Hells Gate State Park sits on river bottom exposed after the great ice age floods about 15,000 years ago. At the south end of the park are basaltic columns from the Pomona flows 14 million years ago. Hells Gate State Park was also the site of a Nez Perce village.
One of Idaho's great high mountain lakes, Henrys Lake is the kind of place that anglers dream about. They travel from near and far to fish for cutthroat, brook and cut-bow hybrid trout in what is considered one of the finest trout fisheries in the West.
Located in a narrow canyon at the mouth of Plummer Creek, Heyburn State Park is the oldest park in the Pacific Northwest. The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, a 72-mile paved bike trail, runs right through Heyburn State Park.
Located in the majestic mountains of southwest Idaho, Lake Cascade State Park provides diverse and exciting four-season recreational opportunities. Spend the weekend camping under the stars, and try your hand at a variety of water sports, fishing, hiking or mountain biking.
Lake Walcott has a great disc golf course, awesome fishing opportunities, plenty of shade and a variety of campsites. Campers can set up primitive sites along the water's edge. Several group camp sites for tent camping are also available as are fully serviced campsites and cabins.
Lucky Peak State Park is the perfect place to get away for swimming, picnicking, fishing, boating or biking. The park is a 10-minute car ride from downtown Boise or a 30-minute bike ride on the scenic Boise River Greenbelt.
The rugged terrain and breathtaking views in Mary McCroskey State Park are best suited for those with a sturdy vehicle and an adventurous spirit. The eighteen-mile unimproved Skyline Drive winds through the park, rising through dense cedar and ponderosa pine forests to spectacular vistas of the rolling Palouse prairie.
Round Lake State Park is a beautiful, forested park in the northern panhandle of Idaho. It sits on the edge of 58-acre Round Lake, where flocks of Canada geese are frequently seen flying above the towering pines.
Located near Salmon is Wallace Lake—a quiet retreat surrounded by dense forest. Home to rainbow and tiger trout, the lake is ideal for anglers of all abilities. Visit for the day, or sleep under the stars and take advantage of the area’s 12 campsites, equipped with picnic tables and fire rings.
Part of the Laughing Dog Brewing Company, Summit Cider uses locally sourced ingredients to craft its five ciders. For fruity notes, try its offerings made with apricot, pineapple or blueberries and raspberries.
Peaceful Belly—a 35-acre organic farm—is home to Stack Rock Cider House, featuring 11 ciders, each with its own unique flavor profile. Sample tasty options like a lavender and peach sparkling cider, or take the spicy route with a cantaloupe and jalapeño cider that’s both refreshing and fiery.
Since 2018, Cedar Draw Cider has been producing farm-to-table hard ciders from the apples in its three-acre family orchard without the use of artificial sweeteners or cane sugar. Try unique flavor profiles such as a cardamom-infused cider that’s perfect for fall and winter or a combination of fresh strawberries and hand-squeezed lemon juice that tastes like summer in a glass.
East Coast transplants Andrew and Alex Perez put down roots in Victor when they decided to start making low-sugar cider from Rocky Mountain apples. The brothers’ taproom features five flagship ciders, including some experimental batches.
Enjoy mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing at Powderhouse Gulch Trail, located in Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Located in Salmon, the Kids Creek Pond is a small fishing haven stocked with rainbow trout. Grab your gear for an afternoon of relaxed fishing, or stop by for a picnic while road-tripping along the Salmon River Scenic Byway.
Experience Idaho’s great outdoors by horseback with Rawhide Outfitters. Try a half-or full-day trail ride or saddle up for a history-packed Lewis and Clark horseback ride.
The Mackay Mine Hill Tour is a self-guided exploration of historic mining sites and buildings on Mackay's Mine Hill. There are 19 interpretive sites to explore along the tour route. The best time of year to visit is late spring to enjoy abundant wildflowers all the way to late fall.
It is estimated that Sacajawea, an interpreter and guide for Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, was born in present-day Lemhi County around 1788. A birthplace marker can be found between Baker and Tendoy.
This historic stop along the Main Salmon River is named after Polly Bemis, a Chinese American pioneer who lived in this remote area surrounded by the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area in the late 19th and early 20th century. Polly Bemis Ranch is a 26-acre National Historic Site accessed by jet boat or raft with interpretive signage detailing the life of Polly Bemis.
Sylvan Hart, nicknamed Buckskin Bill after the tanned hides he used as clothing, was a true mountain man. From 1932 to 1980, Buckskin Bill made the remote Five Mile Bar along the Main Salmon River his home.
Steeped in mining history with an abundance of scenic views, the Gold Rush Historic Byway showcases the beauty of the north central Idaho.
Rejuvenate your soul at one of northern Idaho's most beautiful oases. Chapman Springs Ranch is located on hundreds of river-framed acres surrounded by mountain peaks and fresh air - the perfect location to explore all the nature north Idaho has to offer. Guests may enjoy horseback riding by the river or relaxing at the firepit under a star-laden sky. In the winter, the ranch is a great base camp for snowshoeing or a family ski trip.
Learn all about Weippe's history and the local logging industry at the Weippe Hilltop Heritage Museum.
This byway runs along an early gold rush route, historic sites like the Heritage Hall Museum, the gateway to the Nez Perce Historic Trail and Beaver Canyon.
Admire beehive-shaped kilns built for processing charcoal down a dirt road off of Highway 28, near Birch Creek. In the 1800s, 16 of these kilns were constructed from local clay, and the charcoal produced within them was used in the Viola Mine located 10 miles across the Lemhi Valley.