Idaho Is an Outdoor Lover's Dream
Ready to see what you'll get up to in Idaho? If you like the idea of chasing the sunrise over sagebrush, paddling on alpine lakes, and stargazing under dark skies, Idaho is calling you home! The Gem State is packed with fun! Whether you love the outdoors, small-town charm, or want a little adventure mixed into everyday life, there’s always something to do. The following list of things to do will take you from basalt canyons to Sawtooth peaks and give you a taste of Idaho's natural beauty and culture.
Chandi, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Chandi is Idaho born, raised, and still deeply obsessed with the Gem State, even though she now splits her time between here and South Carolina. With a mind-boggling 30 moves under her belt, she's amassed a library's worth of moving tips and tricks. She believes Idaho rewards curiosity, from small town events to overlooked trailheads and restaurants that haven't yet been popularized. She loves dinner at XVIII in Idaho Falls, welding junk into sculptures, and getting a little too excited about spiders, beetles, and other types of arthropods. At Snappy Scout, she brings sharp local instincts and hard earned insight from three decades of Idaho living.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Will You Do in Idaho?
From weekend adventures to iconic road trips, here's how locals spend their time off.
Go outside & hike
Trek Alice Lake trail in the Sawtooths near Stanley, scramble the Inferno Cone trail near Boise, scale Mount Borah in Custer County.
Spend time on the water cooling off
Paddle Payette Lake beside Brundage Mountain, float the Clearwater River near Kamiah, fish Henry's Lake near Island Park.
This is THE road trip to take
Cruise the Thousand Springs Byway near Hagerman and Buhl.
Stargaze in resplendent dark nights
Visit the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. Found in the Sawtooth National Park, you simply must experience it to get it.
This is the scenic ride for you
Drive the Sawtooth Scenic Byway from Shoshone to Stanley.
Underground adventures
Shoshone Ice Caves near Shoshone, Mammoth Cave also near Shoshone, Minnetonka Cave near St. Charles.
Maybe you should go chasing waterfalls
Marvel at Upper and Lower Mesa Falls near Ashton, gawk at Shoshone Falls in Shoshone, revel in the beauty of Smiths Falls near Bonners Ferry.
During the short days of winter
Ski Sun Valley's Bald Mountain in Ketchum, ice fish in Ririe Reservoir, ride the numerous groomed snowmobile trails on public lands.
This is what locals do on the weekends
Float the Boise River from Barber Park to Ann Morrison, play on public lands and hike the trails, board and 4-wheel around the sand dunes.
For the sports fans
Catch Boise State football at Albertsons Stadium and take in the unique blue turf.
Hidden Gem Spotlight
Emerald Valley. Take a drive in the summer or fall. It is unreal.
The Lewis and Clark trail runs through many small towns including Kooskia and Kamiah. Go there during the Kooskia Days to sample some local mountain flavors.
— Chandi Lyn
Idaho Local Expert
Ready to See If Idaho Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Idaho guide for the bigger picture.