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
Top 10 Things to do Adventurous in Idaho, United States
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. Cascade Raft & Kayak
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 228 reviews
Idaho whitewater rafting and kayaking trips departing daily. Large riverside decks, catering facilities available, gift shop, cafe, free parking. Adventure for all ages and skill levels with half and full day whitewater rafting trips. Located less than one hour from Boise!
2. Payette River Company
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 408 reviews
Payette River Company offers day and overnight trips on the South Fork Payette In Idaho. Our multi-day trips treat you to PRCs private camp for a night on the river. The Canyon section has 25 class 3 & 4 rapids and a portage around a waterfall. Join us and make it the highlight of your summer.
3. Solitude River Trips
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 130 reviews
We provide everything except your personal clothes. There are no strangers here, just folks we haven't met yet
4. Salmon Raft
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 138 reviews
Single day and multi day whitewater rafting excursions on the Salmon River! Trips leave daily from downtown McCall, with round-trip transportation included. Fun, splashy, and playful rapids for all adventure levels. Gourmet meals, white sand beaches, crystal clear and warm water. What more could you ask for?
5. Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 153 reviews
The deepest river gorge in North America, Hells Canyon is accessible by jet boat or raft. Those who explore this rugged wilderness will find ancient tribal carvings in the rocks, deserted ranches and closed-up gold mines.
Reviewed By chrisn521 - Seattle, United States
An outstanding white water rafting trip with ROW Adventures out of Lewiston, Idaho. Water is dam controlled so there is always plenty of water. This company had the best river guides, accommodating the wide variety of folks in a group of sixteen. Beautiful scenery, good food, very thorough trip with knowledgeable guides. The only downside to the trip was sharing the river with the loud jet boats that also have access to the water after day two of the trip. Somehow jet boats do not equate with wilderness.
6. 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!
7. Adventure Sun Valley
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 149 reviews
For over 20 years, Adventure Sun Valley has been offering expertly guided whitewater adventure trips on the Middle Fork, from action-packed day trips to longer expeditions The Middle Fork Salmon River in Idaho boasts over 100 miles of free flowing, crystal clear water and is regarded as one of the top 10 whitewater rivers in the world.
8. Timberline Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,404 reviews
7 ziplines, 2 sky bridges, 2 autobelays, lunch and S'mores tour options and views that are out of this world are what make Timberline Adventures the ultimate outdoor experience in Coeur d’Alene. With a birds-eye view of the lake and forest, you are sure to be blown away by the beauty that surrounds you!
9. River Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 333 reviews
We specialize in exciting jet boat adventures. Guided fishing trips and historical, scenic tours on the Salmon River "River of No Return" and Snake River in "Hells Canyon". Your adventure of a lifetime awaits, come experience it with us!
10. 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.
