Written by Kieran Hadley
While crowds flock to Montana’s national parks, Oregon’s temperate rainforests, and Washington’s coastal peaks, Idaho’s vast, diverse mountain ranges are frequently forgotten – to the benefit of those who remember.
From the craggy beauty of the Sawtooths to the raw stature of the Lost Rivers, there’s something for everyone. Backpacking, rock climbing, and hiking to remote mountain lakes are popular summer activities, not to mention the incredible skiing to be found in McCall and Sun Valley, the latter of which has become an international destination for fanatics and weekend warriors alike.
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Rivers
In addition to its mountains, another facet of Idaho’s natural beauty can be found in the rivers that flow between them. These rivers are full of fish and whitewater, making Idaho especially attractive to anglers and kayakers. The Salmon River, also known as “the river of no return” due to its dangerous rapids, is one of the most popular kayaking and rafting destinations in the U.S. Floaters often take multi-day trips through different forks of the Salmon’s deep canyons and rapids, and many sections of the river are rated Class IV or V, making them challenging even to the most experienced river guides and kayakers.
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Parks
Idaho also boasts several incredible National and State Parks. Most people are familiar with Yellowstone National Park, located at the meeting-point of Idaho with neighboring Wyoming and Montana, as well as Grand Teton National Park. Grand Teton itself is actually in Wyoming, but the same mountains can be accessed from the Idaho side for a different and often less touristy experience.
A park entirely unique to Idaho can be found at City of Rocks National Reserve, an area dominated by volcanic geology that has resulted in a dense “city” of granite domes and spires spaced throughout a region of sage desert. City of Rocks is a renowned destination for rock climbers especially, but also for hikers, mountain bikers, and history lovers who want to enjoy the feeling of wandering through relics left over from emigrants on the California Trail.
Another impressive geological formation can be found at Craters of the Moon National Monument, a landscape dominated by blackened volcanic rock left over from Yellowstone’s volcanic activity, making it feel like a dark lunar landscape. Hiking through the park, one might find themself wandering into a cave or a lava tube or on top of a dormant cinder cone.
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Accessible and affordable
Part of what makes Idaho such a popular area for outdoor recreation is not just the fact that these features exist, but that they are extremely accessible to the public. Nearly one quarter of Idaho is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, meaning that most of the outdoor spaces that attract people are either free or very affordable to access, and maintained by the state rather than private owners. This ensures that these resources and locations will continue to be federally maintained, and will remain accessible to public use in the future, allowing people to continue experiencing its diverse, beautiful outdoor spaces indefinitely.
Kieran Hadley is a writer and photographer based out of the Rocky Mountain West. His interests focus mainly on international and environmental topics as well as conservation and outdoor recreation.
