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A waterfall cloaked in snow, with a dark green river in the forefront and misty skies above.

Natural Attractions

Spanning pristine landscapes to striking views, some of Idaho’s most popular and impressive destinations are those created without the work of human hands. Here are five must-see natural attractions.

Plunging 212 feet into the Snake River, Shoshone Falls is considered the “The Niagara of the West.” Other must-see waterfalls include Mesa Falls near Ashton and Fall Creek Falls near Swan Valley.

As North America’s deepest river gorge, Hells Canyon carves its way between giant slabs of green and black basalt walls along the Idaho-Oregon border. Filled with Native American and homesteading history, the canyon is well known for great fishing, whitewater rafting and jet boating.

There are more than 500,000 acres of young lava fields protected within the Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, which is also a designated International Dark Sky Park. Camping is available so you can explore rock-lined trails during the day and then view the starry sky at night.

Aptly named for its towering granite pinnacles, fins and domes, the City of Rocks National Reserve is a 14,407-acre reserve situated at the southern end of the Albion Mountains. The area is renowned for rock climbing and counts mountain bikingbirdwatching and hiking among its main attractions.

Idaho is home to over 2,000 lakes — many of them picturesque bodies of alpine water. Take a dip or cast a fly into Priest LakeLake Coeur d’Alene and Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho; Payette LakeLake Cascade and Redfish Lake in central Idaho; and Henrys Lake, Grays Lake, and Bear Lake in eastern Idaho.

Idaho boasts the nation’s first and only International Dark Sky Reserve. The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, one of only 22 in the world, spans 1,400 square miles, encompassing the communities of Ketchum, Sun Valley and Stanley, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, and the counties in between. Ketchum is also a designated Dark Sky Community. When you come to Idaho, get ready for some of the darkest skies on the planet. 

Throughout the summer, local astronomy groups host numerous stargazing events within the reserve, offering guided viewing opportunities. Other parks across the state also provide excellent dark sky experiences. Bruneau Dunes State Park, Idaho’s newest dark sky reserve, claims two of the most powerful public telescopes in the state. Meanwhile, City of Rocks National Reserve pairs its internationally recognized dark skies with world-class rock climbing. 

Redfish Lake Lodge in Stanley recently launched “Star Float” nights, taking guests by boat to the middle of Sawtooth Lake for stargazing with an astronomer. Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve offers a summer season of “Star Parties” featuring astronomer-led star viewing and ranger-guided full moon hikes. The area was used as a training ground for Apollo 14 astronauts, including Alan Shepard. While moon travel isn’t an option just yet, Idaho’s dark skies provide an earthly alternative for stargazing enthusiasts.

Did you know the Northern Lights can be seen in Idaho? No need to trek across the globe to witness the aurora borealis. Northern Idaho locations like Bonners Ferry, Priest Lake, Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene offer great opportunities for spotting this natural phenomenon when conditions are right. 

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