Southwest Idaho

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Southwest Idaho's dramatic montage of desert, rivers and mountains has lured visitors for centuries. The real treasures are still here to discover: serene mountain lakes brimming with trout, world class whitewater to be floated and kayaked, awe-inspiring canyons where raptors soar and dive. The bounty here is endlessly diverse.

Boise, the largest metropolitan area for 300 miles in any direction, is one of the few cities where you can ski or fish in the morning, play golf or tennis in the afternoon, eat Japanese or Egyptian food for dinner, and catch a ballet or opera in the evening. Nearby, Lucky Peak Reservoir offers great water-skiing a few miles east of town. And Bogus Basin Ski Resort, with 2,000 acres and 43 runs, is just 16 miles away!

Boise rests in the rural Treasure Valley, where over 70 cash crops grow, and fruit and vegetable stands entice the passerby to stop and linger. The rich volcanic soil and mild climate create award-winning red and white wines. Over a dozen wineries are open for tours and tastings. The small, friendly towns that dot the valley floor are quiet, yet humming with activity. Rodeos, festivals, county fairs, art and craft displays, athletic competitions and school events harken back to an earlier America.

A popular diversion is the Payette River Scenic Byway heading due north from Boise on Highway 55. One of Idaho's most famous rivers, the Payette, epitomizes the wet and wild whitewater experience, drawing rafters, canoeists and kayakers from all over the world. This scenic drive ends in the idyllic Long Valley -- one of the loveliest alpine recreation areas imaginable. The resort town of McCall is particularly enticing. Walk the white sand beaches of Payette Lake, with snow-clad mountains reflecting on its smooth surface. Quiet and peaceful though it is, McCall is also a center of activity. A golf course, campgrounds and extensive trails for hiking and cross-country skiing run along or near the lake. Brundage Mountain Ski Resort is just off the winding road that leads to New Meadows.

Idaho City was, at one time, the largest city in the Northwest. A rough and tumble, rip-roaring mining town that epitomized the "boom" or "bust" lifestyle of Gold Rushers. It's said that of the 200 men and women buried in picturesque Boot Hill, only 28 died of natural causes. The mountainous terrain surrounding Idaho City is enormous and intoxicating. There's excitement in every direction. To the north are Lowman, aptly named Garden Valley and the eye-popping Sawtooths. That route takes you on the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway, one of the most invigorating drives in America. For maximum enjoyment, allow yourself 3 hours to drive it between Boise and Stanley. Stop by any Boise National Forest office along the way for an auto tape tour of the route.

The Bruneau Dunes State Park boasts the highest sand dunes in America, and lies south of Mountain Home off Highway 51. Here rise the tallest single structured sand dunes in America. Below the dunes are several lakes swimming with largemouth bass and bluegill. To the south of the dunes stretches Bruneau Canyon, a gorge that appears so quickly it seems to open before your very eyes. Largemouth bass and bluegill swim in the waters; antelope and bighorn sheep scale the cliffs above. Elaborate, ancient drawings by Paiute Indians can be found here and on rock slabs throughout the desert.

Southwest Idaho's other major mountain range is distant and remote. Named for Hawaiian islanders who disappeared in them, the Owyhee Mountains stretch across the southwest corner of Idaho, hiding an austere beauty in their awesome expanse. Silver City, high in the Owyhee Mountains, is an evocative Ghost Town chock-full of historic buildings and atmosphere. This "Queen of Idaho Ghost Towns" appears just as she was during her boom times with over 70 rustic buildings remaining intact.

One of the most impressive sights anywhere is the vertical environment of the Snake River Canyon, particularly the 81-mile stretch now designated as the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Near constant updrafts allow rare raptors to hunt the desert floor and proliferate as no where else on earth. For a closer look, visit the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey just south of Boise.

Call our central reservation service to book your trip:
Toll-free 1-888-84-IDAHO (1-888-844-3246)

Copy on this page used by permission from the Idaho Recreation & Tourism Initiative