You’ll never be bored in eastern Idaho during the summer as there are so many activities to enjoy! Popular outdoor activities include visiting lakes, going fishing, and relaxing in a hot spring. You’ll also be able to enjoy unique activities like visiting an authentic Idaho ranch or going glamping in an airstream! Whether you’re looking for an outing that’s family-friendly, a perfect date night, or a weekend trip with your friends, you’ll find the ideal option in eastern Idaho this summer!
Visit Granite Creek Ranch
There are so many activities options that you’ll find at Granite Creek Ranch! My personal favorite is the amazing horseback trail rides that their team offers. The first start by pairing you with a horse that matches your experience and abilities to make sure that everyone has a great ride. You’ll then see varying landscapes like green forests and pastures with mountainous backdrops. If it’s a clear day, you might even get lucky and see the Grand Tetons in the distance.
In addition to horseback riding, there are cabins on-site if you’d like to turn a day trip into a weekend getaway. The cabins are fully furnished and spread out enough that you’ve got plenty of space to enjoy. Be sure to take the time to fish and canoe in the Granite Creek Pond that’s on-site.
Float an Eastern Idaho River
A very popular warm-weather activity in Eastern Idaho is floating the local rivers! For some small rivers, you can simply use a pool float but others may require a raft/small boat. Be sure to check the conditions of the river before going and ensure that you wear a life jacket. Some of the best rivers to float include:
- Portneuf River in Lava Hot Springs
- Snake River
- Warm River
- Teton River
- Warm Slough
- Henry’s Fork
Go Fishing
While you’ll find world-class fishing in Eastern Idaho, there are local, kid-friendly options too. If you’re visiting from out of town and didn’t bring your gear, there are several shops in Idaho Falls that offer day to week-long rentals. Some top-ranked places to go fishing in Eastern Idaho include:
- Roberts Gravel Pond
- Ryder Park Pond
- Henry’s Fork of the Snake River
- Becker Pond
Remember to get a fishing license before you go!
Find A Lake
Summer days at the lake are some of my very best childhood memories. Luckily, in Eastern Idaho, you’ll find plenty of options. Most are within an hour’s drive from Idaho Falls. I’d recommend packing a lunch (and maybe dinner) to make it a whole day trip! A few popular lakes in Eastern Idaho include:
- Packsaddle lake
- Rigby Lake
- Ririe Reservoir
- Blacktail Lake
- Henry’s Lake
Visit Swan Valley
Summer drives in Idaho are the best because you’ll enjoy incredible views along the way! A fan favorite is driving to Swan Valley. You’ll find the famous square ice cream here that everyone raves about. In addition, you can enjoy several hiking trails in the area.
Have Fun at the St. Anthony Sand Dunes
Within an hour’s drive from Idaho Falls, you’ll find the St. Anthony Sand Dunes. While kids may simply enjoy bringing some beach toys and playing in the sand, there are activities for adults to enjoy, too. These include dirt biking/ATVing, sliding down the sand mountains, or even staying out late and enjoying a bonfire with your friends.
Visit a Local Hot Spring
Hot springs are not just to be enjoyed during the winter months in eastern Idaho! The summer is equally fun since both of the hot springs have nearby pools. The two that I recommend visiting are Heise Hot Springs and Lava Hot Springs. Heise Hot Springs is about a 30-minute drive from Idaho Falls while Lava Hot Springs is closer to two hours. At Heise, you can enjoy the hot spring and two outdoor pools! One of the outdoor pools had a waterslide with diving boards.
At Lava Hot Springs, there is plenty of fun to be had! Like Heise, you’ll find the hot springs along with several pools (indoor and outdoor). They’ve got waterslides and diving platforms for brave visitors to jump from.
Rent an ATV and Hit the Trails
Island Park is every outdoor lover’s dream come true and renting an RZR/ATV is a great way to explore the backroads. There are a couple of rental shops in Island Park if you don’t own one. Be sure to reserve in advance because during the summer months bookings can fill up quickly.
While there are many trails to be enjoyed, I recommend taking the time to drive up to Sawtell Peak. It’s a 12-mile route that goes to the top of a 9875 ft summit! The views are incredible! Most of the times I’ve visited it’s been very windy so plan accordingly.
Go Chase Waterfalls
Eastern Idaho is home to many waterfalls but there are three that are worth a visit. These are Mesa Falls, Sheep Falls, and Fall Creek Falls. You can read this blog post to learn more!
Go Camping…or Glamping
No matter your style of sleeping in the outdoors, eastern Idaho has got you covered! If you like to rough it, there are more than enough campgrounds for friends and families to enjoy. Some popular areas to camp include Island Park, Driggs, and Lava Hot Springs.
If you prefer to sleep on a bed but still want to enjoy the outdoors, you’ve got to book yourself a glamping site! Two popular options in Eastern Idaho include Moose Creek Ranch and Wander Camp Yellowstone (found in Island Park). At Moose Creek Ranch, you’ll find an amazing airstream that has a glamping tent next to it with several beds inside. Wander Camp Yellowstone has many canvas tents that dot the grounds with incredible views of the mountains.
As you can see, there is plenty of fun to be had in eastern Idaho this summer! We hope this list of summer activities gave you a few ideas of how to fill your summer schedule. No matter if you decide to jump in a lake or heat up in a hot spring, you’ll have an enjoyable time!
Feature image credited to Part Time Tourist/Jess Darrington.
Jess Darrington is the founder or Part Time Tourists, a travel and adventure blog that was created in 2018. Part Time Tourists aims to help people travel more by offering detailed travel guides and practical tips. With a large focus on US travel, Jess shares adventurous and luxurious destinations throughout the country. You can follow her on Instagram and PartTimeTourists.com.
Published on July 1, 2025
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