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Craters of the Moon National Monument

5 Top-Rated Attractions of Idaho (2024)

There is a good reason why Idaho is often referred to as the Gem State. Idaho is a tourist paradise that offers everything you could possibly want from any destination. With breathtaking wilderness, sparkling lakes, majestic mountains, pristine rivers, luxury resorts, and endless opportunities for outdoor adventures, Idaho is the destination you have been missing out on.

Idaho is known for its rich heritage, the perfect touch of the great American West, and its amazing culture. This is an awe-inspiring state worth exploring for all ages.

5 Top-Rated Attractions of Idaho

Here are some of the top-rated attractions to check out in Idaho when you visit this fascinating Gem State.

1. Coeur d’Alene

Idaho is the perfect vacation destination for those who want to relax amidst some gorgeous scenery. And there is no place better to start your visit to Idaho from than Coeur d’Alene. Idaho is home to many beautiful cities, and Coeur d’Alene, sitting across a 25-mile-long lake, is a town you cannot miss out on.

Coeur d’Alene is a pristine town located in Northern Idaho whose beauty is unmatched. Here you can take a bike ride through the majestic mountains and even find your way across an old train track that you will come across on the famous Hiawatha Trail. Or you can water ski across the many mesmerizing bays of Lake Coeur d’Alene, the lake from which the town takes its name. Simply taking a peaceful walk along the riverside, lakeside, or through forest paths will help you connect to your inner self like never before.

Top-Rated Attraction of Idaho-Coeur d'Alene

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The best part is that you can visit Coeur d’Alene in any season. The four seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter are each unique in this town. The summer months in Coeur d’Alene bring with them long pleasant days, an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables that you can pick right from the many farms here, and the advent of water activities. Sailing, fishing, or simply boating in the lake are some enjoyable summertime activities. The fall season brings about a riot of colors to the town that will be sure to take your breath away. And in the winter months, snow takes over Coeur d’Alene as all snow-based activities take over the town. The winter months are also known for cruise tours at Christmas time, which is one of the major attractions of the town. Coeur d’Alene is home to many beautiful ski resorts, and you cannot go wrong in taking your pick from one of them.

2. Craters of the Moon National Monument

Located in southern Idaho, Craters of the Moon National Monument is one of the most unusual and unique national parks in the United States. This beautiful and fascinating destination attracts tourists from all over the country owing to its unique landscape. The landscape of Craters of the Moon National Monument is shaped by years of volcanic activity. It offers tourists an up-close glimpse into this almost alienish landscape filled with lava flow, cinder cones, black basalt rocks, and, most amazingly, lava tubes.

While there are many other volcanic landscapes in the US, what makes the Craters of the Moon unique is that the landscape here has not been shaped by the eruption of just one volcano. Instead, the landscape here has been impacted by the eruptions that happened from cracks and vents deep within the earth’s crust over nearly 2000 years ago.

This monument is home to three major lava fields that are located alongside the Great Rift of Idaho. This is also one of the best places in the world to see open rift cracks, one of the largest varieties of basaltic lava, cavities in the ground left by lava-burnt trees, and several other volcanic features that are not visible elsewhere.

The Craters of the Moon monument is one of the most off-beaten attractions you can visit, especially for those who are interested in the study of volcanoes and geology. It is best to plan a day trip to the monument from Sun Valley or Twin Falls, or you can also add it on as a stop if you are going east from Idaho towards the Grand Teton National Park or Yellowstone National Park. One of the most important things to bear in mind is that if you are coming by car, only the northern part of this national park can be accessed by vehicle, which is why this part of the part sees many visitors and is often crowded.

Some of the top-rated things to do at the Craters of the Moon National Monument are to climb up the unique spatter cones and cinder cones, go hiking, check out the beautiful lava fields while exploring the lava caves, and take a walk on the picturesque seven-mile loop road that will take you through all the major attractions of the park.

3. Sun Valley Resort

Located in southern Idaho, the Sun Valley Resort is one of the biggest attractions for skiing enthusiasts from all over the world. The destination is famous for providing the ideal opportunity for skiers to come rocketing down 34000 vertical feet of snow that is awesomely well-manicured. In fact, Sun Valley is frequently awarded the best-in-class awards for its slopes. Wide trails, excellent maintenance, and the perfect slope angle have made this place the most dynamic destination for skiing in the US.

Dollar Mountain and Bald Mountain are the best downhill skiing places to appeal to all levels of ability. The resort is also home to 13 chairlifts and over 2000 acres of skiing terrain that has around 65 named runs.

The Challenger lift is another highlight of this place as it has the biggest vertical of any other chair in entire North America, having 3140 feet steep drop in total. It is also famous for having the best top to bottom hot lap. You will find no flats or benches that disrupt the fall line here, making it one of the most attractive runs in the region.

This consistent terrain has also made Sun Valley perfect for powder skiing. These ideal conditions provide some of the best skiing in the world, and due to this, the place is always crowded with tourists from all over the world flocking to Sun Valley Resort.

4. Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area

Hell’s Canyon is famous for being the deepest river gorge in North America. The entire area is made up of a vast and remote part of both Idaho and Oregon. The area is known for its dramatic changes in terrain, vegetation, and elevation. This is the perfect attraction in Idaho for those who want the perfect mix of adventure, natural beauty, and culture.

The area is spread out over 215,000 acres, and there are over 900 miles of hiking trails here. The mesmerizing Snake River runs through this area, and it has made the Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area a hotspot for whitewater river rafting. You can take in the gorgeous sights all around the area by either hiking or horseback riding.

Of course, the biggest attraction of Hell’s Canyon is that it is a world-class whitewater rafting destination. If you go boating here, the view surrounding you is truly spectacular as you see majestic mountain peaks and miles and miles of remote wilderness all around.

Hell’s Canyon is also an important archaeological site of the US, as there are many artifacts still left over here from prehistoric tribes and early settlers. What most people do not know is that there are many historical signs present here of humans having settled in the area thousands of years ago.

The best time to visit the Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area is in the winter season, as skiing and snowmobiling are extremely popular activities at this time. If you are lucky, you will also get to explore some of the famous historical sites in the region.

5. Shoshone Falls

Popularly known as the Niagara of the West, the Shoshone Falls is a breathtaking attraction that falls from 212 feet. Located on the northeastern side of the town of Twin Falls in Idaho, this magnificent waterfall was created by the sheer force of the Snake River. The waterfall is spread out over 900 feet in width, and it continues to flow all around the year. The best season to visit the Shoshone Falls is between April to July when the water is at its most intense surge. Shoshone Falls is one of the biggest natural waterfalls in the country, surpassing even the height of the Niagara Falls.

The area around the Shoshone Falls is also a must-visit. The nearby Dierks Lake, numerous swimming areas, scenic overlooks, and multiple hiking trails all have ensured that Shoshone Falls is a hugely popular picnic spot.

Apart from these major attractions, there are many other exciting places to check out in Idaho, including the Boise River Greenbelt, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, the City of Rocks National Reserve, the Salmon River, Bruneau Dunes State Park, the Kirkham Hot Springs, and many others. So whenever you plan your trip to Idaho, make sure to factor in all these fantastic attractions into your itinerary.

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