Photo: Steve Spring, CC BY 3.0
#1 · State park · 1 hr 13 min southeast
Bruneau Dunes State Park
North America's tallest single dune, about 470 feet, over small lakes, with sandboarding by day and a public observatory on weekend nights.
- Half day
- Best March to May and September to October
- Idaho State Parks entrance fee (per vehicle) or Idaho State Parks Passport
Heads-up: Sand gets dangerously hot in summer. Observatory nights are weekends March 15 to October 15; no water in the day-use area until mid-March 2027.
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Official site
Photo: HalcyonToast, CC BY-SA 4.0
#2 · Lake · 2 hr 51 min northeast
Redfish Lake
Mount Heyburn and the jagged Sawtooths rise straight out of the far shore, with sandy swim beaches, boat rentals and easy shoreline walks.
- Half day
- Best June to September
- Sawtooth NRA day-use fee (beach and picnic sites; America the Beautiful pass not accepted)
Heads-up: The visitor center is open mid-June to mid-September. Beach and picnic lots fill on summer weekends, so come early.
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Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
#3 · Waterfall · 1 hr 53 min southeast
Shoshone Falls
The Snake River drops 212 feet over a rim wider than Niagara, seen from viewing decks a short walk from the car, with Dierkes Lake for swimming and fishing in the same park.
- 1-2 hrs
- Best April to June (flow is lowest in late summer and fall)
- City of Twin Falls vehicle fee from March 1 through fall; free in winter
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: The falls can shrink to a trickle once irrigation season starts, so go in spring. Dogs leashed and not on the Dierkes Lake lawn; open dawn to dusk.
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Photo: User:Tdferro, CC BY 3.0
#4 · Wildlife · 35 min west
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
A big lake refuge near Nampa where grebes nest in summer and huge flocks of ducks and geese gather from fall into winter.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round (waterfowl October to January)
- Free
Heads-up: Toxic algae has been confirmed in Lake Lowell, so keep kids and dogs out of the water.
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Official site
Photo: Karthikc123, CC BY-SA 3.0
#5 · Town · 2 hr 2 min north
McCall
A lake town on Payette Lake for a waterfront stroll, paddling and ice cream, with a Winter Carnival of snow sculptures in late January.
Heads-up: Summer weekends and Winter Carnival bring heavy traffic. Highway 55 from Boise is a winding canyon road.
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Official site
Photo: Charles Knowles from Meridian Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
#6 · State park · 2 hr 8 min north
Ponderosa State Park
A forested peninsula in Payette Lake with beaches, bike trails and the Osprey Point view, plus groomed ski trails in winter.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Idaho State Parks entrance fee (per vehicle) or Idaho State Parks Passport
Heads-up: The Meadow Marsh trail is closed after fall burning; expect short road closures for forest work this fall.
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Official site
Photo: Snowsnapper, Public domain
#7 · Lake · 2 hr 38 min northwest
Anthony Lakes
Alpine lakes under granite peaks in the Elkhorn Mountains.
- Half day
- Summer-fall; skiing in winter
- Day-use fee (concession-run; Interagency discounts)
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Official site
Photo: Bureau of Land Management, Public domain
#8 · Scenic drive · 1 hr 55 min west
Leslie Gulch
A narrow canyon of orange honeycombed rock near Lake Owyhee.
- Half day
- Spring-fall
- No pass or fee needed
Heads-up: Gravel road; rain, flash floods or snow can make it impassable. High clearance is best; not for big RVs.
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Photo: Chris English, CC BY-SA 3.0
#9 · State park · 1 hr 33 min north
Lake Cascade State Park
A huge reservoir with shoreline units for boating, swimming and perch and trout fishing; ospreys and eagles are common.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Idaho State Parks entrance fee (per vehicle) or Idaho State Parks Passport
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Water is off for the season. The Poison Creek ramp may be under marina work.
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Official site
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0
#10 · Lake · 2 hr 40 min northeast
Stanley Lake
McGown Peak towers over this calm, easy-to-reach lake, good for paddling, fishing and a picnic, with a roadside overlook on the way in.
- 2-3 hrs
- Best June to September
- Free
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: A paved road off Highway 21 west of Stanley. Water skiing only 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so mornings are quieter.
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Photo: Justin Reina, CC BY-SA 3.0
#11 · Hot spring · 2 hr 51 min northeast
Sunbeam Hot Springs
A roadside soak on the Salmon River beside a 1930s stone bathhouse, where you move rocks to mix hot and cold water.
Heads-up: The spring water is near 169°F, so test before getting in. Right beside Highway 75; crowded in summer.
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#12 · Lake · 2 hr 33 min southeast
Lake Walcott State Park
A shady lawn on a Snake River reservoir next to Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge, for birding, fishing, paddling and disc golf.
- 2-3 hrs
- Best May to September (boating April to October)
- Idaho State Parks entrance fee (per vehicle) or Idaho State Parks Passport
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Water-system construction in fall 2026 may close the campground and pavilions.
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Official site
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0
#13 · Trail · 2 hr 41 min northeast
Sawtooth Lake
The classic Sawtooth day hike: a long climb past Alpine Lake to a big granite-ringed lake below Mount Regan.
- Full day
- Best July to September
- Free (free self-issue wilderness permit at the trailhead)
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Starts at Iron Creek Trailhead up gravel Forest Road 619 off Highway 21; about 10 miles round trip. Dogs leashed July 1 to Labor Day; the lot fills on weekends.
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#14 · Hot spring · 1 hr 42 min northeast
Kirkham Hot Springs
Hot water pours off the cliffs into riverside pools along the South Fork Payette.
- 1-2 hrs
- Best late May to September
- Boise National Forest day-use fee (per vehicle)
Heads-up: Day use only, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; the fee applies even if you park on Highway 21. Dogs only in the picnic area.
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