Idaho offers many outdoor activities that you are surely going to love. There are things to do for people of all ages but some do stand out. Let us look at the most popular outdoor activities that Idaho has to offer.
Fishing
This is definitely number one on any list because Idaho offers an incredible variety. You can either go for really special catches like the prehistoric sturgeon or go for “classic” trout fishing. No matter what you choose, make sure to take your time to research the many facilities that offer high quality fishing. You will surely love what this state has to offer when talking about fishing.
Hunting
Idaho offers some of the greatest hunting side in the western side of US. You can shoot trophy moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, whitetails, mule deer, antelopes and elk. If you are looking for a special experience you might also go for mountain lions, black bears or simply opt for turkey hunting.
Winter Sports
Perhaps the most underrated outdoor activity in Idaho, winter sports are widely available in many parts of the county. In the event that you love snow and downhill skiing you will surely want to go to Idaho. For those that want something special we recommend snowmobiling. There are many groomed trails that wait for tourists and you can even create your own special track.
Hiking
Idaho has hiking trails of different difficulties and they are spread across the state. You will find trails shorter than one mile and even one trail of 1,200 miles, extending from the Nevada Canadian border to the other side of Idaho. On the whole you are going to find around 19,000 miles of hiking trails, perfect for backpackers, hikers and trekkers.
Camping
It does not matter if you prefer simple tents or camping with luxurious motor homes because Idaho comes to the table with hundreds of great campgrounds that you can visit. Most will be located close to highly popular recreation areas and spots that offer great scenic highlights. The public campgrounds are managed and operated under state and federal government agency laws so you can expect high quality services all year round.
Boating
Idaho is famous for the river runs that it offers. Also, you can enjoy relaxing trips as opposed to adrenaline filled rides that are really popular. Idaho offers over 3,000 miles of rivers that can be navigated. This brings in the possibility to be quite on an adventure. You can go for jet boating, tubing, kayaking, canoeing or rafting. When it comes to floating you will surely love the diversity offered.
Biking
When it comes to biking you should know that Idaho offers over 19,000 miles of tremendous trails. You can go on biking trails, river trails, trails along back roads in the desert and even urban trails. Many will want to go on the Route of the Hiawatha Rail-Trail, which is 17 miles long and is of easy grade for bikers. You will go through 9 tunnels, over 7 high trestles and along waterfalls. This is quite an incredible experience when thinking about the landscapes that you will get to see.
Most US national parks have one huge problem. They are filled with visitors and the overcrowding diminishes the satisfaction of the visitors. This has made it difficult for some families to have a good vacation.
Due to this overcrowding there is a need to start looking for alternatives. Idaho needs to be included on the list because it features many perfect vacation retreats for people that want to go on a great family vacation. Let us quickly see what this state has to offer and why you should consider it.
The landscapes in Idaho are of unrivaled beauty with high mountain peaks, lush forests, awesome rivers, alpine lakes, streams, sand dunes and desert areas. In the event that you are looking to have a great vacation during all seasons you will find few places that compare with Idaho at the moment. You will be away from crowds, have a lot of room to do what you want to and have a tremendous vacation.
In Idaho you can visit around 2000 reservoirs and lakes and over 16 thousand miles of rivers. You can also take advantage of 19 thousand miles that are perfect for road and mountain biking, backpacking, hiking, Nordic skiing, horseback riding or snowmobiling. Also, if you are looking for camping sites you should know that Idaho offers hundreds of such places, all operated by government agencies. In this state you will find over 9 million acres of national forests and around 4 million acres of true, unspoiled wilderness. Among the areas make sure to consider the Frank Church – River of No Return area, which covers over 2 million acres alone. It is actually the largest area designated for wilderness in US.
Idaho is much more than just a great place to explore. It also boasts a lot of historic and cultural sites. You can follow on the footsteps of William Clark and Meriwether Lewis, who became famous after exploring together with Sacajawea. See the route that they were on and find dozens of similar exploration sites that are filled with history and adventure. There are still pioneer wagon wheel ruts that remained in different areas. Simply wonder when looking at all the natural features that the ancestors had a chance to explore like deep river canyons, lava fields, sparse desert plains, huge rock outcroppings and the world renowned Great Rift System.
In Idaho you will find a population under 500 thousand people. The largest community is located in the capital of Boise, which shows less than 200 thousand residents. Most of the towns that you will visit are really small but all is rooted in the state’s history. We recommend that you seriously consider interacting with the inhabitants in order to find out things that you will never read anywhere else.
On the whole, Idaho is a tremendous destination if you are looking for adventure or relaxation. You will have many things to do and you can travel by foot, bike or car, go boating, fishing and a whole lot more. There is no reason why you should not consider a visit to Idaho.
Idaho offers many outdoor recreational opportunities that you will surely like. Fishing is one of them and it is actually a way of living for many residents and at the same time a great experience for tourists. Idaho offers thousands of miles of streams and rivers and around 2,000 lakes and reservoirs. As you can see, you have many choices when planning a fishing trip in Idaho.
Fishermen from all around the country and even many from around the world will always be seen around Lake Coeur d’Alene, Priest Lake and Lake Pend Oreille. Out of the many fish that you can catch, the most popular are the Kamloops trout and the Chinook salmon.
Anglers will want to go after the white sturgeon, a fish that can be as heavy as 1,500 pounds and live up to 100 years. This is definitely a unique game fish and the largest one you can find in the fresh waters of North America. If you are looking for such a majestic catch you will want to go to the Snake and Salmon Rivers. Keep in mind that it can be really hard to catch such a fish. The good news is that you will find many guides offered by licensed outfitters in the areas where the fish is available.
You will also be able to go on a high quality trout fishing adventure. In fact, Idaho does offer some of the best fishing of this kind around the world. There are many areas around Idaho that will offer you a lot of variety from trout to perch, walleye, whitefish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, catfish and crappie.
Even if the variety is huge, trout fishing is what made Idaho world renowned in the world of fishing. You will find much variety and some trout species are Idaho natives. You will find them in creeks, rivers and different Stillwater locations in many places around the state. Tourists can engage in fishing trout with the use of spinners, regular bait and different other lures like flies. If you are going on a large river fishing trip it is recommended to use a drift boat in order to have a more authentic local experience. On the other hand, if you want to go for shore fishing and wading, this is also possible in Idaho.
For those that love fly fishing, you should know that there are special Blue Ribbon streams that will satisfy all quality needs that you might have. We recommend that you go to Silver Creek, Henrys Fork, Big Wood River, St. Joe River, Teton River and Boise River. If you are a beginner you can find good fly fishing guides that will teach you all that you need to know in order to have a great experience while fishing in Idaho.
To put it simple, Idaho stands out as a fisherman’s paradise. You have so much variety that it will be quite difficult to choose what you will want to do. Make sure that you go on a great fishing trip and visit Idaho if you are looking for high quality fishing.
Idaho is a great place to visit but there are some attractions that few people ever see. We are talking about roadside attractions. You can easily have a great experience just by visiting some unique places that will leave you with great memories. If you are considering a roadside trip in Idaho here are some recommended spots.
The Museum of Clean in Pocatello, Idaho
We are in front of a museum that covers over 75 thousand square feet. Here you will find 2,000 years of interesting cleaning history, ranging from the Roomba to the broom. Learn about how turpentine first appeared and see exactly why bleach and ammonia will never mix. This museum is very attractive if you are going to visit with your family. If so, make sure that you take your kids to Kids Cleaning World, which is a special part of the Museum of Clean that is designed for children. Although at a first glance you might find it strange, your children are going to have a lot of fun in doing a lot of activities that they would never do.
World’s First Nuclear Power Tour in Arco, Idaho
Arco is a place that actually looks like it was hit by an atomic bomb so this tour will fit perfectly with the surroundings. You will be able to go on a self guided tour and see the center of the plant’s control. You are basically free to push any buttons, cause meltdowns and adjust any nuclear control rod that you find. As expected, the plant is not operational anymore but you can get a close look at how one works. This is truly a unique experience as there are not many places in the world where you can get a first person look at the inside areas of a nuclear power plant. .
Dog Bark Inn in Cottonwood Idaho
If on the road you do need a place to stay in at night from time to time. If so, you might want to consider this place as it is quite attractive and enjoys a lot of reputation. You will surely love the décor and the cuisine is much more than you would expect.
Oasis Bordello Museum in Wallace, Idaho
The city of Bordello saw everyone running as there was talk of the FBI appearing. Now everything turned into a museum and you will simply go inside just like all the clients did in the past. Here you can get a glimpse of the entire prostitute ring that was going on in the eighties in a perfect recreation of both design and atmosphere.
Idaho has many more roadside attractions that we are sure you are going to love but it is recommended to do a research prior to visiting any location. This is because a good plan will go a long way and will help you see a lot more than you might have seen without planning your trip. Just because you are on a road trip does not mean that it should not follow an itinerary.