Welcome to Idaho

If you’re a fan of the great outdoors, incredible scenery and pioneering history, then the Gem State is for you. Much of Idaho is more or less unchanged since Lewis and Clark brought their Corps of Discovery down the Salmon and Snake Rivers in the early 19th century.

Impassable mountain ranges, jagged alpine peaks and lush forests still cover every corner of the state. Set up camp in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls or any other town in the state and you’re ideally positioned to branch out and explore the surrounding wilderness.

Adventure

Idaho is rugged country. It was the last state to be explored by European-Americans when Lewis and Clark first entered in 1805 with the Corps of Discovery. It’s home to 80 different mountain ranges, waterfalls taller than those of Niagara (Shoshone Falls) and a gorge deeper than the Grand Canyon (Hell’s Canyon).

But where Idaho was once punishing, largely inaccessible countryside, it’s now a haven for outdoor adventure seekers. Some of the world’s best hiking, climbing, mountain biking, fishing, river rafting, kayaking and hunting can be found here, all against the backdrop of some of the best scenery in the country.

Sawtooth National Recreation Area is one of the hotspots. Tucked into the southern portion of Sawtooth National Forest, the Recreation Area is home to four mountain ranges, 300 lakes and 250 miles of well-marked trails that are open to hikers and mountain bikers alike. Craters of the Moon National Monument, just south of Ketchum, is where you can explore a surreal landscape made up of hardened lava flows, tubes, craters and cones.

Heritage

Visitors can learn about the famous Lewis and Clark expedition at the Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls, home to a large selection of artifacts from the expedition. There’s also a 1/6-scale replica of the expedition’s keelboat on display.

At the National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, visitors can explore the history of the 2,000-mile wagon journey that so many brave souls made in the first half of the 19th century. Interactive tours are led in simulated wagons, and authentic artifacts and informative exhibits help tell the pioneers’ tale.