Attractions Nearby Boise, Day Trips and Excursions

(Boise, Idaho - ID, USA)

Located on the northwesterly side of the United States, the state of Idaho is bounded by Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington State and Wyoming, as well as the border to Canada. Boise is well-placed for day trips, with some extremely alluring attractions being but a short drive from the city environs.

Popular attractions near to Boise include excursions to the neighboring city of Nampa, the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and to the Craters of the Moon National Monument. Close to both Boise and Canada, the Idaho Panhandle is an especially inviting region, boasting a selection of outdoor attractions, lakes and resorts. Ketchum, McCall and the Sun Valley also deserve mentioning.

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Located some 130 miles / 209 km to the east of Boise, the Craters of the Moon National Monument is to be found within central Idaho, in the Snake River Plain. Something of a volcanic showcase, the Craters of the Moon National Monument is a particularly unusual and special attraction, with impressive lava tubes, cinder cones and various caves. Particularly noteworthy is the North Crater Flow, the Devil's Orchard and the Inferno Cone.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: charge, applicable per vehicle or individual, children under 15 years old are free

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Hells Canyon is within easy reach of Boise and is actually the deepest gorge in the whole of North America, being considerably deeper than the more famous Grand Canyon, plunging some 2,700 metres / 8,900 feet between Mount Ore's He Devil Peak, and the Snake River and Granite Creek. There are almost 900 miles / 1,450 km of hiking trails around the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area alone, as well as some spectacular mountain peaks, Alpine meadows and even ancient petroglyphs.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: charge

Idaho Panhandle

Conveniently near to Boise, the Idaho Panhandle is brimming with recreational attractions and outdoor activities, with Sandpoint, Kellogg and Couer d'Alene all suiting those who enjoy fishing, water sports, white-water rafting and even winter skiing. There are literally dozens of lakes spread around the Idaho Panhandle, such as Hayden, Pend Oreille and Priest, all of which offer their very own array of camping sites.

Ketchum and Sun Valley

As premier tourist destinations in Idaho, both Ketchum and Sun Valley are always busy, whatever the time of year, and are just over 150 miles / 241 km to the east of Boise. Ketchum and Sun Valley stand alongside each other and owe much of their wealth and extreme popularity to the world-class Sun Valley ski resort, which has long been a crowd puller in the winter season. Serving as the main tourism hub, it is Ketchum where you will find the best selection of accommodation and restaurants.

McCall

The appealing resort city of McCall is to be found approximately 115 miles / 185 km to the north of Boise and alongside the southerly shoreline of Payette Lake, where it is especially close to the Payette National Forest. McCall's main attractions tend to relate to its scenic location and are of a recreational nature, including a host of water sports during the summer months, as well as winter skiing at the nearby Brundage Mountain.

Nampa

The most sizable and fastest growing of all the cities within the Canyon County of Idaho, Nampa has grown to become the state's second-biggest city. At a mere 21 miles / 34 km to the west of Boise, the attractions of Nampa are easy to reach and include more than 20 different parks, of which the Lakeview Park is the most noteworthy. The Nampa Recreational Center offers much in the way of sports and indoor activities, while the summer calendar of events includes fireworks displays, the Snake River Stampede Rodeo and the Fandemonium.