While it would be impossible to describe all of Idaho — or any state, for that matter — in just one word or phrase, there is one overarching reason to visit the land of potatoes and gemstones: the great outdoors. According to Nakia Williamson, the cultural resources program director of the Nez Perce Tribe, it’s “the beauty of the natural landscape and the extreme physiology of the region, with arid and semi-arid regions contrasted with the high alpine mountains and large river systems” that creates such an incredible place to experience. Erik Leidecker, co-owner of Sawtooth Mountain Guides, agrees, noting that this is a state with a “vast amount of untrammeled wilderness.”
Even if you’re drawn to Idaho for its access to nature and outdoor pursuits, you might also consider stopping through some of its more populous destinations. “Idaho’s arts, culture, and food scenes are thriving too, especially as you explore smaller towns,” John Curnow, the general manager of Limelight Ketchum, tells Travel + Leisure. In fact, Island Park, which sits on the eastern edge of the state, was named T+L’s Best Small Mountain Town of 2024.
And if you’re not sure where exactly in Idaho you want to go? This list should give you a few ideas. Read on to discover the best places to visit in Idaho, according to local experts.
Boise
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
Curnow describes Boise as a “must-see for anyone visiting Idaho” and a “city that strikes a perfect balance between urban amenities and access to nature, with the foothills offering hiking and biking trails just minutes from downtown.” Leidecker shares that the state’s capital is a solid option to fly in and out of the state, and he also recommends “carving out an extra day of a ski vacation to ride nearby Bogus Basin,” which is about a 40-minute drive away.
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
Idaho has a number of sites that are maintained by the National Park Service — one of which is the Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve. “The volcanic landscapes are out of this world, and it’s an awesome place for hiking or stargazing,” says Curnow. In the summer and fall (and as conditions allow), visitors can go caving in two of the lava tube caves. Come winter, the park’s nine-mile Loop Road is closed to cars but groomed for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
You’ll need to head to central Idaho to see what Leidecker calls “world-class scenery worthy of a national park.” At 756,000 total acres, Sawtooth National Recreation Area has hundreds of miles of trails, more than 300 alpine lakes, and 40 peaks that measure over 10,000 feet. “While this is still one of the most heavily visited areas in the state, it is nowhere near as crowded as nearby Yellowstone, Grand Teton, or Glacier National Parks,” he adds.
Clearwater River
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Williamson shares that Clearwater River — or “Big River” in the Nez Perce language — is a “place of origin or creation for the Nimíipuu, or Nez Perce people, at the site known as timnéepe, or ‘Place of the Heart.’” He also says this is a “significant fishery of various anadromous fish, such as salmon and steelhead,” and the Nez Perce Tribe operates a tribal fish hatchery at Cherrylane and the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery, which he says are “necessary to sustain the various runs of anadromous fish because of downstream hydroelectric projects and habitat degradation.” The latter hatchery offers both self-guided and guided tours seven days a week.
Middle Fork of the Salmon River
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Designated as a “Wild and Scenic River,” and therefore protected by the government and preserved in its free-flowing condition, the Middle Fork of the Salmon River spans 104 miles, from the confluence of Marsh and Bear Valley Creeks to the point where it meets the Main Salmon River. “It is best enjoyed as a multi-day guided or non-guided river trip,” says Leidecker; those floating the river can expect class three and four rapids as well as incredible scenery.
Blue Heart Spring
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
If you want to see the jaw-dropping waters of Blue Heart Spring, you’ll need to grab a paddleboard or a kayak. Most visitors rent boats and launch from Banbury Rentals; from there, it’s about a 45-minute paddle up the Snake River to this photo-worthy oasis. Even in the summer, the water temperatures hover around 58 degrees, so you’ll be rewarded with a refreshing dip upon arrival.
City of Rocks National Reserve
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
City of Rocks National Reserve is another top pick for Leidecker, who describes it as “a little off the beaten path in the southeast corner of the state and an improbable maze of granite fins and spires in a high desert setting surrounded by pinyon pine and juniper forest.” He notes it’s an amazing place for rock climbing, birding, and retracing sections of the historic California Trail. If your schedule allows, he also recommends tacking on nearby Twin Falls, Shoshone Falls, and Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument.
Hells Canyon
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
Williamson says Hells Canyon — also known as saqáanma (“shady place”) — is the original homeland of several bands of Nez Perce people; today it forms the border between Idaho and Oregon. It’s also known as the deepest gorge in the United States (it reaches a depth of 7,990 feet), and he says it “provides some of the most amazing vistas of ancient geologic formations that have been formed over millennia and hosts numerous aquatic and terrestrial animal and plant species, including the iconic bighorn sheep, elk, and deer.”
Tamarack Resort
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One of Idaho’s best ski resorts, Tamarack is found in the rugged Payette River Mountains. Not only does it have terrain for all levels of alpine skiers, but it also offers areas for Nordic skiing, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and fat-tire biking. In the summer, there’s mountain biking, ziplining, fishing, and golf — all paired with incredible mountain views.
Sun Valley and Ketchum
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Looking for more places to hit the slopes? America’s first ski resort, Sun Valley, is waiting. Leidecker says it’s especially good for backcountry, Nordic, and alpine skiing and mountain biking. At the bottom of Bald Mountain, the resort’s main ski mountain, sits Ketchum, a charming town that acts as a base camp for many travelers exploring Sun Valley. “The area is also home to the Blaine County Recreation District, which maintains over 100 miles of Nordic ski trails and mountain biking routes, ensuring top-notch experiences for outdoor enthusiasts throughout the year — something I am very personally grateful for,” says Curnow.
Galena Lodge
Courtesy of Galena Lodge
To discover another one of Curnow’s go-to places, you’ll drive north of Sun Valley and Ketchum. “Galena Lodge is one of my favorite hidden gems that is a great destination for any and all outdoor recreation,” he says. “The lodge is nestled in the heart of a really well-connected trail system, [so it’s] great for mountain biking and hiking, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and more.”
Island Park
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
Island Park is an angler’s dream destination — it’s home to several popular sections of the Snake River — and it’s a perfect jumping-off point for anyone visiting Yellowstone. In 2024, it also became home to Yellowstone Peaks Hotel, a 21-cabin boutique property with cold plunges, wood-fired soaking tubs, and a dry sauna. While the hotel is closed in the winter, the town is still ripe with opportunities for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing.
Payette Lake
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“This high mountain lake is located near McCall, Idaho, and is surrounded by national forest lands and high mountain streams and lakes,” says Williamson. The 5,330-acre glacial lake — which is open for fishing, boating, and swimming — sits at an elevation of about 5,000 feet, and its origins can be traced back to over 10,000 years ago. Today, part of Payette Lake is under the protection of Ponderosa State Park, where visitors can camp, hike, and participate in other outdoor activities.
Driggs
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
The town of Driggs may not be as well-known as neighboring Jackson, Wyoming, but it’s still worthy of a visit — especially if you’re interested in skiing. Driggs is just a short 20-minute drive from nearby Grand Targhee Resort, so it’s a great alternative if you don’t want to stay overnight on the mountain. In town, you can stop by the Grand Teton Distillery, check out the Teton Geo Center, or float down the Teton River.
Coeur d’Alene
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
Northern Idaho has three major lakes, one of which is Lake Coeur d’Alene. More than 25 miles long, the body of water sits next to the city of Coeur d’Alene, a tourist destination known for golfing (there are dozens of golf courses in the nearby area), sightseeing cruises, and a variety of resort hotels. The Coeur d’Alene Resort is one of the top-rated hotels in the state, and it’s open year-round for guests who want to take advantage of all of Coeur d’Alene’s offerings — including biking, stargazing, snowshoeing, boating, and fishing.
Lochsa River Corridor
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“The Lochsa River corridor is accessed by U.S. Highway 12, which is paralleled to the north by the ancient Nez Perce Trail, or kuséeyne’iskit (“Trail to the East/Buffalo Country”),” says Williamson. “This area has minimal alteration to the natural beauty with views of pristine waters and ancient forests of red cedar and fir that form a sea of mountains and forests.” Visitors come to this area to hike, camp, fish, hunt, swim, and tube down the river.
Schweitzer Ski Resort
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
Billed as Idaho’s largest ski resort, Schweitzer is located in the Selkirk Mountains. The family-owned resort is known for its tree skiing, grooming, and an overall relaxed vibe (this isn’t Aspen or Deer Valley). It boasts 2,900 acres of terrain, two sizable bowls, and an average of 300 inches of snowfall every year. It’s also available on the Ikon Pass without any blackout dates.
Sandpoint
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
Surrounded by three mountain ranges (Selkirk, Cabinet, and Bitterroot), the community of Sandpoint sits just below Schweitzer, on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. Given its natural beauty, outdoor activities — like skiing, hiking, and biking — are popular, but there are also a number of cultural activities for visitors to enjoy. The Festival at Sandpoint, for example, is a summer concert series that spans two weeks in July and August.
Cooper’s Ferry
Courtesy of Loren Davis/Oregon State University.
“Located on the lower Salmon River in the aboriginal territory of the Nez Perce people, Cooper’s Ferry is 15,560 years old and one of the oldest and most significant archaeological and village sites in the United States,” says Williamson. In the Nez Perce language, it’s known as nipéhe (“referencing a female’s younger brother”), and recent findings have deemed it a critical link to understanding human migration into what’s now known as the Americas.
Wallace
Courtesy of Visit Idaho
Situated in the Silver Valley Mining District of the Idaho Panhandle, Wallace has a few claims to fame. For starters, it was historically the world’s largest silver producer. The entire town is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making it a popular destination for anyone interested in architecture and the storied past of the American West. While in town, pop into the Sierra Silver Mine, the Wallace District Mining Museum, and the Northern Pacific Railroad Museum. Given the fact that the Idaho Panhandle National Forests surrounds Wallace — and the 73-mile paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes runs through town — there’s also plenty of opportunity for hiking and biking.
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