Idaho is beautiful state with so many [unexpected] incredible natural sights peppered throughout its vast landscape.  Many of these are sights that you can’t see anywhere else.  Despite possessing so many wonderful places, the state never never feels crowded.  We were even here for the eclipse which was supposedly the largest swell in population during the State’s history.

In this modern world, where National Park overcrowding has become a regular topic, it’s nice to find a place where one can truly escape to the wilderness for peace and quiet.  Even as someone that regularly goes to remote areas, the peace and quiet was something that I was unprepared for, and it’s EVERYWHERE across this vast state.

Speaking of National Parks, Idaho has some world class National Parks, National Forests, and State Parks.  Here you can climb through lava tubes, sandboard down the largest freestanding dune in the US, kayak on pristine alpine lakes, climb glacier covered mountains, raft through the largest wilderness in the lower 48, and gaze into North America’s deepest canyon (yes, it’s 2,000′ deeper than the Grand Canyon!).  There’s a reason why they call Idaho the Gem State and not “the potato state.”

View from atop a volcanic cinder cone in Craters of the Moon National Monument

View of the Atlanta Valley in the Boise National Forest

“Moonscape” of Craters of the Moon National Monument

Ruts from wagons climbing a bluff on the Oregon Trail in Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument

The Malad Gorge

The Great American Total Solar Eclipse over the Sawtooth Mountains as viewed from The Atlanta Ranger Station in the Boise National Forest outside the town of Atlanta

Lava tube in Craters of the Moon National Monument

View of the Sawtooth Mountains just after sunrise at Fishook Creek

The abandoned ghost town of Custer.

Sunset glow in Greylock Mountain in the Boise National Forest

The abandoned ghost town of Custer.

Lupines in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Post sunset glow from atop one of the dunes in Bruneau Dunes State Park

Old barbershop in the Historic mining town of Atlanta.

The Minong Crevice Bridge above the River of No Return

Fishook creek in the Sawtooth national Recreation Area

Cows grazing below the Seven Devils Mountains

Seven Devils lake at sunrise in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Idaho has the largest contiguous area of National Forest Land in the Lower 48.

Hells Canyon, the deepest canyon in North America (2,000′ deeper than the Grand canyon)

Dunes in the Bruneau Dunes State Park

Ancient petroglyphs in Hells Canyon

Historic homes in Atlanta

White Bird battlefield, where the Nez Perce War began.

Irrigated fields and sand dunes in near-sunset lighting

Bighorn Sheep grazing alongside the River of No Return

Patriotism and freedom run deep in Idaho. A colleague of mine once said, “Idaho is the freest state in the country.” I agree. I love the display of this US Flag and Marine Corps Flag in such a free Western setting. Semper Fi!