From lush mountainsides and snowy precipices to magnificent mirrored lakes, Idaho is one incredible view after another when it comes to our scenery. But we all know that our great outdoors is best experienced, well, outdoors! These stunning views may be merely a taste of what the Gem State has to offer, but they make a great starting point for experiencing the diverse landscapes of Idaho up close and personal.
- Best Top-of-the-World View: Galena Summit
Charles Knowles/Flickr The scenic Boulder White Clouds are home to some incredible beauty, and were recently designated as protected wilderness. As the highest highway summit overlook in the Northwest, the Galena Summit overlook showcases the incredible Sawtooths and the headwaters of the Salmon River to absolute perfection.
- Best Urban View: Boise Table Rock
Courtesy of Alden Skeie If you’ve never caught a sunrise or sunset from up here, you’re missing out. Boise’s Table Rock is a must-do hike for every Boisean resident at least once for its expansive views of the city, which stretch far off into the foothills that surround the valley.
- Best Dark Sky View: Owyhee Canyonlands
nate2b/Flickr Away from the city lights of Idaho’s most populated areas, Idaho’s night sky is always magnificent. But drive a few hours south and those views just keep getting better. As the least populated county in Idaho and most remote portion of the state (technically in the U.S. as well as it overlaps into Nevada’s Jarbidge Wilderness Area), Idaho’s southwest corner offers unrivaled views of the stars and distant galaxies with or without a telescope.
- Best Rural View: The Palouse
Larry Gerbrandt/Getty Idaho has no shortage of places to catch a picture-perfect sunrise, sunset, and everything in between. But the vibrant, rolling landscapes of this quiet slice of Idaho can’t be found anywhere else in the state, and we can’t help but be in awe! Add in the bold, fiery sunset colors that Idaho is known for, and this picturesque landscape is what what dreams (and the endings of old Westerns) are made of.
- Best Waterfall View: Shoshone Falls
Bret Barton/Getty At 212 feet high, this landmark cascade in Twin Falls is simply divine, especially during peak runoff. And after a snowy winter…this is one sight you won’t want to miss!
- Best Desert View: Bruneau Sand Dunes
Courtesy of Charles Knowles Our own little Sahara in the Magic Valley.
- Best Panoramic View: Sun Valley
Tetra Images/Getty Idaho’s world-famous resort and skiing haven, the Sun Valley area makes for a postcard-ready panoramic view that is hard to beat, whether viewed from the top of Baldy or from the ground floor looking up.
- Best Fear-Inducing View: Hells Canyon
Mark Edward Harris/Getty Hells Canyon is a truly sight to behold, whether gazing from a high point in the Seven Devils or floating at the base of the rocky, intimidating crags that surround you on every side. At 7,200 feet deep, Hell’s Canyon is deeper than Arizona’s Grand Canyon and is a bucket list must-visit.
- Best Waterfront View: Lake Coeur d’Alene
Mitch Diamond/Getty Idaho’s bounty of lakes and rivers makes it hard to choose a favorite view, but Lake Coeur d’Alene is unique in that it is nestled within the Coeur d’Alene Scenic Byway, which allows for incredible panoramic views around every curve. But truth be told, this Idaho gem has no bad angles!
- Best River View: The Snake River
peeterv/Getty
Anna Gorin/Getty
christiannafzger/Getty
Anna Gorin/Getty
Moelyn Photos/Getty Idaho has more river miles than any other state in the country, which makes choosing a “best” river view particularly challenging. But as the lifeblood of Southern Idaho, and as the most often-mentioned body of water during Lewis and Clark’s travels in the 1800s, arguably no other river in the state has carved as many diverse and spectacular landscapes, nor made such a historical impact as the aptly-named Snake. From waterfalls to canyons to richly-hued tributaries like Henrys Fork, each of these photos are just a small snippet of the magic, power, and beauty of the Snake River!
Idaho’s beauty is pretty unrivaled, wouldn’t you say? What’s your most memorable Idaho experience?
Charles Knowles/Flickr
The scenic Boulder White Clouds are home to some incredible beauty, and were recently designated as protected wilderness. As the highest highway summit overlook in the Northwest, the Galena Summit overlook showcases the incredible Sawtooths and the headwaters of the Salmon River to absolute perfection.
Courtesy of Alden Skeie
If you’ve never caught a sunrise or sunset from up here, you’re missing out. Boise’s Table Rock is a must-do hike for every Boisean resident at least once for its expansive views of the city, which stretch far off into the foothills that surround the valley.
nate2b/Flickr
Away from the city lights of Idaho’s most populated areas, Idaho’s night sky is always magnificent. But drive a few hours south and those views just keep getting better. As the least populated county in Idaho and most remote portion of the state (technically in the U.S. as well as it overlaps into Nevada’s Jarbidge Wilderness Area), Idaho’s southwest corner offers unrivaled views of the stars and distant galaxies with or without a telescope.
Larry Gerbrandt/Getty
Idaho has no shortage of places to catch a picture-perfect sunrise, sunset, and everything in between. But the vibrant, rolling landscapes of this quiet slice of Idaho can’t be found anywhere else in the state, and we can’t help but be in awe! Add in the bold, fiery sunset colors that Idaho is known for, and this picturesque landscape is what what dreams (and the endings of old Westerns) are made of.
Bret Barton/Getty
At 212 feet high, this landmark cascade in Twin Falls is simply divine, especially during peak runoff. And after a snowy winter…this is one sight you won’t want to miss!
Courtesy of Charles Knowles
Our own little Sahara in the Magic Valley.
Tetra Images/Getty
Idaho’s world-famous resort and skiing haven, the Sun Valley area makes for a postcard-ready panoramic view that is hard to beat, whether viewed from the top of Baldy or from the ground floor looking up.
Mark Edward Harris/Getty
Hells Canyon is a truly sight to behold, whether gazing from a high point in the Seven Devils or floating at the base of the rocky, intimidating crags that surround you on every side. At 7,200 feet deep, Hell’s Canyon is deeper than Arizona’s Grand Canyon and is a bucket list must-visit.
Mitch Diamond/Getty
Idaho’s bounty of lakes and rivers makes it hard to choose a favorite view, but Lake Coeur d’Alene is unique in that it is nestled within the Coeur d’Alene Scenic Byway, which allows for incredible panoramic views around every curve. But truth be told, this Idaho gem has no bad angles!
peeterv/Getty
Anna Gorin/Getty
christiannafzger/Getty
Moelyn Photos/Getty
Idaho has more river miles than any other state in the country, which makes choosing a “best” river view particularly challenging. But as the lifeblood of Southern Idaho, and as the most often-mentioned body of water during Lewis and Clark’s travels in the 1800s, arguably no other river in the state has carved as many diverse and spectacular landscapes, nor made such a historical impact as the aptly-named Snake. From waterfalls to canyons to richly-hued tributaries like Henrys Fork, each of these photos are just a small snippet of the magic, power, and beauty of the Snake River!
These 10 places barely scratch the surface of everything Idaho has to offer! We’ll do our best to keep Idaho’s most spectacular hidden gems a secret, but in the meantime, take a moment to ogle some of the most beautiful lakes in the state as rated by our very own readers.
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