Boise Idaho and East - suggestions?

[Kayaker72]

Jason, I am biased, but I do think Idaho is worth a visit. Big state, lots of different things to see.

Mike...if you want to see Shoshone Falls, one thought would be to skip Craters of the Moon. Twin Falls is 1 hr 40 minutes from Sun Valley and 2 hrs from Boise. So, similar total drive time as Craters of the Moon from Sun Valley. Also, I thought about it a little more and to keep you from checking into/out of hotels, you could stay in the ketchum/Sun Valley area and day trip to the different locations, picking up Craters or Shoshone falls on the last day.

If you do stay with your reservations in Twin Falls, Balanced Rock in Buhl is worth seeing. Malad Gorge State park has some nice views and is just off the interstate. Hagerman valley also has some interesting fossil beds (ancient horses washed away in a flood). I believe tours have to be arranged, but you could look into it. I've heard Bruneau Sand Dunes state park is worth a look (between Twin Falls and Boise), but I've never been. One final thought, the drive from Boise to Twin Falls is easy, flat and, essentially, a desert. From a tour/photography point of view, a trip that direction would be about the destinations (assuming there is water over the falls). A trip into the mountains, the entire drive would be attractive.

If you do head into the mountains, check the roads in advance for fires (US forest service and Idaho DOT should have updates). You are headed out in fire season and they will close roads. But there are alternatives. For example, the most likely one to be closed in Hwy 21. If so, you can just drive from Boise to Sun Valley and up over Galena summit to get to Stanley/the Sawtooths.

There are some interesting things in Boise. Then if you want to see raptors, I forget which allows vistors, but there is the raptor research center and World Center for Birds of Prey. My sister went to one or the other a few years ago. If interested, I can ask. Just out of town you can see some wagon tracks from the Oregon trail.

All that said, I would still recommend Sawtooths/Sun Valley/Craters option (edit--thought of a comparison---going to Idaho and not seeing the mountains is kinda like going to Florida and not seeing the beach ). If significant water if flowing over Shoshone falls (which I doubt) I would swap it for craters.

Enjoy your trip. I don't make it to southern Idaho very much any more. This is making me want to pull off a trip.