The Gem State
Idaho
Whitewater rivers, the Frank Church Wilderness, and more roadless backcountry than any state in the lower 48.
Idaho at a Glance
Frank Church Wilderness
Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 at 2.4 million acres
Whitewater Rivers
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River runs 100 miles through wilderness without a road crossing, one of the top wilderness river runs in the world
Sawtooth Range
The Sawtooths near Stanley contain 42 peaks over 10,000 ft and more than 300 alpine lakes in a 217,000-acre wilderness
Forest Cover
Idaho's 20 million acres of national forest cover 40% of the state, more forested public land per capita than nearly any state
Wolf Country
Idaho reintroduced gray wolves in 1995, and the Clearwater and Nez Perce forests now support hundreds of wolves in stable packs
Primitive Road
The Magruder Road Corridor cuts 100 miles through remote wilderness with only a gravel road connecting two national forests
When to Visit
July through September for most backcountry routes. The Sawtooth Range and higher terrain stay snowed in through June. Spring rafting on the Salmon and Payette Rivers runs April through June.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Boise
State capital with Boise National Forest in the hills immediately north, including Bogus Basin ski area and hundreds of trail miles within an hour's drive.
Stanley
Tiny mountain town (population around 60) at the heart of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, surrounded by the Sawtooth Wilderness.
Salmon
Gateway to Frank Church Wilderness and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, with outfitters offering float trips and horse packing into the backcountry.
Did You Know?
The Frank Church Wilderness is larger than Yellowstone National Park, yet receives a fraction of the visitors.
Hells Canyon on the Idaho-Oregon border is the deepest river gorge in North America at 7,913 ft deep.
Borah Peak was measured at exactly 12,662 ft until a 1983 earthquake raised it by roughly a foot.
Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Monument sits within an active volcanic zone that last erupted just 2,000 years ago.
The Selway River in Idaho is one of the most restricted wilderness rivers in the country, with only one launch per day allowed during peak season.