. A tiny forested town of about 250 people, Island Park has a large reservoir with fishing and boating, as well as Henry's Fork of the Snake River for fly fishing. It's only 15 miles from Yellowstone as well.
Restaurants in Idaho
1. Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area
2. Payette Lake
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 296 reviews
A 5,330-acre lake near the resort town of McCall.
Reviewed By idealjourney - Winter Garden, United States
I got a chance to visit Lake Cascade and Redfish Lake and you might be able to snag a better photo app at Redfish or even Cascade but overall Payette took the price for us. The most stuff to do in a medium sized lake. We visited both the State Park and also went paddle boarding on the lake. Paddle boarding and kayaking are the best on the Northeast end of the lake where you can rent from Backwoods adventures and take a journey up the Payette River. The current is almost non-existent so the up river paddling is easy. Ponderosa State Park is so unique in that it takes up almost the entire middle peninsula of the lake. It is worth $ 5 admission just to drive around and make sure you go to the end of the loop drive in the park because you will be rewarded with a higher up panoramic view of the lake.
3. Selway River
4. South Fork of the Payette
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
The southern section of Idaho's Payette River rumbles and roars for more than 60 miles through three distinctive gorges, each with its own scenic wonders and level of difficulty for rafting and paddling.
5. Salmon River
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 54 reviews
The "River of No Return" is the longest free-flowing river contained within one state of America's lower 48 states. This river begins South of Stanley, Idaho, through the towns of Clayton, Challis and Salmon before heading West through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. The Designated Wild & Scenic section, from Corn Creek to Carey Creek is one of the world's best wilderness river trips.
Reviewed By MFiello - Los Angeles, United States
I just spent 5 days on the Salmon River with Wayne Johnson and his tremendous crew. We stayed at various lodges along the way and were treated as honored guests. The food and drinks were fabulous! Besides the excitement of whitewater rafting, we enjoyed great wildlife viewing and stopped at several historical sites. Wayne is a great storyteller, and both he and his guides know well the flora and fauna found in the area. The best part of the trip was appreciating Wayne's vast knowledge of the history of the valley and his friendships with those who live year-round along the river. An absolutely delightful experience!
6. Coeur d'Alene Lake
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,397 reviews
Fed by waters from three different rivers, this pristine, 30-mile lake offers just about every water sport imaginable.
Reviewed By Gregg-Midlo
Whether you want to water ski, tube, fish, hike, bike, golf or just cruise the lake you will be amazed as the contrasting vistas of cool water against the green mountains and blue skies. Be on the lookout for bears, moose, eagles, egrets and more. What a magnificent place to create a memory.
7. North Fork of the Payette
8. Middle Fork of the Salmon River
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 128 reviews
The 105-mile stretch of the Salmon River cuts through a highly inaccessible and untamed part of Idaho's rugged countryside.
Reviewed By gamemasterh
My wife and I signed up for a late season trip with guided outfitter Northwest Rafting. The pricing was fair and the office staff was very helpful before and right up to the put-in morning. The guides with Northwest Rafting were truly a great bunch of human beings. Each was skilled at rafting and a pleasure to share the river experience with. What a joy to spend 6 days with such nice industrious young people. The food was amazingly good - while the highly-promoted omelet/egg muffin breakfast was very good, it was surpassed by the blueberry pancakes with chicken sausage and of course, the (meat or veggie) lasagna. The regular dutch over baking was unexpected and always cooked perfectly (not undercooked gooey nor overcooked dry - talent!). The Middle Fork is an amazingly wonderful unspoiled river. I encourage anyone to make this trip. We are enthusiastic about rafting more rivers with Northwest Rafting.
9. Lake Pend Oreille
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By couplessPS - Seattle, United States
This is one of the great American lakes- expansive with mountains and coves and different marinas where you can tie up. The Floating Restaurant and Sandpoint itself are must dos.
10. Stanley Lake
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 113 reviews
Reviewed By Imapepper79 - Boise, United States
Beautiful lake with great hiking and biking! Clear clean water for swimming! We did the hike to bridal falls and biked the Elk mountain loop! Lots of fun! And less people than Redfish Lake!
