Last updated August 16, 2026

The Best Tours & Places to Visit in Idaho

Idaho remains one of the least crowded, most underrated mountain states in the country, home to jagged alpine peaks, a river-carved canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon, and a lava-scarred landscape that NASA once used to train astronauts. From the whitewater and food scene of Boise to the ski slopes around Ketchum and Sun Valley, the alpine lakes of the Sawtooth Mountains, and the waterfall known as the Niagara of the West outside Twin Falls, Idaho rewards travelers willing to look past its reputation as just a place to grow potatoes. Whether you are searching for the best tours in Idaho, tickets to top Idaho attractions, the best places to visit in Idaho, or simply the most memorable things to do in Idaho, this guide covers everything worth knowing before you go.

Top Attractions, Tours and Tickets in Idaho

Boise and the Boise River

Boise has quietly grown into one of the most livable small cities in the West, with a walkable downtown, a thriving farm-to-table food scene, and the Boise River running directly through the middle of it. The Boise River Greenbelt, a paved path stretching more than 25 miles along the water, connects parks, breweries, and the Boise Whitewater Park, where a series of engineered waves draw kayakers and surfers right in the city center. Guided rafting, swimming, and wildlife tours on the Boise River are a popular way to experience the river without your own gear, and downtown Boise's Basque Block, honoring one of the largest Basque communities outside Europe, adds a distinctive cultural layer most visitors do not expect.

Sun Valley and the Sawtooth Mountains

Sun Valley, opened in 1936 as the country's first destination ski resort, still draws skiers to Bald Mountain's meticulously groomed 3,400 feet of vertical drop, while gentler Dollar Mountain remains a favorite for beginners and families. The surrounding Sawtooth Mountains, protected as a national recreation area, hold more than 40 peaks over 10,000 feet and hundreds of alpine lakes, with the Sawtooth Scenic Byway ranked among the most dramatic drives in the country. Ketchum, Sun Valley's adjoining town, keeps a low-key, upscale mountain-town character year-round, with hiking and mountain biking filling the summer months once the ski lifts close.

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve protects more than 1,100 square miles of volcanic terrain along the Great Rift, a landscape of lava fields, cinder cones, and lava tube caves so otherworldly that NASA sent Apollo astronauts there in the 1960s to train for lunar missions. Short trails lead through fields of black lava rock and into several lava tube caves, and the loop drive through the monument makes the more dramatic formations accessible without extensive hiking. Full-day tours from Twin Falls include lunch and transportation, making the monument accessible for visitors without a rental car.

Shoshone Falls and Twin Falls

Shoshone Falls drops 212 feet, taller than Niagara Falls, over a horseshoe-shaped rim on the Snake River, earning it the nickname the Niagara of the West, with flow at its heaviest during spring snowmelt. The Perrine Bridge, spanning the Snake River Canyon nearby, is one of the few bridges in the country where BASE jumping is legal year-round without a permit, and spectators regularly gather at the visitor center to watch jumpers leap from the span. Tours and activities at Shoshone Falls Park include guided hikes and kayak trips up the Snake River Canyon toward the falls.

Coeur d'Alene and North Idaho

Coeur d'Alene sits on the shore of its namesake lake, regularly ranked among the most beautiful lakes in the country, and has built a resort economy around boating, golf, and lakefront dining that feels distinct from the rest of Idaho. The nearby former mining towns of Wallace and Kellogg, once at the center of one of the richest silver mining districts in the world, now lean into their industrial history with mine tours and the Silver Mountain gondola, one of the longest single-stage gondolas in the world. Zipline tours with a treehouse stop are one of the most popular guided activities in the area, and boat cruises on Lake Coeur d'Alene are widely available for a more relaxed alternative.

Hells Canyon and the Snake River

Hells Canyon, carved by the Snake River along the Idaho-Oregon border, is the deepest river gorge in North America, reaching depths of nearly 8,000 feet, deeper than the Grand Canyon, though far less visited due to its remote location. Jet boat tours and multi-day rafting trips remain the primary ways to experience the canyon's interior, since very little of it is accessible by road, and the surrounding Hells Canyon National Recreation Area protects critical habitat for bighorn sheep, elk, and one of the largest concentrations of nesting raptors in North America. The canyon's remoteness is part of its appeal, offering a genuinely wild alternative to Idaho's more accessible mountain towns.

Eastern Idaho and the Teton Valley

Eastern Idaho serves as a quieter, less crowded gateway to both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, with Idaho Falls and Rexburg offering significantly lower lodging prices than the towns clustered on the Wyoming and Montana sides of the parks. Mesa Falls, one of the last major undammed waterfalls in the Snake River system, and the Teton Valley's west-facing views of the Teton Range offer scenery that rivals the more famous overlooks just across the state line. Harriman State Park, along the Henry's Fork of the Snake River, is considered one of the best fly fishing destinations in the country and draws anglers from around the world for its clear spring-fed waters.

Major Cities and Places to Visit in Idaho

• Boise Tours & Tickets - Idaho's capital and largest city, with whitewater rafting on the Boise River and a growing food and craft beer scene
• Ketchum Tours & Tickets - The gateway to Sun Valley, one of the oldest ski resorts in the country, founded in 1936
• Coeur d'Alene Tours & Tickets - A lakefront resort town in the North Idaho panhandle, popular for boating and ziplining
• Twin Falls Tours & Tickets - Home to Shoshone Falls, sometimes called the Niagara of the West, and BASE jumping off the Perrine Bridge
• Idaho Falls Tours & Tickets - A gateway city to eastern Idaho and the west side of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
• McCall Tours & Tickets - A mountain lake town on Payette Lake, popular for summer boating and winter skiing at Brundage Mountain
• Sandpoint Tours & Tickets - A North Idaho lake town on Lake Pend Oreille, home to Schweitzer Mountain Resort
• Stanley Tours & Tickets - A tiny mountain town at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains, considered one of the coldest towns in the country
• Moscow Tours & Tickets - A college town in the rolling Palouse wheat country, home to the University of Idaho
• Rexburg Tours & Tickets - A university town in eastern Idaho and a common gateway to the Teton Valley and Yellowstone's west entrance

Universities, Colleges and Sports Teams in Idaho

• Boise State University in Boise - The state's largest university, known nationally for its blue artificial turf football field.
• Boise State Broncos (sports team) in Boise - NCAA Division I program whose football team has produced some of the most memorable upsets in modern college football history.
• University of Idaho in Moscow - The state's land-grant flagship university, founded in 1889.
• Idaho Vandals (sports team) in Moscow - NCAA Division I program competing in the Big Sky Conference.

Idaho Demographics and Population

According to the 2024 American Community Survey, Idaho has a population of approximately 1,934,262 people across 83,570 square miles, ranking it 37th among U.S. states by population. The median household income is $77,800, and the largest racial and ethnic groups are Asian (1.3%), White (78.6%), Hispanic (13.6%), American Indian and Alaska Native (1.5%), and Black or African American (0.7%). The median age is 37.3 years. Approximately 10.5% of residents live below the poverty line, compared to the national rate of 12.2%. Idaho's economy is anchored by agriculture, particularly potatoes and dairy, a growing technology sector centered on Boise, semiconductor manufacturing tied to Micron Technology, and a tourism industry built around its mountains, rivers, and national forests.

When to Visit Idaho

Summer (June through August) is the best time to visit Idaho. The best time to visit Idaho for most travelers. Mountain trails and alpine lakes in the Sawtooths are fully accessible, rivers are runnable for rafting, and temperatures are comfortable statewide. Fall (September through November): A quiet, increasingly popular shoulder season, with aspen and larch foliage turning gold across the mountains and noticeably thinner crowds than summer. Winter (December through February): Peak ski season at Sun Valley, Schweitzer, and Brundage Mountain, typically running from late November through April, though many high mountain roads close for the season. Spring (March through May): An unpredictable transition season with lingering snow at higher elevations, though it also marks the start of prime whitewater rafting season as rivers rise with snowmelt.

Frequently Asked Questions About Touring Idaho

Official Idaho Resources

The following official government websites provide additional planning resources, park information, and historical records for travelers visiting Idaho.