Statewide - Idaho

Southwestern
| Official Idaho State Travel Guide
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Western Boise Valley
The broad valley west of Boise, with its
twin cities of Nampa and Caldwell, is a
rich agricultural region that produces
a cornucopia of products, from fruits
and vegetables to livestock and grapes.
You can savor the region’s flavor at
the numerous fruit stands and farmers’
markets that dot the area. Take in
a winery tour to sample local wines,
attend the Cherry Festival in Emmett
in mid-June or the Lavender Merchant
Lavender Festival in mid-July.
Meridian and Eagle are fast-growing
neighbors of Boise, each with familyfriendly,
gracious neighborhoods and
some of the best golf courses in Idaho.
If you are traveling with children, don’t
pass up Roaring Springs Water Park
and the adjacent Wahooz Family Fun
Zone in Meridian. If it is thrills and chills
you seek, spend a day at the Firebird
Raceway or the Western Idaho State
Fair in August. Birding enthusiasts will
want to bring binoculars and a camera
when they visit Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge
at Lake Lowell, west of Nampa. It is
set along a major flyway for migrating
waterfowl and songbirds.
For a step back in time, take your whole
family to the Warhawk Air Museum
in Nampa, which showcases vintage
World War II artifacts, including a
wedding dress made from a parachute
and aircraft used in the films “Pearl
Harbor” and “Valkyrie.” The twin cities
of Caldwell and Nampa have much in
common. They share an agricultural
heritage, a major college, and an outstanding
rodeo. In July, the Snake River
Stampede takes over the Idaho Center
in Nampa, and in August the evenings
heat up with the Caldwell Night
Rodeo—genuine family entertainment
with real cowboys, clowns, and some of
the best rodeo action around. In Weiser,
the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest
in June, now more than 60 years young,
offers easygoing, down-home entertainment
for the entire family.
Elmore County
Mountain Home offers considerable
outdoor recreation in both summer and
winter. Explore Bruneau Dunes State
Park, with the tallest, freestanding sand
« Happy trails »
dunes in North America at 470 feet tall.
Enjoy the public celestial observatory,
picnic grounds, and lakes for fishing
and swimming, prime camping locations,
and a welcoming visitor center.
The adventurous might journey a bit
farther down the road to peer into the
1,200-foot-deep Bruneau Canyon.
In the summer, nearby C.J. Strike and
Anderson Ranch reservoirs await
anglers and boaters. In the winter, the
open country and rolling hills of Elmore
County are perfect for snowmobiling
and kite boarding.
A worthwhile detour at Glenns Ferry will
bring you to Three Island Crossing State
Park, located near a significant historical
river crossing on the Oregon Trail.
At the interpretive center, learn about
the largest mass migration in American
history, or venture across the river to
view the historic islands from a high
bluff. Then stop at nearby Carmela
Winery for a taste of the local vintage,
or take in a round at Vineyard Greens
Golf Course.
Owyhee County
Vast Owyhee County is home to magnificent
river gorges and an expansive
high desert. The Morley Nelson Snake
River Birds of Prey National Conservation
Area encompasses 485,000 acres,
including the canyon walls in which
falcons, eagles, owls, and hawks nest.
The Bruneau and Owyhee river canyons
are stunning, multicolored chasms in
an isolated desert landscape. For an
unforgettable river experience, catch
a ride with an outfitter on one of these
rivers during the short spring season
and view stunning rocks jutting almost
Silver City
Warhawk Air Museum
1,000 feet above the water. Near
Grandview, stop at Lawson’s
Emu-Z-Um, a former emu ranch that
is now a museum with authentic
replicas of an 1860s-era town, Native
American artifacts, and the Silver City
Schoolhouse Museum. At Givens Hot
Springs nearby, pause to soak your
tired bones in the natural mineral
pools or pitch a tent to stay the night
at a campground.
For a fascinating excursion into
Idaho’s mining past, take a day trip
to the historic mining town of Silver
City, high in the Owyhee Mountains.
The old Idaho Hotel, built in 1863 and
moved to its current site in 1866, is a
step back in time and still welcomes
guests. Stroll around to see the
pioneer cemetery, the old Masonic
Hall, and other original structures. At
its height, Silver City was one of the
finest mining towns in the West. (High
clearance vehicles are recommended.)
Owyhee Mountains
Snake River Valley