Eastern Idaho is a perfect summer destination for any adventure lover. From excursions out on the water, to magnificent sand dunes, to hikes up in the gorgeous Teton Valley, there is something to do for everyone! Here are the top seven outdoor activities to try on your trip to eastern Idaho.
1. Float the Teton River
There’s nothing quite like enjoying a hot summer day in eastern Idaho by hopping in the Teton River. Gear up with Teton River Supply and head out on some inflatable kayaks, canoes, rafts, or paddle boards while taking in some of the best views of the Grand Teton Range.
Make sure to pack lots of water, sun protection, food, and drinks as you enjoy a scenic float down the river. Depending on how long you’d like to be out on the water, you can choose a rental up to seven hours tailored to your preferences.
Teton River Supply will start off by getting you setup with all of your equipment and safety gear and then shuttle you down to the river dropoff point. This location may vary depending on your rental duration.
Once you’ve reached the end of your journey, Teton River Supply pick you up so you don’t have to worry about paddling upstream. This is one of the best ways for outdoor lovers to see gorgeous scenic views of the Tetons.
2. Go horseback riding at Harriman State Park
Take a trail ride through Harriman State Park on horseback with Dry Ridge Outfitters. The two hour trail ride will take you up past the top of the tree line for incredible panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Learn all about the history of the park, the wildlife and take in the views of the gorgeous lakes.
3. Explore the St. Anthony Sand Dunes
The St. Anthony Sand Dunes are some of the most beautiful sand dunes in North America.
Whether you are into hiking, ATVing, dirt biking, camping or simply wanting to take in a beautiful sunrise or sunset, the St. Anthony Sand Dunes have something for you.
You will want to give yourself a few hours to explore the dunes, as the area itself is quite large at 10,600 acres. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from one side of the dunes to the other.
If you’re a photographer, make sure to check out Devil’s Dune, Dead Horse Bowl, and Choke Cherry dunes for the most epic views of the sand dunes. We opted to hike out to the tallest dunes from the road, but if you want to drive out to the dunes, be aware of the local regulations, permits, and items and vehicles needed to safely do so. If you’d like to camp next to the dunes, make sure to make a reservation at Egin Lake.
4. Take a soak in the hot springs
After a long day of hiking, nothing feels better than relaxing in a hot spring. The Teton Valley is home to Heise Hot Springs. For $10 for adults or $8 for children, you can take advantage of an all day pool pass to soak in the hot pools.
5. Explore three incredible waterfalls
Mesa Falls is definitely the most popular waterfall in all of eastern Idaho, and for good reason. The Upper & Lower Falls are renowned for their powerful beauty.
Make sure to pay for a parking pass here, unless you have already paid for one at Harriman State Park, which you can use at both locations! Parking here does get pretty crowded, so if you can visit earlier in the day or later toward sunset, you’ll have a better shot at finding an open spot.
This trail area is very heavily trafficked, so expect to find boardwalk trails that take you down to the various viewpoints of the falls and plentiful bathrooms and water fill up stations.
Sheep Falls is one of the more “hidden gem” waterfalls of eastern Idaho. You will need a vehicle that can handle a dirt road with a few potholes in order to access the trailhead. We highly recommend making sure your vehicle has a higher clearance car to prevent any damage, although you don’t necessarily need 4×4 or AWD.
The hike itself takes you down a series of short switchbacks into a canyon where you will find the raging falls swiftly running through. The current here is very strong, so make sure to watch your step.
This hike is great for all skill levels and is family-friendly for those wanting an easy adventure outdoors.
Tucked away in the Swan Valley in eastern Idaho, Fall Creek Falls is a cascading waterfall found alongside the road.
We’d highly recommend visiting the falls at sunrise to have them all to yourselves and for a gorgeous view of golden hour hitting the falls.
There are two different main lookouts for Fall Creek Falls – the upper and lower lookouts. For a lower view of the falls, take a short walk down the side of the road from the parking area and you’ll find a rope that takes you down for a closer look.
Make sure to wear non-slip hiking shoes since this area can be pretty slippery due to the loose gravely dirt and the spray of the water. Alternatively, you can view the falls with a short one minute walk adjacent to the parking area. This is a great spot for photos capturing both the falls and the rest of the Swan Valley.
Or, if you’d like to see the falls from the water, you can also kayak or take a boat down to the falls to take in their beauty.
6. Take a hike in the Teton Valley
The Teton Valley is filled with a variety of incredible hikes to choose from for all skill and experience levels. Whether you’re looking to explore caves or see beautiful views of the surrounding Teton mountain range, there’s a plethora of great hikes to choose from on All Trails.
Many of the hikes in the Teton Valley are located in bear territory and/or wilderness areas. This means you need to be bear aware at all times and follow best practices to keep yourself safe. This includes:
- Carrying bear spray with you and knowing how to properly deploy it should you need to. Make sure to keep it an accessible place in or on your day pack for best practice.
- Hike in groups – bears tend to be more intimidated by larger groups of people. It is not recommended that you hike alone in areas prevalent with grizzly bears.
- Check to make sure you don’t have food or scented items out in your vehicle or in your pack if you set it down. Use provided bear boxes when possible.
Also, make sure to Travel with Care while exploring on these gorgeous trails so that future generations can continue to enjoy them.
Our favorite trail located in the Teton Valley was the Darby Canyon Wind Cave Trail. Located near Driggs, the stunning Darby Canyon lies right along the Idaho and Wyoming border.
We would strongly recommend having an AWD or 4×4 vehicle since the trailhead is located down a dirt road. This out and back hike is a fairly moderate day hike at around 6 miles long and 1,800 feet of elevation gain. You will want to allot yourself an average of 3-4 hours round trip to complete this hike.
The Darby Canyon hike takes you up into the canyon and along the ridge so you are overlooking beautiful waterfalls and stunning vistas along the whole hike.
7. Visit a nearby national park
The Teton Valley of eastern Idaho is the perfect home base for exploring two of the USA’s most incredible national parks.
Located only 1 hour and 40 minutes from the western entrance to Yellowstone National Park and only one hour from Grand Teton National Park, the Teton Valley is an ideal spot to enjoy a national park adventure without the crowds.
Whether you’re taking a quick trip to the Teton Valley or seeking to explore for a week or two, there is so much to explore in this beautiful region of the Idaho.
Feature image created to The Lovers Passport.
Giselle and Stephen Jiroch are outdoor travel content creators known as The Lovers Passport and can be found on Instagram, Tik Tok, and Youtube, where they highlight their outdoor adventures and travels. Their goal is to inspire others to get outside and travel with their accessible travel guides, bucket list worthy itineraries, and tips on hiking, road tripping, and camping around the world.
Published on August 15, 2023
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