And by America, we mean the Gem State, a.k.a. God’s Country. You don’t have to travel overseas or to faraway continents to see amazing things. We have something pretty special going on right here! Plenty of one-of-a-kind locations, natural wonders, and rural unspoiled beauty combine to make Idaho home to some of the most beautiful sights imaginable. Here are some of our favorites:
- Pend Oreille
D. Taylor in Idaho/Flickr Idaho’s largest and deepest lake has more than a few secrets hiding in its depths. But you wouldn’t know it just by looking at the crystal-clear waters.
- Celebration Park on the Snake River
NikonFDSLR/Flickr One of the incredible things about Idaho is that you can travel just outside its only metro area and still feel like like rural Idaho is a world of its own.
- Sawtooth Mountains
Scott Mahon/Flickr Central Idaho wouldn’t be the same without the glorious crags and rugged edges of our state’s most famous playground.
- Beaver Bay Beach
Lee Stone/Flickr Idaho’s beaches and bay areas are basically paradise.
- Balancing Rock State Park
Terry Robinson/Flickr Of all the unique rock formations in Idaho, Balanced Rock might be the most photographed. But exploring the park around it can yield some amazing beauty as well.
- Lemhi Valley
Murray Foubuster/Flickr This overlooked portion of Southern Idaho is captured in all of its majestic, red-hued glory!
- Lochsa River
Keith Ewing/Flickr Idaho’s rivers are rushing, winding, and untamed in their beauty as they ebb and flow through the trees.
- Craters of the Moon Cavern
Jeff Nelson/Flickr Craters of the Moon is an explorer’s paradise. The Craters of the Moon cave system is also a bucket list must-do for anyone with a fancy for spelunking; views like this are just one of the rewards.
- Someplace in Idaho
Jessica Gottlieb/Bureau of Land Management/Flickr But despite its beauty, Idaho is still a mysterious, mystical place.
- Payette Lake North Shore
Charles Knowles/Flickr The heart of McCall features sunrises and sunsets that never get old.
- Hells Canyon
Nan Palmero/Flickr The deepest river gorge in North America is its own one-of-a-kind playground that is breathtaking year-round.
- Lake Coeur d’Alene
Daxis/Flickr Coeur d’Alene is often referred to as one of America’s hidden gems – but Idahoans are well aware of the beauty that this northern haven and its namesake lake offer.
- Henry’s Lake
Jeff Jones/Flickr Henry’s Fork on the Snake River gets all the glory as an angler’s paradise, but this sparkling caldera lake shouldn’t be ignored.
- Little Redfish Lake
Charles Knowles/Flickr The Sawtooths are full of crisp alpine lakes, of which Redfish Lake is a local favorite. But hike a bit more to its little brother and you might just find perfect solitude.
- Big Southern Butte
James Neeley/BLM Idaho/Flickr The rugged desert beauty of southern Idaho is often underappreciated, especially by those just traveling through. But there’s so much to love about views like this!
It doesn’t get much more beautiful than this. In every season and every region, it’s easy to appreciate the wonders of this place we call Idahome!
D. Taylor in Idaho/Flickr
Idaho’s largest and deepest lake has more than a few secrets hiding in its depths. But you wouldn’t know it just by looking at the crystal-clear waters.
NikonFDSLR/Flickr
One of the incredible things about Idaho is that you can travel just outside its only metro area and still feel like like rural Idaho is a world of its own.
Scott Mahon/Flickr
Central Idaho wouldn’t be the same without the glorious crags and rugged edges of our state’s most famous playground.
Lee Stone/Flickr
Idaho’s beaches and bay areas are basically paradise.
Terry Robinson/Flickr
Of all the unique rock formations in Idaho, Balanced Rock might be the most photographed. But exploring the park around it can yield some amazing beauty as well.
Murray Foubuster/Flickr
This overlooked portion of Southern Idaho is captured in all of its majestic, red-hued glory!
Keith Ewing/Flickr
Idaho’s rivers are rushing, winding, and untamed in their beauty as they ebb and flow through the trees.
Jeff Nelson/Flickr
Craters of the Moon is an explorer’s paradise. The Craters of the Moon cave system is also a bucket list must-do for anyone with a fancy for spelunking; views like this are just one of the rewards.
Jessica Gottlieb/Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
But despite its beauty, Idaho is still a mysterious, mystical place.
Charles Knowles/Flickr
The heart of McCall features sunrises and sunsets that never get old.
Nan Palmero/Flickr
The deepest river gorge in North America is its own one-of-a-kind playground that is breathtaking year-round.
Daxis/Flickr
Coeur d’Alene is often referred to as one of America’s hidden gems – but Idahoans are well aware of the beauty that this northern haven and its namesake lake offer.
Jeff Jones/Flickr
Henry’s Fork on the Snake River gets all the glory as an angler’s paradise, but this sparkling caldera lake shouldn’t be ignored.
The Sawtooths are full of crisp alpine lakes, of which Redfish Lake is a local favorite. But hike a bit more to its little brother and you might just find perfect solitude.
James Neeley/BLM Idaho/Flickr
The rugged desert beauty of southern Idaho is often underappreciated, especially by those just traveling through. But there’s so much to love about views like this!
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