Boise Idaho and East - suggestions?

[Kayaker72]

Mike,

I am originally from Northern Idaho. Most of my extended family lives in and around Boise. By extended weekend, I am assuming you have 3 days. If you can handle the roads (narrow/windy) I would recommend the following:

Day 1---Drive from Boise to Stanley, ID up Highway 21 (~2.5 hrs). Stanley basin has amazing views of the "Sawtooth" mountain range and, well, they don't have anything like the Sawtooths in Florida. Stanley and Redfish Lakes are both beautify and drivable. If you can hike, there are many other options.

Day 2--Drive from Stanley to Sun Valley ID (~ 1 hr). Short drive so that you can spend some time checking out the lakes and the Sawtooths early on Day 2. Then you go up and over Gallenia summit (8,700 ft above Florida). Sun Valley is a ski resort and is very nice. Bruce Willis and Demi Moore used too/still live there. Ernest Hemmingway used to live just down the river in Ketchum. Should have great restuarants and places to stay.

Day 3--Drive from Sun Valley to Craters of the Moon National Monument (1.5 hrs) and then back to Boise (2 hrs 45 min). Craters of the Moon is where the original astronauts trained for the moon landing. Huge lava flows and lava tunnels. Plan to spend several hours at craters of the moon.

On Day 1, if you want to minimize the windy driving, take Hwy 55 north to Banks and pick up the Banks-Lowman Hwy (which is a bit of a misnomer )

BTW...other possible destinations....Lake Payette (McCall, ID)...beauty of a high mountain lake, ski resort town so great amenities. Bruneau Canyon in SW Idaho...

Not sure why you are worried about the water level in the Snake River. The Snake River plateau is mostly flat with some farms and lots of sagebrush. If you do head that direction....Hagerman valley has insane natural springs coming from out of the hillsides (whole rivers gushing from the hillside) and, if the water is flowing, Shoshone falls (Twin Falls, ID) is a site to behold...or so I hear, every time I have tried to see Shoshone Falls they have been diverting the water for hydropower and irrigation. So, I'd check ahead. But Twin Falls is the part of the Snake River Canyon that Evel Kinevel tried to jump.

But trust me, head to Stanley/Sun Valley, or McCall.

Hope that helps,
Brant

[Busted Knuckles]

Thanks for the insight, we had looked at the snake river and Shoshone falls. Thanks on the heads up on the diversion. The Niagra Springs park looks wild - not sure how to photo it so it caputes the essence of the spring.

We have hotel reservations in Twin Falls but that can be changed.