Photo: BroMcjoe, CC BY-SA 4.0
#1 · National monument · 2 hr 38 min east
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
A huge, strange lava field with a 7-mile loop road past cinder cones, spatter cones and lava tubes you can walk into with a flashlight.
- Half day
- Best May to October (Loop Road not fully open about November to April)
- NPS entrance fee (per vehicle) or America the Beautiful pass (waived when the Loop Road isn't fully open)
Heads-up: Caves need a free permit from the visitor center and close once ice sets in. No dogs on trails or the lava, and little shade.
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Official site
Photo: NPS photo, Public domain
#2 · National monument · 1 hr 38 min southeast
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
A visitor center shows fossils of the Hagerman horse and other Ice Age animals; nine miles away, overlooks and a 3-mile trail follow the Snake River bluffs and Oregon Trail ruts.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round (visitor center open fewer days off-season; check)
- Free
Heads-up: The fossils are only at the visitor center in Hagerman. Dogs only on paved areas, and the overlooks and trail have no shade or water.
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Official site
Photo: Finetooth, CC BY-SA 3.0
#3 · Town · 1 hr 56 min northwest
Baker City
A gold-rush main street and the Oregon Trail center on Flagstaff Hill.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Center admission
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Official site
Photo: Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0
#4 · Historic site · 1 hr 58 min southeast
Minidoka National Historic Site
A sobering walk through the WWII camp where more than 13,000 Japanese Americans were held, with restored barracks, a guard tower and trailside exhibits.
- 1-2 hrs
- Grounds year-round; visitor center May to late September
- Free
Heads-up: Grounds open sunrise to sunset daily; the visitor center is open Friday to Sunday in season, and there are no restrooms when it's closed.
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Official site
Photo: Charles Knowles from Meridian Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
#5 · 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: John-Luc Metz, Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, Public domain
#6 · Museum · 2 hr 8 min northwest
National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
Real wagon ruts and the story of the trail, on a hill above the Baker Valley.
- 2 hrs
- Year-round; daily in summer
- Admission (Interagency passes accepted)
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
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Official site
Photo: Matthew Trump, CC BY-SA 3.0
#7 · State park · 2 hr 44 min east
Massacre Rocks State Park
Lava bluffs above the Snake River with trails, Oregon Trail exhibits, and Register Rock, a boulder covered with emigrant signatures, two miles away.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Idaho State Parks entrance fee (per vehicle) or Idaho State Parks Passport
Heads-up: Right off I-86 west of American Falls. Hot summers with little shade on the trails.
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Official site
Photo: Maitra, CC BY 3.0
#8 · Trail · 1 hr 44 min southeast
Snake River Canyon Rim Trail
A paved path of about 7.6 miles along the canyon rim with views of the Perrine Bridge, Pillar Falls and Shoshone Falls; easy to walk just a piece of it.
Heads-up: Trailheads include the visitor center, Federation Point and the Evel Knievel jump site; some close for construction from time to time.
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Photo: BLMIdaho, Public domain
#9 · State park · 1 hr 9 min southeast
Three Island Crossing State Park
See where Oregon Trail wagons forded the Snake River, and learn the story at the trail history center.
- 2 hrs
- Year-round
- Idaho State Parks entrance fee (per vehicle) or Idaho State Parks Passport
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Center hours vary. The park closes at sunset.
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Official site
Photo: Doug from Portland, USA, CC BY 2.0
#10 · History · 2 hr 30 min northwest
Sumpter Valley Dredge
A giant gold dredge you can climb through, near a restored steam railroad.
- 2 hrs
- May-Oct
- No pass or fee needed
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Heads-up: Ranger-led tours are on weekends only.
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Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0
#11 · 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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#12 · Winery · 36 min west
Sunnyslope Wine Trail
A cluster of small family wineries above the Snake River near Caldwell, about 30 minutes from Boise.
- Half day
- Year-round (best spring to fall)
- Tasting fees at each winery
Heads-up: Hours and reservations differ by winery. Plan a designated driver.
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