The jewel in the so-called Gem State’s crown is its stunning and remarkably unspoilt scenery. Adventurous types flock here to hike, climb, raft, ride and ski – or simply goggle at the views. Much of the terrain is mountainous, wild and wooded, with some spectacular gorges; at 8913ft, the dramatic Hells Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon.
In central Idaho, the ski resorts of Ketchum and Sun Valley are beloved of affluent second-homers and celebrities. Ernest Hemingway loved the area’s tranquillity (not to mention the hunting and fly fishing) and is buried at Ketchum, where he spent the last few years of his life.
An hour’s drive away is one of Idaho’s many wilderness areas, the Craters of the Moon National Monument. It’s an unearthly, eerily desolate 83sq mile volcanic landscape; in winter, cross-country skiers tackle the 11km loop road.
In the far north, bordering onto Canada, the panhandle region is famed for its lakes, watersports and angling; down south, adrenaline junkies take to the Salmon and Snake Rivers for whitewater rafting and kayaking.
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Idaho's climate varies depending on the region. In the northern region of the state, the winter has increased clouds, humidity, and rain. In the southeastern part of the state, the summers are wetter and drier. Summers in Idaho can be hot, so travellers booking flights to Idaho during the summer months should prepare accordingly, especially if travels lead to the mountains. Winters can be cold.
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Idaho has four distinct seasons, but its geography means that the length of the seasons varies across the state. Boise has an early spring and late winter. The winter temperatures are usually about -1 to -6 degrees (C), going to the mid 20s in summer. April and May have some flooding from the melting snow, but reservoirs and other flood control measures minimise the potential damage.
Peak Season
Summer, from Memorial Day until mid-September, has the most crowds and usually when Idaho flights and accommodation are at their highest rates.
The ski season also means peak-season rates and conditions. The ski runs are open by late November and the season lasts until March or early April.
Off Season
The best off-season time is mid-September through October. The weather usually stays warm, the aspens turn to gold, and some services are still open. Spring is also a good time to visit.
Autumn and spring also offer some off-season golf fees in Sun Valley.
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With more than 80 mountains and a rugged, remote, and sometimes desolate landscape, traveling around Idaho requires a car, RV or camper. A destination for outdoor enthusiasts, the scale of Idaho’s untamed wilderness and scenery rivals only Alaska.
The main airport is Boise with links to Hailey, Lewiston, McCall and Salmon.
Boise is the largest, and some say the only, urban centre in Idaho. The capital city’s Boise Urban Stages offers extensive bus lines for getting around the city. Ketchum has a weekday bus service between Ketchum and Sun Valley.
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- There are many hot springs throughout Idaho, but the most famous are the pools at Lava Hot Springs in the southeastern corner of the state. The waters here are thought to have been 110 degrees for the past 50 million years. The springs are a popular holiday spot – as well as the hot pools there is an Olympic-sized swimming pool, massage or tube rides on the Portneuf River.
- Idaho has some stunning scenery and vistas – desert plains in the South, mountain ranges and lava rocks in the East and gorges and thick forests in the North.
- Labor weekend sees the Wagon Days festival in Ketchum: a celebration of the city’s mining heritage. The festival sees four days of celebrations hit the sleepy town, including a shoot-out, a fiddler’s contest, a rodeo and the Big Hitch Parade.
- Boise is known as the City of Trees and the capital is surrounded by green land. Golf is very popular round the city: more than 20 golf courses are within a short drive.
- If you want to take a drive to see some of the fabulous outdoors, head for the Bone Road. This “road” is little more than a track, covered in potholes, but its 60-mile span affords views of some of the best Idaho landscapes and you’re almost guaranteed to spot some wildlife such as moose or deer.
- Silver City, just outside Boise, is known locally as the “ghost town”. The town was once the site of a silver mine for the War Eagle Mountain. Today, its old houses and saloons are popular with photography workshops.
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