This northern Rocky Mountain State is one of the least populated of the United States with vast tracts of unexplored wilderness and unspoilt beauty, and a general celebration of the Great Outdoors with skiing and adventure sports.

Bordering Canada to the north, Idaho’s western neighbours are Washington and Oregon. To the east lie Montana and Wyoming, and in the south are Nevada and Utah. The State covers some 82,412 square miles.

Nicknamed The Gem State for the precious and semi precious stones mined here, Idaho received statehood early due to the wealth perceived to exist in its minerals and mining products French Canadian trappers came here first, trapping beavers and mountain animals for their skins and furs.

From the Bitterroot Range of the Rockies in the east to the Snake River Crossing the plateau in the south, the sheer scale of sublime landscape takes your breath away. The rivers are huge and wild with deep gorges and canyons.


State Capitol, Boise

Boise is the capital, takes its name from the French word for woods and stands on the Boise River in the south-west of the state. It is famous for its hot springs. The splendid domed State Capitol building is heated naturally by geothermal water. The sandstone blocks used in the State Capitol building were dug from quarries by prisoners from the Old Idaho Penitentiary. The old prison is open to visitors and houses a transport museum and other museums in the grounds.

The Basque people discovered Boise and the unusual Basque Cultural Centre museum gives details of the Basque way of life, their great interest in food, and explanations about Basque cultural life.


Snakes River Canyon

In the winter thousands of tourists arrive at the ski resorts here. Sun Valley is the oldest and most prestigious because in its early years it attracted Hollywood stars, including Clark Gable and Ernest Hemingway. A monument has been erected in honour of Hemingway in the resort.

The central Sawtooth Mountains reach an awesome height, and from points at the Summit there are incredible panoramic views over Salmon River. The Craters of the Moon are an extraordinary volcanic range that form a national park created by immense underground volcanic activity, which continues to a somewhat lesser degree today.

The south of the state is the potato growing region, where people proudly promote their “Famous Potatoes”, and where State tourism has taken the catchphrase for logos on souvenir T-shirts and tote bags.

Snake River in the south produces fast and furious rapids and at Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, which straddles the borders of Idaho, Washington and Oregon, you can visit the deepest river gorge in North America which is more than a mile deep. Evel Knievel’s unsuccessful attempt to leap the Snake River Gorge took place here in 1974. Riggins is the town from which canyon expeditions leave.


Shoshone Falls

Shoshone Falls are as spectacular as Niagara. At Wallace, a former silver mining town, tours of the redundant mines are offered and at Coeur d’Alene, an upmarket resort on Lake Coeur d’Alene, there is a floating golf green on the 14th hole. Tubbs Hill Park offers trails and bird watching tours, organised especially to see eagles and osprey.

South of Snake River at the base of the Owyhee Mountains enormous sand dunes 500ft high have formed due to the strange phenomenon of winds blowing in different directions but at a constant speed so that sand accumulates instead of being dispersed.


Idaho Falls and Mormon Temple

Idaho Falls is a delightful Mormon town, with a stunning Mormon Temple built in a commanding position overlooking the town. An unusual feature of the town is abundance of jogging lanes. They are referred to as Greenbelt jogging areas.

Getting there

Boise Airport is the main airport for Idaho but there are several other smaller airports serving the State.

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