Idaho Tourism

Hiking and Camping in Idaho

Earnest Hemingway wrote of one of his friends, “Best of all he loved the fall. The leaves yellow on the cottonwoods, Leaves floating on trout streams. And, above all the hills the high blue windless skies…now he will be a part of them forever.” 

Mr. Hemingway knew what he was talking about and believed Idaho to be one of the most beautiful places he had lived. With acres of open land, rugged mountain trails, quiet forest and gurgling streams ripe for enjoyment, a love for nature is something shared by many in Idaho. Fortunately, Idaho has plethora of hiking and camping opportunities. To get you started a quick list is below. For up to date hiking tips check out our Hiking Trip Reports blog.
Hiking in Idaho

• Boise National Forest- Spend some quality time hiking the River of No Return wilderness here. The area is the site of two scenic byways, abandoned mines, ghost towns, and numerous opportunities for fishing, hunting, snow sports, trail blazing, picnicking and camping.
• The Bonners Ferry area is a favorite hiking location. You will find the Kootenai Valley, lakes and streams sure to provide you with hours of adventure.
• Salmon-Challis National Forest- With 2.5 million acres of forest land, hot, ghost towns and nature wildlife viewing trails, there is plenty of hiking to do here.
• The Sun Valley Road and Walking Trail meanders past golf courses, meadows and beautiful wooded areas ending in a grove of cottonwoods that overlook the river. Here you will find a simple bust that celebrates writer Earnest Hemmingway.
• Lava Hot Springs- No matter what outdoor adventures get you going, this area has it. From fishing to hunting, swimming, golfing or camping there is something here for the whole family.
• Trail of the Coeur d’ Alenes- Travel the route from Mullan to Plummer on this beautiful 72 mile paved trail.
• Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail- Along a tree-lined ridge in Kooskia, you can walk some of this famed trail.
• Nez Pearce National Historical Trail- A portion of this trail passes through Idaho. The trail stretches from Oregon to Bear Paw Battlefield in Montana.

Idaho Camping

• Alturas Lake is one of the many alpine lakes in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Campsites with fireplaces, grills, water, toilets and parking are available. There is a trail that follows Alturas Lake Creek up to the lake on a forest service road.

Season: All Year
Hours: Daylight
Fees: Fees for parking at developed day use areas and camping areas overnight.

Season: Summer
Hours: Memorial Day-Labor Day, 12pm-10pm

             Nearest City: Challis

• Outdoor Recreation
• Lakes & Rivers
• Natural Attractions
• Boating
• Camping
• Fishing
• Horseback Riding

This site along the Salmon River was named for an old mining community in the area and provides plenty of fishing opportunities, but no boating facilities.    Season: All Year

• Boise National Forest The Boise National Forest includes about 2,612,000 acres of forest land located north and east of the city of Boise. Most of the land is an evergreen forest that includes pure or mixed stands of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce, lodge pole pine and subalpine fir. Elevations range from 2,600 to 9,800 feet. Major rivers include the Boise and Payette Rivers and the South and Middle Fork drainages of the Salmon River. Intermingled with the forest are 348,000 acres owned or administered by private citizens or corporations, the State of Idaho, and other federal agencies. Visitors will find over 80 campgrounds and picnic areas providing a variety of recreation experiences, as well as Nordic ski trails for winter use.

Season: All Year
Hours: Ranger Station: Mon.-Fri., 8am-4:30pm

• Celebration Park Celebration Park was established as Idaho's only archaeological park in 1989. It is located on the Snake River at the western boundary of the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. This area was a wintering ground for Paiute Indians along the Snake River. Travelers worldwide have come to enjoy the high desert flora, scenic land features, and unique Indian art dating to 12,000 years ago. Take a self-guided tour or stop in at the visitor center. Guided tours are available by reservation. Campsites are also available.

Season: All Year
Hours: 9am-4pm daily; Closed major holidays

• Devil Creek Reservoir Devil Creek Reservoir is a 142 surface acre reservoir visible from Interstate 15, about 7 miles north of Malad City. The reservoir is stocked with rainbow trout and kokanee. In years with good water conditions Kokanee can be plentiful and large mouth bass are common. Anglers fish from the shore with traditional worm/marshmallow bait, or with spinners or flies. Boat anglers troll pop-gear, spinners or flies or anchor and fish with bait. There is a concrete boat launch and a developed campground with full-time campground manager(during warm seasons).

Season: All Year

• Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness The River of No Return, as the Salmon has come to be called, roars through the pristine Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the largest single wilderness in the lower 48 states. There are numerous trails for exploration ranging from easy to very difficult. Contact the Forest Service for maps and assistance in planning a backcountry trip. The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is run spring through fall, until ice forms.

Season: All Year
Hours: Ranger Station: Mon.-Fri., 8am-4:30pm

• Lake Cascade Lake Cascade is one of southwestern Idaho's most popular boating and fishing spots. Recreational development adjacent to the lake makes Cascade an ideal playground for the whole family. Shoreline access is excellent and numerous docks and ramps are available. Known for it's consistent fisheries and convenient location, it is one of the most popular and heavily used fisheries in the state. Fish species found at Cascade include rainbow trout, coho salmon, kokanee, smallmouth bass, bullhead & channel catfish and perch. Good boat ramps are located near the town of Cascade and on the west side of the reservoir near Donnelly. Fuel and services, along with restaurants and motels are available in both Cascade and Donnelly.

Season: All Year
Hours: Daylight

• McCall Visitor Center  (102 N 3rd St, McCall , ID 83638) McCall is one of the premiere four-season destinations in Idaho. It is the ideal location for family reunions, small retreats, weddings, honeymoons and weekend getaways. April and May are perfect times for hosting events and offer excellent off-season rates. Nestled off the shores of Payette Lake, McCall hosts a multitude of activities - water-skiing, boating, sailing and jet-skiing. There is also hiking, camping and exploring rivers, streams and mountains. The Boise National Forest and Payette National Forest have many trails for day or overnight trips. In colder months, downhill and Nordic skiing are popular at Brundage Mountain Ski Resort. Ponderosa State Park is a Nordic skier's paradise. And if skiing doesn't hit the spot, try lift-served snow tubing at the Activity Barn. McCall's Winter Carnival is packed with snow sculptures in the downtown area and fun events. The carnival occurs annually at the end of January and the beginning of February.

Season: All Year
Hours: 24 Hours

• Priest River Recreation Area Priest River Recreation Area is located just upstream from the Priest River - Pend Oreille River confluence. The Priest River Wildlife area adjacent to the park offers wonderful opportunities for bird watching. Priest River area attractions include the Albeni Falls Project Visitor Center with exhibits on history and natural history, daily tours of the Albeni Falls Dam (Memorial Day to Labor Day) from the Visitor Center 2 mi. E. of Newport, Wa. A campground offers 20 camp sites (no-hookups) and 5 bike-only camp sites. Other amenities include a dump station, hot showers, a boat ramp, pay phone, a playground, a shelter, a baseball field and a swimming beach. Call to reserve the picnic shelter in advance.

Season: Summer , Fall , Winter

• Worswick Natural Hot Springs  Featured in National Geographic's Traveler magazine, Worswick Hot Springs is a favorite among locals. Located nearby are many opportunities for dispersed camping.

Season: Summer

If you're hiking in the American West be sure to head over to Wyoming. Our guide to Wyoming hiking will give you a starting point on some great places to get your boots dirty.

Photo Credits: Idaho Rock Fall by Rick McCharles; River in Boise National Forest Picture by Casey Marshall; Mountains by Frank Kovalchek