discover boise the way A SERVICE OF $4 HOUR $15 MONTH $70 YEAR Pay As You Go 60 minutes of ride 60 minutes of ride PRORATED time every day. time every day. Download the Social Bicycles App. Go to SOBI.IO | Boise.GreenBike.com Boise is a destination. You don’t come here on your way to anywhere else. But that is also why everything is here - because there is nowhere else. And for our visitors, they fi nd that we have everything they come for - and more. Experience Boise. ‹ COME AND PLAY IN ADVENTURE’S BACKYARD North Table of Contents North .............................. 6 Central North Central .................. 22 Southwest ....................... 34 North Central South Central ................. 54 East Southeast ....................... 66 East ................................ 80 Central ............................ 94 Southwest Southeast Travel Marketplace .......... 106 Cover Photo: Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, “Niagara of the West” South Central BLISS. JUST A STONE’S THROW AWAY. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Idaho Territory Act, which made Idaho part of the United States. Nestled against the western side of the Continental Divide of the Rocky Mountains, Idaho remains a vast and diverse state 150 years later. North Idaho gleams with emerald green Dear Visitor, hillsides and sparkling lakes of all sizes. Rugged mountains, Welcome to our beautiful state. wilderness areas, and rolling farmland make up central Make yourself at home! Idaho. The Snake River Plain, with its wide-open vistas, lush You’ll learn all about Idaho’s farmland, and vibrant cities, forms the character of southern remarkable geographic diversity and Idaho. Around every bend you’ll find spectacular scenery and the endless recreational opportunities that attract more than 30 million people abundant recreational opportunities. You’ll also find a place from all over the world each year. that’s unhurried, unspoiled, and unassuming—perfect for Idaho is home to hundreds of miles your own “Adventure in Living.” of mountain biking trails and more whitewater than any other state in the You may visit Idaho for its natural beauty and outdoor recre- Lower 48. There are mountains and ation, but you’ll find a great business climate here as well. sand dunes to climb, lakes to fish, 18 ski In 2012, Idaho was ranked #1 Most Friendly State for Small resorts for winter and summer fun, and both indoor and outdoor water parks Business by the Kauffman Foundation. The Bureau of Labor that are among the finest in the nation. Statistics scored Idaho #3 for Highest Projected Percentage Idaho also is one of the best and most Job Growth for 2008-2018. Add in the state’s affordable cost-effective places in the country to cost of living, low power rates, and enthusiastic workforce, locate a business. You’ll find the quality of our workforce and the hospitality of and you have an equation for success. Take a closer look at our people to be second to none. commerce.idaho.gov. Come and explore our wonders. I think you’ll agree that Idaho is a great place to visit—and an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. As Always—Idaho, “Esto Perpetua.” Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and First Lady Lori Otter IDAHO STATE PARKS STATE IDAHO COME VISIT. THERE’S PLENTY OF PARKINGPARKING Harriman ‹ FIND YOUR PARK IN IDAHO 2. BEAR LAKE STATE PARK You’ll find all kinds of ways to play 8 Great Idaho Parks year-round at Bear Lake State Park, which sits in a high mountain valley In the spirit of the National Park in Idaho’s southeast corner. Water 3 Service’s 100th birthday and its 2016 lovers flock to the wide beaches and Find Your Park campaign, we invite you turquoise waves of Bear Lake to boat, to find your park here in Idaho and to swim, water ski, kite board, and—in relax, play, explore and create lasting winter—go ice fishing. The lake spans 7 memories with family and friends. both Idaho and Utah, and is home to an annual kite festival each August. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 3. FARRAGUT STATE PARK 1 1. HARRIMAN STATE PARK Nestled in the Coeur d’Alene 8 Harriman State Park is part of a Mountains, Farragut State Park is a 16,000-acre wildlife refuge in the lovely spot to add to your north Idaho 4 Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, so explorations. Spend a day swimming 5 there’s a good chance you’ll spot and boating on the southern shores of 2 6 moose, elk, sandhill cranes, or North Lake Pend Oreille and hike, bike, or go America’s largest waterfowl, the horseback riding on the park’s many trumpeter swan. Be sure to bring scenic trails. Farragut is just 30 miles your rod and reel: Henry’s Fork, from Coeur d’Alene and it’s a quick, which meanders eight miles through 10-minute drive to the man-made thrills the park, is one of America’s best and spills of Silverwood Theme Park. fly-fishing trout streams. If you like The park’s 4,000 acres once housed to explore, enjoy more than 20 miles a major World War II naval training of trails for hiking, biking, horseback station; learn more at the onsite | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO riding and cross-country skiing. Museum at the Brig. 4 4. CRATERS OF THE MOON of the Almo Pluton the best rock NATIONAL MONUMENT & they’ve ever ascended. More than 700 routes have been developed to PRESERVE date. You’ll also enjoy plentiful hiking, Take a giant leap back in geological mountain biking, and horseback riding time when you visit this vast lava field. among the spires, arches, and cliffs; Craters of the Moon certainly lives up to it’s a beautiful setting for snowshoeing its name, a stunning landscape dotted and skiing in the winter months, too. with features like volcanic rifts, cinder cones, spatter cones, shield volcanoes, 7. HELLS CANYON Craters of the Moon and lava tube caves. The unusual NATIONAL RECREATION environment makes this 750,000-acre AREA monument a popular destination for hiking, bird watching, photography, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area backpacking, caving and winter activ- is one of Idaho’s most breathtaking ities like winter ecology workshops, destinations. The canyon, carved by snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. the Snake River, is the deepest river Keep an eye out for the many species gorge in North America and home that have adapted to this harsh habitat, to 70 miles of winding river country: including skunks, foxes, and bobcats. churning whitewater and rugged cliffs, abundant wildlife, and remote wilder- 5. BRUNEAU DUNES ness areas. You can hike, trail ride or STATE PARK float the canyon—or schedule a jet boat tour to experience the dramatic Have a blast climbing up and then surroundings with a tour guide. Keep sliding, skiing, or boarding down the an eye out for Nez Perce petroglyphs sandy slopes of the tallest single-struc- and pictographs left on the sheer rock ture sand dune in North America walls and caves. (board rentals are available at the visitors center). If going vertical’s not 8. SAWTOOTH NATIONAL your thing, walk or horseback ride the RECREATION AREA park’s trails to explore the surrounding Bruneau Dunes desert habitat; you’ll likely spot lizards, The Sawtooth National Recreation jackrabbits, and coyotes. You can Area (SNRA) is an outdoor lover’s also fly kites, swim, fish for bluegill, dream. Within this vast forest, all bird watch, and camp. At night, head 756,000 acres of it, are more than 700 to the Bruneau Dunes Observatory miles of trails, 40 peaks above 10,000 for stargazing, or sneak a peek at the feet, and 300-plus alpine lakes. The goings-on of the many nocturnal SNRA is part of the Sawtooth National critters. Forest, which comprises more than 2 million acres of public lands. U.S. 6. CITY OF ROCKS President Barack Obama recently NATIONAL RESERVE designated three new wilderness areas here—the Jim McClure-Jerry This rock climber’s paradise encom- Peak, Hemingway-Boulders, and passes 14,407 acres and is renowned White Clouds—so there’s plenty of for its scenic landscape, geologic quiet, wide-open space. You’ll discover formations, and its historic significance endless recreation options, from as an important landmark on the Cali- horseback riding and backpacking in fornia Trail. The area offers some of the the primitive Sawtooth Wilderness to finest granite-face climbing anywhere; mountain biking the Fisher Creek Trail many climbers find the younger granite near Stanley. Fish for native trout and City of Rocks experience the annual salmon and steelhead runs on the area’s many rivers, like the Salmon, the South Fork of the Boise, the South Fork of the Payette, and the Wood River. Be sure to stop and play at Red Fish Lake, where the sweeping views of the Sawtooth Mountains’ jagged ridges are literally picture-perfect. Sawtooth Mountains NORTH IDAHO WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A GETAWAYGETAWAY | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 6 St. Joe River We’re pretty sure you’re not going to believe how much amazing we manage to squeeze into that little panhandle at the top of Idaho—and how much amazing you’ll experience when you start looking, hiking, floating, and skiing around. Let’s start with the water. There’s a lot: mountain lakes framed by jagged crests and historic Western downtowns; big, meandering full-of-trout rivers; and lazy streams where moose slurp mossy grasses. Most of the region’s water-based recreation and resorts center around our three biggest gems: Lake Coeur d’Alene, Lake Pend Oreille, and Priest Lake.