Idaho: The Gem State. Rugged Mountains. Vast Wilderness.

Stanley - Sawtooth Mountains

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The Sawtooth Mountains near Stanley, Idaho.

Pocatello - Downtown

Idaho: The Gem State. Rugged Mountains. Vast Wilderness.

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Historic buildings line the streets of downtown Pocatello, Idaho.

SE ID High Country - Bear Lake

Idaho: The Gem State. Rugged Mountains. Vast Wilderness.

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Kayaking on Bear Lake in Southeast Idaho.

With places like the Sawtooth Mountains, Salmon River, Bruneau Dunes State Park, and Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Idaho is an outdoor adventure lover’s paradise. It’s brimming with natural beauty that can be explored by trail, by water, and from the state’s 31 scenic byways. A soak in one of the countless hot springs is the perfect way to end a day full of adventure in Idaho.

For a bit of history, follow the paths of those who explored the area in earlier times. Discover mining history in ghost towns along the Oregon Trail or learn about the Nez Perce people by visiting areas such as Lenore and Weippe Prairie. Retrace the footsteps of the Lewis and Clark Expedition on the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway.

Although there are no official national parks that lie entirely in Idaho, part of Yellowstone National Park is in the eastern part of the state. Idaho does have a few other intriguing National Park Services sites worth visiting including Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve.

Facts & Stats

Idaho’s Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America. At 7,993 feet deep, it’s even deeper than the Grand Canyon which is 6,000 feet deep.

The total length of Idaho’s rivers and waterways is over 107,000 miles.

Idaho is home to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, which is the largest in the lower 48 states and has 2.3 million acres of backcountry.

Idaho produces about ⅓ of all the potatoes grown in the United States. There’s even a potato museum (Idaho Potato Museum) in Blackfoot.