Tag Archive for: idaho

Owyhee Mountains A Stronghold of Undeveloped Wilderness

Towering over the southernmost part of the Owyhee desert are the Owyhee Mountains, a rugged range extending from Southwest Idaho to northern Nevada. The elevation varies from 2,000-8,000 feet (600-2,400 meters) above sea level. Nearly a half-million acres are protected by the U.S. government, making it one of the largest strongholds of undeveloped wilderness in the country.

When miners discovered silver in the mountains surrounding Hayden Peak, the once-sleepy settlement of Silver City transformed into a booming mining metropolis. Then, it was home to eight saloons, two hotels, six general stores and Idaho’s first-ever newspaper. When mines closed in 1942, the city faded into a boarded-up ghost town. Today, Silver City is one of the last towns from Idaho’s silver rush that hasn’t been developed or destroyed by wildfires. It looks nearly the same now as it did over 150 years ago … and it’s open to the public. Visit in late spring, summer or fall.

Past the rugged mountain peaks and ghost towns, three rivers cut through the Owyhee desert. Each of them is a crucial source of freshwater to 200-plus species – including trophy bass and world-famous brown trout – that call this place home.

Towering over the southernmost part of the Owyhee desert are the Owyhee Mountains, a rugged range extending from Southwest Idaho to northern Nevada. Photo courtesy of the Southwest Idaho Travel Association

For more information on Southwest Idaho, visit VisitSouthwestIdaho.org.

Sheep Trails and Silver Mines: Preserving Idaho’s Western Roots

Sun Valley is known today as a winter escape for the rich and famous, but the area is rooted in Western culture. For over 150 years, sheep ranching has been a key part of Sun Valley’s identity. Sheep ranching was once such a major economic driver that the sheep population in 1918 boomed to 2.6 million, making Idaho more densely populated with sheep than humans.

Today’s numbers are much smaller, but the tradition lives on. The sheep still make their seasonal pilgrimage 1,000 miles (1,609 km) up the mountain into the Snake River Valley in the spring and retrace their steps come autumn back to the Wood River Valley. The return is celebrated each year at the Trailing of the Sheep Festival.

Further north in Idaho, Wallace and the surrounding area is the richest silver mining district in the world – earning the nickname “Silver Capital of the World.” The mining area was founded in 1884 after the discovery of silver, gold and other metal. Mining remains a large part of the economy, blending Wild West mining history with modern-day techniques, as it continues to produce silver and stay in harmony with the area’s sprawling mountain landscape shared by outdoor recreationalists.

, Wallace and the surrounding area is the richest silver mining district in the world – earning the nickname “Silver Capital of the World.” Photo courtesy of the Idaho Office of Tourism

For more information on Idaho, visit VisitIdaho.org.

The Great American West Has Many Claims To Fame

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From Authors to Films, Idaho is Host to Inspiration

Idaho is a refuge for the rich and famous, most notably Ernest Hemingway. The acclaimed Nobel Prize-winning author frequented Sun Valley and Ketchum for 20 years before buying his Ketchum home in 1959.

For a taste of Hemingway’s Idaho experience, visit the Sawtooth Club for a craft cocktail and stop by the Sun Valley Lodge for the atmosphere that fueled his writing and editing of “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Pay your respects at Hemingway’s grave at the Ketchum Cemetery.

Wondering which season is best to visit? Take a page from Hemingway himself and travel in autumn. As the Hemingway Memorial inscription reads, “Best of all he loved the fall, the leaves yellow on the cottonwoods. Leaves floating on the trout streams and above the hills.”

Movie lovers may recognize the charming, historic town of Wallace as the setting of the 1997 natural disaster film “Dante’s Peak.” The small-town USA main street and tree-lined mountains provided an idyllic backdrop for the movie about the eruption of a dormant volcano. When visiting Wallace, be sure to take a guided silver mine tour and see the city’s “Center of the Universe” declaration – proudly displayed on a manhole cover downtown.

Ernest Hemingway’s grave at Ketchum Cemetery in Idaho. Photo courtesy of Visit Idaho

For more information on Idaho, visit VisitIdaho.org.

Boise’s Old Idaho Penitentiary Hosted “Dynamite Assassin”

 

Boise, the capital city of Idaho, isn’t just known for one or two legendary Wild West stories. The Old Idaho Penitentiary, a working prison until 1973, is located against the beautiful backdrop of the Boise Foothills and is known for its many stories, including Wild West tales and those of the ghost kind. It has held some of the West’s meanest and most daring criminals since its doors opened in 1872.

One of those criminals was Harry Orchard, who is known to have killed Governor Frank Steunenberg by dynamite slaying in Caldwell, Idaho on December 30, 1905. Before the assassination of the governor, Orchard had occasionally admitted to killing two other men by dynamite due to violence led by industrial disputes with the Western Federation of Miners. A convert to Christianity during his imprisonment, Orchard molded into a model inmate. He died in the prison in 1954 at the age of 88 and is buried at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.

Boise’s Old Idaho Penitentiary hosted some of the West’s meanest and most daring criminals in its 100 years, including “assassin by dynamite” Harry Orchard. Photo courtesy of Visit Boise

For more information on Boise, visit VisitBoise.com.

See What’s Coming Up This Year In Southwest Idaho

McCall Winter Carnival

A mountain celebration of all things winter in McCall. https://visitmccall.org/events/winter-carnival/

Treefort Music Festival

Over 400 bands and 30+ venues, all packed into five high-energy, creativity-inducing days in Boise. https://www.visitsouthwestidaho.org/6-reasons-to-visit-treefort/

Savor Idaho

Idaho’s premier local food and wine event. https://idahowines.org/event/savor-idaho/

The Huckleberry Festival, Donnelly Idaho

A celebration of all things huckleberry over a weekend. https://donnellychamber.com/events/huckleberry-festival/

Caldwell Night Rodeo

Idaho’s #1 large outdoor rodeo and one of the top 5 large professional outdoor rodeos in the entire U.S. https://caldwellnightrodeo.com/

The Emmett Cherry Festival

Since the 1930s, the community of Emmett and all of Gem County has gathered each June to celebrate the abundance of our valley. We celebrate with the region’s longest continually running festival. https://www.emmettcherryfestival.com/

Idaho Potato Drop

Of course Idaho drops a potato on New Year’s Eve rather than a disco ball – and it’s just as strange and wonderful as it sounds. https://idahopotatodrop.com/

National Old Times Fiddle Contest and Festival in Weiser, Idaho

This event is an old-time music contest competition, festival and musical meeting. https://www.fiddlecontest.org/

Get your nosh on at Savor Idaho, Idaho’s premier local food and wine event. Photo courtesy of Visit Southwest Idaho

For more information on Southwest Idaho, visit VisitSouthwestIdaho.org.

5 Events & Anniversaries to Celebrate Idaho’s History and Culture

Treefort Music Fest | Boise | March 22-26, 2023

This annual five-day music and arts festival is fueled by a passion for discovery. 2023 brings an expanded footprint and 500+ bands from nearly every genre, along with artists, authors, chefs, brewers and more.

War Bonnet Roundup | Idaho Falls | August 3-5, 2023

Founded in 1911, this event is Idaho’s oldest rodeo. More than 450 cowboys and cowgirls compete in front of 15,000 rodeo enthusiasts.

Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival | Fort Hall | August 10-13, 2023

One of the largest and most popular Native American gatherings in the Northwest features traditional activities and performances, including a powwow, art show, rodeo, Indian relay races, food and craft vendors, and more.

Trailing of the Sheep Festival | Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley | October 4-8, 2023

The annual festival preserves the sheepherding and ranching traditions that welcomed and sustained Basque, Peruvian and other cultures in Central Idaho. Festivities include cultural events, cuisine, art and the parade of sheep.

Upcoming: Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve | Arco | 100th Anniversary in 2024

Celebrate the centennial of this natural wonder and national treasure formed during eight major eruptions over thousands of years.

One of the largest and most popular Native American gatherings in the Northwest, the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival features traditional activities and performances, a powwow, Indian relay races and more. Photo courtesy of Mimi Lopez Photography

For more information on Idaho, visit VisitIdaho.org.

Pamper Yourself or Go High-Energy in Southwest Idaho

Treefort Music Festival

Over 400 bands and 30+ venues, all packed into five high-energy, creativity-inducing days. Since 2012, Treefort Music Festival has taken over the streets of downtown Boise with a five-day celebration of music, art, culture and community. The festival has become a hotspot for up-and-coming bands in the Pacific Northwest and an emerging stop along the nationwide festival circuit. Treefort is so much more than a typical music festival. Additional “forts” – Alefort, Artfort, Comedyfort, Dragfort, Filmfort, Foodfort, Hackfort, Kidfort, Skatefort, Storyfort and Yogafort – encourage festivalgoers to bounce from venue to venue to experience something new.

The Spa at Tamarack

Tamarack is located north of Boise in Donnelly, Idaho. The Spa at Tamarack pampers guests with natural and luxurious treatments found only in the heart of the majestic Idaho Tamarack forests. Based on Native and holistic traditions, their healing oils, lotions and aromatherapies transform you with healing wildflowers and herbs that abundantly thrive in these high mountain meadows and forests. This is Idaho. This is where you rediscover yourself. This is the Spa at Tamarack.

Over 400 bands and 30-plus venues combine into Treefort Music Festival, a high-energy, creativity-inducing five-day celebration. Photo courtesy of Visit Southwest Idaho

For more information on Southwest Idaho, visit VisitSouthwestIdaho.org.

Enjoy Skiing Alternatives, Quirky Museums and More in Idaho

Saying goodbye to summer offers an opportunity to take in cooler temperatures and colorful scenery and explore other facets of the Gem State.

Seasonal Must-Sees

Idaho’s transition to fall brings a flare of vibrant tones to roadside views. For a kaleidoscope of colors, hit the road on one of Idaho’s 31 scenic byways, including the International Selkirk Loop and the City of Rocks Backcountry Byway.

Warm up from winter’s chill with a cozy dip in a rejuvenating Idaho hot spring. Find mineral-rich geothermal pools at Gold Fork Hot Springs, Miracle Hot Springs or Lava Hot Springs.

As the snow begins to melt in spring, waterfalls roar back to life. Chase a few at Shoshone Falls, Upper and Lower Mesa Falls or Jump Creek Falls.

Opt Outside

In search of winter recreation that isn’t on a ski slope? Snowshoeing is one of the easiest ways to explore the outdoors. Try Whoop Um Up, Harriman State Park or Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.

Inside Information

No matter the season or weather, Idaho’s museums offer a chance to learn about the state’s history or to discover something new. Expand your knowledge at the Museum of Clean, the Idaho Potato Museum or the Old Idaho Penitentiary.

Want to be on the snow but not race down a hill? Idaho has many ways to explore the outdoors, including snowshoeing. Photo courtesy of Visit Idaho

For more information on Idaho, visit VisitIdaho.org.

Capture Spectacular Shots Year-Round in Southwest Idaho

If you’re interested in discovering wide-open spaces, dramatic vistas and picturesque locations, visiting Southwest Idaho any time of year is for you.

Owyhee Mountains
Nicknamed by local ranchers as the “Big Quiet,” Southwest Idaho’s Owyhee desert is still the most remote, undeveloped region in the lower 48. The Owyhee Uplands is one of those iconic, freewheeling spaces people envision when they think about the West.

Hells Canyon
The powerful waters of the Snake River slice through the mountains of central Idaho, creating the deepest gorge in the United States: Hells Canyon. Here, the land is as beautiful as it is dangerous. It’s full of myth, legend, beauty and the best whitewater in the nation.

Tamarack Resort
At Tamarack Resort, you can start your day biking rugged mountain ridges and end it wakeboarding through the warm waters of Lake Cascade. You can brave the snowy slopes and Nordic trails in the morning, then soak in a steaming hot tub before bed. At Tamarack, every season brings new adventures to experience, and you can take on the panoramic views of the mountains, lake and valley below.

At Tamarack Resort, every season brings new adventures to experience, and you can take on the panoramic views of the mountains, lake and valley below. Photo courtesy of Sherri Harkin Photography/Tamarack Resort

For more information on Southwest Idaho, visit VisitSouthwestIdaho.org.