The following is information about Idaho that I have acquired while traveling the state during my lifetime.

Lava Hot Springs State Resort at Lava Hot Springs Idaho is a outdoor mineral pools fed by several different springs. Temperatures average 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Odor-free water, heavily laden with minerals, bubbles up beneath feet. Lava has a modern swimming complex. West canyon between Weston and Malad City Idaho has great fishing. Henry's Lake State Park, Island Park, Harrimans State Park, is between Ashton and West Yellowstone. Kelly Canyon and Heise Hot Springs is by Ririe Idaho. Green Canyon on Highway 33 by Newdale Idaho. Scenic San Dunes by Parker, Idaho, contain a strip of land over a mile wide and 30 miles long with rolling hills of and that reach height from 10 to 350 feet above the valley floor. US Sheep Experiment Station by Dubois Idaho. Lidy Hot Springs between Dubois and Monteview Idaho. Grand Targhee Ski area by Driggs Idaho. Ride the tram at Grand Targhee or hike and see the wild flowers and picnic, 1-800-827-433. Driggs Music Festival is July 9-11 & Bluegrass Festival Aug 6-8. 1-800-Targhee. Whitewater rafting on the Snake River by Alpine WY. Little Lost and Lost Rivers sink into the ground at the Idaho Engineering Lab. Twin Buttes Extinct Crater and Cinder Cone west of Idaho Falls Idaho. Big Southern Butte Cerro Grande a 300,000 year old butte towers 2,400 feet above eastern Snake River Plain. Once served as geographic landmark for passing wagon trains. Impressive views from top of massive lava flows. River Park Festival, Idaho Falls last weekend in July 634-3246. Idaho Falls Padres Baseball game, 522-8363. Snake River Free Concerts: 12-1 p.m. every Thursday from Jun 22-Aug 31 Snake River between D & E street Idaho Falls Idaho. Minnetonka Cave and Bear Lake State Park is at St. Charles Idaho. Minnetonka cave is a limestone cave more than 0.5 miles long. Nine separate "rooms" or chambers. Fascinating formations developed from lime deposits. Fully developed with pathways, steps and stairways.
It's very pretty at West canyon between Weston and Malad City Idaho. Crystal Ice Cave about 25 miles northwest of American Falls Idaho. Great Rift System is by American Falls and 20 miles west of Aberdeen. 169,000-acre site provides very unusual, geologically historic records of crustal rifting and basaltic volcanism. The Northern end is in Craters of the Moon. Rifts continue southeast all the way across eastern Snake River Plain. Sites include Crystal Ice Cave and several lave fields and open fissures. Craters of the Moon National Monument are a moon-like landscape includes over 30 lava flows. Cinder cones, lava tubes and spatter cones. All part of Great Rift System, which began erupting about 14,000 years ago and ceased only 2,000 years ago. Craters of the Moon National Monument are 83 square miles. American Falls was named to honor a party of American Fur Company trappers who were swept over the falls here. Once an early campsite on the Oregon Trail, the community is now the center of irrigation projects enabling the cultivation of thousands of acres of farmland. Massacre Rocks is the site where the Oregon Tail went through a narrow pass – called "Gate of Death" and "Devil's Gate" because pioneers fared ambush from hostile Indians. Raft River Crossing at Raft River and Snake River is represent parting of the ways of Oregon and California Trails, two of most famous trails in American history. Raft River segment of Oregon Trail crosses seven miles of undulating lava and sagebrush plain. California Trail emerges from Raft River Valley south of Oregon Trail and parallels valley as it winds south.
Pocatello is name for the Bannock Indian Chief who granted the railroad a right-of-way through the Fort Hall Indian Reservation for a line connecting Salt Lake City Utah to Butte Montana. Pocatello began as a stop on the Utah and Northern Railroad. The original tow was not much more than a boxcar and water tank on Pocatello Creek. The subsequent arrival in 1882 of the Oregon Short Line Railroad created a junction and transfer point between the two railroads. By 1887 the Oregon Short Line had moved its offices from Idaho Falls Idaho to "Pocatello Junction" and merged them with those of the Utah and Northern railroads, creating a large repair and maintenance facility. With the expansion of these facilities, the makeshift community of tents grew. In 1888, by virtue of an 1888 Executive Order, 1,840 acres of Indian land reserved under the 1868 Treaty were ceded for the City of Pocatello. The Idaho Legislature created Bannock County in 1893, with Pocatello as county seat. Blizzard Ski area and Craters of the Moon west of Arco Idaho on US 20,527-3257. Mesa Falls, Hwy 47 East of Ashton, Idaho. Henrys Fork of Snake River plunges through deep, rocky canyon with 114-foot and 65-foot drops. Harriman State Park in Island Park Idaho. Island Park created from collapsed volcano. It is roughly 18 to 23 miles in diameter. Calera or volcanic basin is visible as 1,200-foot escarpment on south and west rims. Highway climbs escarpment at Big Bend Ridge. Big Springs source of South Fork of Henrys Fork River. Only first magnitude spring in U.S. issuing from rhyolitic lava flows. Outpour so great full grown river is underway within hundred feet of springs. City of Rocks at Almo is an area that looks like an abandoned city. Vast display of towering granite rocks. Some of oldest formations found in continental U.S. Fantastic shapes created by weathering. It was once important landmark on California Trail. Sun Valley, Baid, Rotarum Ski area are by Hailey, Ketchum Idaho. Soldier Mountain skis area by Fairfield Idaho. Challis was founded in 1876 by Alvah P. Challis as a supply base for the mining camps along the Yankee Fort and its tributaries. Custer was a mining camp founded in 1878. Named after General Custer, of battle of Little Big Horn. Became area's largest town around 1896 with population peaking at 800. Deserted by 1911 when last major mine closed down. Only a few buildings remain. Although the boomtowns of Custer and Bonanza became ghost towns, Challis attracted ranchers who were lured by the fertile Salmon River Valley lands. Challis is the gateway to the River of No Return Wilderness Area. Some of the ghost towns in the Challis, Sawtooth, and Lost River Ranges still stand and can be visited. Swimming in nearby Hot Springs pools is popular. On October 18, 1983 Custer County was rocked by and earthquake. The quake caused miles of surface faulting along the western flank of the Lost River Mountain Range. The scarp is visible at Mt. Borah, east of Highway 93. Rigby was settled in 1880 by Mormon pioneers. Irrigation from the Snake River transformed the area into the "breadbasket of Idaho." Rigby is the hometown of the inventory of television Philo Farnsworth, who discovered the "viewing box" in a high school physics class. Visit TV museum in Rigby (745-8701). At Rigby Lake you can go swimming. Ririe was established in 1914 with the coming of the railroad. The surrounding hills are popular hunting and fishing areas. The Ririe Dam, east of Ririe, provides fishing and boating opportunities. Nearby are the Heise Hot Springs and named after one of the homesteaders in 1892 by officials of the railroad that stopped to unload lumber. Island Park was a crossroad for mountain men of the 1820's. Gilman Sawtell made the first permanent settlement at Henry's Lake in the 1860's. Yellowstone Park was established in 1872 made the first permanent settlement at Henry's Lake, and stage lines ran through Island Park into Yellowstone. (307) 344-3781. Driggs was settled in 1888 when Mormon settlers from Salt Lake City established the town. The next year Mormons from Cache Valley founded Victor. Tetonia was dedicated in 1910, ahead of the arrival of the railroad. A spur line from here led to the largest operating coal mine in the state, located in Horseshoe Canyon. Teton Valley, west of the Teton Mountains, was known in the 1800's as Pierre's Hole. It was a fur trapping ground and rendezvous site for trappers, Indians, and fur trading companies. During a rendezvous in 1832, a battle ensued between the Blackfeet and trappers, traders, and friendly Indians. After the battle, the valley was abandoned and was not developed until late 1888. Shoshone and Mammoth Caves are between Bellevue and Shoshone on Highway 75. Shoshone Indian Ice Caves are natural "refrigerator" maintains constant temperature year-round (between 28-33 degrees Fahrenheit). 1,00 feet long, 40 feet high, varying from eight to 30 feet in width. Mammoth Cave is a one-mail long volcanic lava tube. It is over 40 feet high in largest room. Cave created by molten cherry red lava. Rifts made by excepting gas and many colors in igneous rock still visible. World Famous Balanced Rock shaped by wind, a 40 ton, mushroom-shaped rock balances on another rock, 40 feet high by Buhl Idaho. Bellevue, located in Blaine County, remains the only city in the state with a territorial charter. The town does not operate under the State Municipal Code, and the state legislature must approve form of government. Thousand Springs is the outlet for Lost River by Hagerman and Buhl Idaho. We are going Fossil hunting in Hagerman, Idaho, 837-9131. Malad Gorge State Park by Hageman has the Malad River canyon, 250 feet deep and 2.5 miles long. River crashes down stairstep falls in Devil's Washbowl, then cuts through gorge on way to Snake River. Borah Peak, 12,662 feet is the highest peak in Idaho. Named in honor of late Senator William Borah from Idaho. Borah Peak Earthquake by Dickey, occurred October 28, 1983, measuring 7.3 on Richter scale. Felt up to 500 miles away. Earthquake left escarpment 21 miles long and up to 14 feet high near base of Borah Peak. Escarpment can be viewed at base of Big Lost River Range. Stanley Basin has salmon spawning along the Salmon River "River of No Return". Arco was the first city in the world to be lighted by atomic energy. On July 17, 1955, electricity generated by Boiling Water Reactor No. 3 (Borax III) was fed over the lines serving Arco for about two hours. Visit Experimental Breeder Reactor (INEEL), 1-800-708-2680. First nuclear-generated electricity produced here in 1951. 52 reactors built at this site. Located on 890 square miles of desert. Today, nuclear research and waste processing carried out for U.S. Depatment of Energy.
Weiser National Old Time Fiddlers contest at Weiser Idaho. Nez Perce National Historic Park at Spaulding Idaho. The Lava's are 4 miles west of Shelley Idaho. St Anthony has a free fisherman's breakfast on last Friday morning in May.
St. Anthony is the county seat of Fremont County. It is on the western slope of the Continental Divide, and the North Fork of the Snake River flows through the town. In 1887 a bridge was built across the Snake River, and two years later St. Anthony was platted at the site. Ashton was founded in 1904 and is a gateway to Targhee National Forest and Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, 307- 539-3393. It is the heart of a rich agricultural and outdoor recreation region. Hess Heritage Museum at Ashton, Idaho, 652-7353. Roosevelt Grove of Ancient Cedars are 40 miles north of Priest River Idaho. A free Natural Hot Spring by Bruneau Canyon Idaho. Hell's Canyon by Cuprum of the Snake River is the deepest gorge (5,000 feet) in North America. The Cataldo Mission completed in 1853 is a charming mission built with no nails between 1848 and 1853. Constructed with large logs cut near site using only a few simple tools. It has 18-inch-thick walls. DeVote Memorial Grove along the Lochsa River. Idaho is called "The Gem State" and it offers 72 kinds of precious and semi-precious stones. (Star Garnet, agate, jasper, opal, aquamarine, diamond, emerald, ruby and fossil flora to just name a few). Emerald Creek Garnet Area 11 miles south of Fernwood is an area with star garnets found only in Idaho and India. 12-sided crystals ranging in size from sand particles to large than golf balls. Often found with four or six-ray stars. Permit required to digging--available at site. Official Idaho states gem. At McCall in February they do ice sculptures all month. rim to rim bridge 480 feet above the Snake River. Shoshone Falls, a full 1,000 feet wide, cascades 212 feet into the valley below. It is known as "The Niagara of the West," waterfall drops 212 feet (several feet more than Niagara Falls) and spans almost 1,000 feet across. Massacre Rocks Indian Ambush site by American Falls irrigation and power dam. Henrys Lake Famous trout fishing, wildflowers, and game area. Charcoal Kilms (1885) between Leadore and Mud Lake Idaho.
Masa Falls 114 feet and 65 feet and Coffee Pot Rapids are two of the most beautiful in the state, on the Henry Fork of the Snake River. Ponderosa State Park and Payette Lake by Mc Call Idaho. Bear Lake is on the Idaho/Utah line. Lava Hot Springs State Natatorium are at Lava Hot Springs Idaho. Is resort village named for its mineral springs, which boil out of lava rock at 110 degrees? Blooming on the terraces that cling to the walls of an extinct volcano are Sunken Gardens surrounding the pools of the state-owned resort, Phosphate mines and mills by Soda Springs Idaho? Fort Henry established a trading post in 1810 on henry fork on the Snake River by St. Anthony, Atomic Energy Research and Testing Station west of Idaho Falls Idaho. Idaho Falls is the third largest city in Idaho. Its location at the mount of the Upper Snake River Valley makes it a major business hub as well as a cultural center of southeast Idaho. Founded in 1860's as a ferry crossing, the community was called Taylor's Bridge, then Eagle Rock, and finally Idaho Falls – named for the 1,500-feet wide cataract on the Snake River. It is home of the LDS temple. Tautphas Park Zoo and carnival rides in Idaho Falls ID 529-1470. Willard Arts Center gallery showings 498 A Street, 522-9471. Bonneville Museum, Idaho Falls, 522-1400. Luck peak dam with "Glip-bucket" spillway is by Boise Idaho. Arrowrock dam 354 feet high by Boise Idaho. Three Island Crossing State Park is the site of one of the most famous river crossings on the old Oregon Trail by Glenns Ferry Idaho. Shoshone Ice Caves and Mammoth Cave between Shoshone and Magic City Idaho. Thousand Springs outlet of the Lost River by Buhl, and Hagerman Idaho. Basalt lava of Snake River Plain absorbs water and drains her at "weeping wall." Much of flow has been diverted to power plant. White bird and Indian Battleground by White Bird Idaho. Seven Devils are rugged mountains between Weiser and Lewiston Idaho. Sawtooth National Recreation area is one of the most beautiful natural settings in the United States. Priest Lake has giant Mackinaw trout. Pend Oreille Lake and Farragut State Park have big Kamloops trout. Spirit, Twin, Hayden Lakes, and Hayden State Park are very beautiful. Coeur d' Alene Lake is one of the world's loveliest lakes. Lawyers Canyon has a high Trestle Bridge. Idaho has the largest stand of White Pine Timber in America, and very large lumber mills. Coeur d' Alene Mining District is the largest silver and lead producer in America. The rugged scenic Selkirk Mountains and upper Priest Lake are Scenic areas in north Idaho. Panhandle recreational areas has swimming, boating, fishing, camping, riding and hiking. Lost River Sinks is were the Lost, Little Lost, Big Lost, and Birch Rivers disappear into the lava beds. Lava flows buried old river channels. Water flows underground for about 100 miles, then emerges through numerous large springs below Twin Falls. The Perrine Bride at Twin Falls is 486 feet high and 1,500 feet long, spanning Snake River Gorge. Built in 1976 to replace first bridge constructed in 1927. Three Island and Bruneau Dunes State Parks between Glenns Ferry and Bruneau Idaho. Scenic Deep Canyon about 20 miles southeast of Bruneau Idaho. Swan Falls about 20 miles south of Kuna. Squaw Creek Canyon by Marsing. Jump Creek Canyon by Caldwell Idaho. Ghost town and boot hill at Idaho City Idaho. Burgdort Hot Springs at Burgdort Idaho. Selway Falls about 18 miles from Lowell Idaho. Idaho's first gold discovery was by E.D. Pierce in 1860 by the town of Pierce Idaho Found in abundance in several rivers throughout state, attracted thousands of newcomers from East. Some gold remains today but finding and removing it is difficult and slow. Hobo Cedar Grove Botanical Area by Fernwood and Clarkia Idaho is a 240-acre grove dominated by dense canopy of old-growth western red cedar. Carpet of lady fern. Several large cedars with diameters ranging from 5 to 8 feet. Smith Falls by Porthill Idaho. Moyie Fills on US Highway 2 passes over bridge with a spectacular view. Priest Lake and Lake Pend O' Oreille in northern Idaho. Thompson's Trading Post (1809) between Clark Fort and East Hope Idaho. Settler's Grove of Ancient Cedars by Prichard Idaho. Fourth of July Canyon and Mullan Tree by Cataldo Idaho; Old Fort Hall Replica off interstate 15 Exit 67 at Ross Park. The Stanley basin (Sawtooth Wilderness area) is by Sun Valley Idaho. Birthplace of Sacajawea between is Tendoy and Salmon Idaho. Fort Lemhi at Tendoy Idaho. Explore Gilmore ghost town, visit charcoal kilns and camp at Meadow Lake near Salmon, Idaho. Lemhi Pass by Salmon is where Lewis and Clark crossed Continental Divide in 1805. Point at which they realized they left Missouri River drainage and entered Columbia River drainage--the division of Atlantic and Pacific watersheds.
Historic Trails in Idaho are the Lewis and Clark Trail, Mullan Road, Lolo Trail, Nez Perce Trail, Oregon trail, California trail, Lander Road, Kelton Road and the Sublette/Hudspeth Cutoff trail. Boise Idaho is the State Capital and Idaho entered the union on 3 July 1890. The State Capitol at Boise construction began in 1905 and took 15 years to complete. Patterned after U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., only capitol building in U.S. heated by geothermal well. Old Idaho Penitentiary built in 1870 as single cell house, grew into complex of several buildings surrounded by high stone walls. Convicts did all later construction. Served as Idaho's prison for over 100 years.
Exploration of the Idaho area began with Pierre De La Verendrye in 1743, with the discovery of the Rocky Mountains somewhere in the vicinity of Yellowstone Park and Lewis and Clark in the years of 1803-1806. Next came fur Traders, setting up posts. Missionaries establishing missions from 1830-1850. Mormons made their first permanent settlement at Franklin Idaho in 1860. Franklin Idaho is the oldest non-Indian town in Idaho, settled in 1860 by Mormon pioneers. Once busy terminus of Utah Northern Railroad, where freight for Montana mines reloaded for long wagon haul north.
Idaho Gold Rush began in 1860 and brought thousands of permanent settlers. Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce tribe were pursued by troops (1,300 miles) that caught them a few miles short of the Canadian border. Idaho adopted a progressive consultation and became a state 3 July 1890. Dating back to the great mining boom of 1860, Silver City in the Owyhee Mountains and Idaho City are two of the finest ghost towns. The following are some other ghost and mining towns in Idaho. Atlanta is northeast of Boise, Custer is Northeast of Stanley, and Cuprum is northwest of Council. Sheep Rook about 13 miles north of Cuprum is a 6,847-foot -high, 17-acre promontory overlooking Hells Canyon. Several types of metamorphic basalt, andesite, sandstone and conglomerate are visible. There are spectacular panoramic views. Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America with average depth of 5,600 feet. Snake River runs through gorge. Delamar southwest of Murphy. Silver City southwest of Murphy, Dixie southeast of Grangeville, Elk City east of Grangeville. Golden east of Grangeville, Florence east of Riggins, Warren southeast of Riggins, Galena northwest of Sun Valley, Gibbonsville north of Salmon, Lemhi southeast of Salmon, Shoup northwest of Salmon, Murray north of Wallace, Pierce east of Orofino, Placerville northeast of Horseshoe Bend. Rocky Bar north of Mountain Home, St. Joe east of St. Maries, and Yellow Pine northeast of Cascade, Idaho.
American Falls Idaho was on the Oregon/California Trail that went through the area. Arco was the first city in the world lighted by atomic energy July 17, 1955. Natural Arch by Arco is a huge limestone arch stands out from high weather-eroded shoulder of King Mountain. The span is an 80-foot-high. Accessible only to hikers on trail up Bridge Canyon. Ashton was the site of the American Dog Derby, the first sled dog race ever held in the lower 48 states. Athol is the site of the Farragut State Park Museum. Bayview was the former site of Farragut Naval Training Station during WWII. Big Creek in Southwestern Idaho is a gateway to Idaho's wilderness and consists of small private community of private residences and backcountry guest ranches/lodges. The Forest Service maintains an airstrip for backcountry pilots. Blackfoot was founded in 1898 in anticipation of the arrival of the Utah Northern Railroad. Hell's-Half Acre Lava Field 10 miles north of Blackfoot is a 180-square-mail lava field. Young, unweathered and fully exposed lave flow, estimated to be about 27,000 years old. Trees grow from cracks. numerous mosses and lichens grow on flow. Boise was founded in 1863 as a military post on the Oregon Trail. Bonners Ferry was the stopover for gold miners heading for British Columbia in the mid-1800. Moyie Falls at Bonners Ferry is a spectacular waterfall--especially during spring runoff. Upper and lower falls, 100 feet and 40 feet, respectively. Moyie River thunders through canyon. Buhl was named or F. H. Buhl, one of the developers of the Magic Valley in the early 1900's. The Oregon/California Trails (and heir various cutoffs) all converge at or near Burley, then proceed west from there. Caldwell was originally known as "Bugtown" when it was a campsite for construction employees of the Oregon Short Line Railroad. Cambridge's major event is the Hell's Canyon Days, the first week in June. Cascade's major event is Thunder Mountain days. The fault line of the massive earthquake of 1983 is located 35 miles southeast of Challis. Railroad construction began in 1869 to supply the growing timber town of Clark Fork. Coeur d' Alene was originally an official supply station and traveler outpost named Fort Sherman and designated by General Sherman of Civil War Fame. Council was originally the site for the gathering of Indian tribes for their annual tribal "council" or meeting.
Hawkins Reservoir by Arimo is a popular reservoir for fishing and boating. Built in 1890's, maintained by private company for irrigation water.
Downey was founded in 1893 and is in the chapter on Marsh Valley in this book. Bonneville Flood by Downey was one of the greatest floods known in history of world. Part of gigantic ancient lake called Lake Bonneville broke out south of Pocatello about one million years ago. Caused massive destruction, which can be seen as huge depressions and side canyons in and along canyon near Twin Falls and as fields of boulders in Snake River Canyon and at Massacre Rocks. Massacre Rocks State Park where huge boulders rolled and polished by prehistoric Bonneville Flood. Volcanic evidences everywhere. Devil's Gate Pass all that remains of extinct volcano. Annual Trapper's Rendezvous were held at Driggs during the summers in the 1800's. Driggs hot-air balloon festival July 1-4, 354-2500. Elk City had one of Idaho's larger Chinese populations in the old mining days. Pickett's Corral in the foothills east of Emmett was a notorious "Robber's roost" that served as home base for a band of road agents and horse thieves. A vigilante group succeeded in wiping out the nest of villains in the late 1880's. Fairfield is located on the Camas Prairie, a site of numerous conflicts between Indians and settlers over the camas lily, an edible root that was a staple of the Indian diet. The communities of Pine and Featherville make up an area northeast of Mountain Home off Highway 10 known as "Fun Valley". Garden Valley derived its name from its history as the primary supplier of all fresh produce for the Idaho City miners in the 1880s. Idaho City was once bustling mining camp and center of richest gold strikes in North America during 1860s. At one point more populated than any other city in Northwest. Some buildings of 1860's still remain. It has wood board sidewalks, and unpaved streets. Population is now about 300.
Glenns Ferry was originally the site of the old ferry, which crossed the Snake River. Grangeville is located on the Whitebird battlegrounds, site of a major battle between Chief Whitebird and the US Calvary. Hegerman has over 130 different species of prehistoric animals that lived in the area, and it includes one of the best Pliocene period fossil beds in the world. Site contains world's richest-known deposits of Upper Pliocene-age terrestrial fossils. Some fossils are as old as 3.5 million years. Horse, Equus simplicidens, most famous and official state fossil. Located within Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. Fossil removal prohibited. Hailey produced significant amount of lead and silver in late 1800s. Harrison was at one time the largest city on Lake Coeur d' Alene. Hayden Lake had the honor of being named and was won in a poker hand played at the Bozanta Club (now Hayden Lake Country Club) by Mr. Hayden. Hayburn was one of the first cities to be laid out by the U. S. Government in Idaho. Hope is the site of Kullyspell House. the first established trading post in the Pacific Northwest. Island Park was a crossroads for migrating big game, early Americans, and mountain men during the heyday of fur trading in early 1800s. The 1907 Carey Act Irrigation Project developed Jerome into a rich and fertile farming area. Kamish was important to the Lewis-Clark Expedition. Kellogg is site of the largest silver mines in the United States. Kooskia is the elk capital of the world. Lewiston, the oldest city in Idaho, was chosen as the state's first capitol. The Port of Lewiston is the only seaport in Idaho. John Mackay, who discovered the Comstock Lode near Virginia City, Nevada City, founded Mackay. Visit Virginia City, Silver City, Nevada City Ghost towns, three hours each way in Montana. Turn and go past Henry's Lake and follow the signs. Pan for gold and visit an old train yard. In the 1860s and 1870s, Malad was a principal stopping place for freight wagons bringing gold from mines in Northern Montana and Idaho. Because of the wealth, it was referred to as the "gold road". McCall is historically a logging town with the old mill site still on the Payette Lake. McCall today offers unlimited year-round resort recreation including excellent alpine and Nordic skiing. Meridian boasts one of the oldest continuous pharmacies in the state, as well as the only Idaho newspaper continually published since the turn of the century. Make a trip to Yellow Pine a great place on the East Fort of South Fork Salmon River. Montpelier is first Oregon Trail settlement in Idaho. Butch Cassidy once robbed the local bank. Moscow, whose first official name was "Hog Heaven," is the home of the University of Idaho, the state's oldest university. Originally the town of Mountain Home was located 10 miles closer to the mountain and called "Rattlesnake Station" In 1883, when the railroad was completed, the town, Mountain Home was moved to its present site.
Snake River Birds of Prey Area is 10 miles NW of Mountain Home and is one of the world's densest populations of nesting birds of prey. Includes eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and vultures. Covers 483,000 acres along 80 miles of Snake River. Countless ledges, cracks, crevices and pinnacles provide ideal nesting aeries. The Snake River Birds of Prey Special Recreation Management Area is 33 miles in length, up to 0.75 mile wide and 300-600 feet deep. Access into canyon only on undeveloped trails or passages.
Nampa was named for Chief Nampuh, "Bigfoot," a legendary member of the Shoshone Indian tribe. North Fork is Whitewater capital of the world, located on famous Lewis/Clark Trail. Orofino was the site of an early Nez Perce Indian settlement where the Lewis and Clark expedition camped. Parma is the home of two former Idaho governors. Payette was named in honor of French-Canadian fur trapper and Hudson Bay Co clerk, Francois Payette. Referred to as the "jolly clerk," he was known for his kindness to Oregon Tail immigrants who found him polite and courteous. Pierces recorded the first gold strike in Idaho in 1860, which caused the town population to mushroom to over 3,000. Pocatello is home of Idaho Sates University which boasts American's first enclosed college football stadium. Natural History Museum at I.S.U. in Pocatello, (526-1388). Post Falls, once the site of the Coeur d' Alene Indian Village, Q'Emily, was recognized by founder Frederick Post for its potential as a natural dam at the upper falls of the Spokane River. Powell is a ranger station on the Lewis-Clerk Trail 12 miles from Lolo Pass. The Battle of Bear River, a famous Indian massacre and battle, took place just north of Preston. Nell Shipman, famous silent screens starlet, who moved here entourage to Priest Lake is the 1920s and filmed several classic movies there. Priest River is interesting history as a logging and railroad town. Rexburg is south of the famous Teton Dam. This earth filled dam burst on June 5, 1976 crating over a billion dollars in flood damage but fortunately causing few fatalities. Visit Ricks College Spori Gallery. Hike the "R" mountain at Rexburg Idaho. Menan Buttes are two large buttes of glassy basalt lava, found in only a few places in world. Larger one rises 800 feet. Both have craters 0.5 mile long and 300 feet deep. Cones elongated by prevailing winds. Rupert is the site of the historic Minidoka Dam and Power plant, name to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. St. Charles is the birthplace of Gutzon Borglum, sculptor of Mt. Rushmore. The St. Joe River is the longest navigable river, for its elevation, in the world and St. Maries locate it. Salmon is the birthplace of Sacajawea, and the location where Lewis and Clark crossed the Continental Divide. Sandpoint is where Farragut Naval Training Station, the second largest such facility in the world, was located on Lake Pend Oreille during World War II. Today submarines and sonar devices are still tested in this lake, which is one of the deepest in the world. Early settler used ice from the Shoshone Ice Caves to cool their food. Silver City is one of the most fascinating of old Idaho mining towns still standing. The Silver City area was a major silver and gold producer, and at one time was the largest city of Idaho. It is accessible by dirt road and offers the visitor a true glimpse of the old west. Silver City was founded in 1863. Once booming mill town with population of 3,000, now known as "queen of Idaho ghost towns." About 40 buildings still remain in Historic District. It is still busy in summer months.
The Oregon Trail winds through the city of Soda Springs in southeast Idaho. Soda Springs famous landmark on Oregon Trail because of many hot springs. Soda water from spring once marketed nationally. Sprit Lake has one on only two sealed-bottom lakes in the world. Sun Valley Lodge, opened in 1936, was America's first designated ski resort. Sun Valley also developed the first ski lift in the world. In Twin Falls the irrigation system is the first in the world and still privately owned and operated. In 1832, the mountain men clashed with the native Indians in a bloody battle over land rights near Victor. In Wallace the area is rich in history as it is in architecture from the late 1800's. The Nez Perce Indian wars were fought throughout this area, and there are several historical markers near White Bird. Yellow Pine is a very small community of private homes and small businesses located on the edge of Idaho wilderness. Choose a nearby town you've never visited and spend the day exploring. Look in the shops, play at their parks, and visit the Chamber of Commerce. Rent an inexpensive motel with a pool and stay for the night just for fun. Some of the most fun activities for teens and parents are as follows. Develop hobbies you can share, fishing, woodworking, radio control airplanes, archery, rock hunting, hiking, camping, cake decorating, art, music, theater, sports, quilting, etc. Work together, weed pulling contests, yard clean-up, building projects, remodeling. Remember to give positive rewards. Play with your youth, water balloon volleyball, ice blocking, riding bikes, yard games, snowman building contest, table games, skipping rocks, tube the river, water ski, etc. Try backyard sleep-out for the whole family. Organize a street party, potluck, games or organize a youth party and teach parlor games such as Wink Em Do You Love Your Neighbor, If You Love Me Please Smile, etc. Spontaneous breakfasts the park--take the camp stove. Feed the ducks on the greenbelt and walk or rollerblade. Walk around the temple grounds and visit the visitor's center. Play ABC scavenger hunt: visit a place in town that begins with each letter of the alphabet (it might take you all summer to get to Z). Go to a Drive-in Movie (Skyvu, 529-1085; Motorvu 523-3711; Teton View, 359-0886).
St. Anthony Sand Dunes at Parker covers approximately 150 square miles. Sand, mostly quarts, brought down from mountains and blown by winds of Snake River Plain into dunes. The Snake River Plain by atomic City is one of greatest volcanic plains of world. In cross-section, Plain is depression filled with layers of rocks over 5,000 feet thick. Rocks include sedimentary deposits from ancient lakes, streams, rivers and mountain glaciers. Molten lava erupted from over 1,000 volcanoes located throughout Plain. Includes 10,600 acres of white quartz sand. Is a popular area for all-terrain vehicles, dune buggies and motor cycle riding? Winter activities include sledding and tubing.
Bruneau Canton is 15 miles SE of Bruneau is 800 feet deep and over 60 miles long. Exposed layers in canyon Wall provide cross section of many eruptions that took place in area. Bruneau Dunes State Park includes largest single structured sand dune in North America. Peak 470 feet above Lake Surface. Unlike other dunes, these form at center of natural basin--not the edge. Two dunes cover about 600 acres. Caldron Linn is by Murtaugh and is a narrow passage in Snake River, less than 40 feet wide. Waterfall swirls like caldron. Forced explorers to abandon boats and continue southern route on foot.

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