Idaho trip advice

[Blaster7Romeo]

Ok so this years ski / exploring trip is going to be Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. I got a lot of great advice from the guys on the forum about my trip to Denver and CO last year Visiting Denver so thought I would throw the question out there again..

I am going to be diving from NC. Probably stop and hit some of the high spots in Denver from last years trip. Maybe ski a day in Vail or one of the epic pass resorts and head up to WY. I have a couple of buddy's who live in Rock Springs and Lander going to probably go sledding in Pinedale WY area a day or 2 and go skiing. I have been all around Jackson a few times so nothing new there. Was wanting to ski Grand Targhee And head over to Boise and explore Idaho some. I like skiing, good steaks, good views, guns not much for crowds or night life. I am a farmer so driving throw ID farm country I would probably enjoy. And I may be low key looking for a place to move or buy a small second home in a few years as well.. lol

 

[waveslayer]

Jackson is a great place to ski, steep and deep!!! Can't help you there much with what to do... Now Utah that I can help you with for sure. If you want info on Utah let me know.

 

[Evolution 9]

McCall area (2 hours north of Boise) has the views and a couple ski hills. Best steaks are at Steamers, Whitetail Club, and Hotel McCall. Idaho has more groomed sled trails than you can imagine and tons of off trail (over half the state is public land).

There are better states to move to if you’re conservative (Florida, Arkansas) but if you like Idaho, check out Idaho county (conservative, beautiful, and tons of farm land). Excellent big game (elk etc.) hunting.

 

[MarshallDodge]

On your way to Boise, stop and see Shoshone Falls

Shoshone Falls Scenic Attraction | Twin Falls, ID - Official Website

Visit the Shoshone Falls scenic attraction in Twin Falls, ID

www.tfid.org

 

[Makinchips208]

Brundage Mt Resort is a fun hill with next to no lift lines, and you can take short hike and acces some nice bluffs and small cliffs. Nice place.

 

[n2ishun]

Don't take the hwy that runs straight north from Boise (the 85 if I remember correctly) as there is a long ass grade called the "white bird".
It will make a vacation miserable.....been there, done that.
Lake Couer d'laine (or however it's spelled) is pretty nice, but the town is a liberal mofo, still quite a few nice places in the area though.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Go see craters of the moon while you're there.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Don't take the hwy that runs straight north from Boise (the 85 if I remember correctly) as there is a long ass grade called the "white bird".
It will make a vacation miserable.....been there, done that.
Lake Couer d'laine (or however it's spelled) is pretty nice, but the town is a liberal mofo, still quite a few nice places in the area though.

If White Bird grade ruined your vacation, maybe you shouldn't leave your house.

 

[Srgt. Hulka]

Don't take the hwy that runs straight north from Boise (the 85 if I remember correctly) as there is a long ass grade called the "white bird".
It will make a vacation miserable.....been there, done that.
Lake Couer d'laine (or however it's spelled) is pretty nice, but the town is a liberal mofo, still quite a few nice places in the area though.

That road looks awesome! I’d love to drive it. My wife, not so much. Can’t be worse than The Dragon’s Tail in North Carolina.

 

[DarnYankeeUSMC]

Try the potatoes!! They are awesome!!

 

[Makinchips208]

Don't take the hwy that runs straight north from Boise (the 85 if I remember correctly) as there is a long ass grade called the "white bird".
It will make a vacation miserable.....been there, done that.
Lake Couer d'laine (or however it's spelled) is pretty nice, but the town is a liberal mofo, still quite a few nice places in the area though.

There is not another way to get from southern idaho into northern idaho without taking Whitebird grade, alternative routes would be rattlesnake grade in Oregon, or chief Joseph pass in montana.

 

[Maggot]

Dress warmly.

Or be smart, drive south.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

what time of year?
what are you driving?

Southern Idaho is mostly all farmland. you cant miss it.

- Bear lake on the border of Ut/ID
- st Anthony's sand dunes RV camping
- stay the night at craters of the moon. RV camping
- shoshone falls is nice in spring when the water is flowing.
- saw tooth scenic route through challis/stanley/ketchum
- there are lots of hot springs if your into that. some are formal facilities some just pull off the side of the road.
- Boise has a nice downtown scene and plenty of good eats.
- Bogus basin ski resort is 45min up the hill from downtown Boise and has great skiing and one of the few resorts with lighted night skiing.

- McCall / Cascade is nice up scale lake scene reminds me of Tahoe.

havent explored north yet.

 

[MJF]

Come to Coeur d'Alene. We have three great ski resorts, great farmland, beautiful mountains, along with great steaks. And Coeur d'Alene is not even remotely liberal.

 

[Blaster7Romeo]

Don't geuss I added that in.. going to leave NC and head that way latter this week and be out there for 2 weeks or so.. depending on what I find lol. I have a newer ford explorer 4x4.

I live in the " mountains " of western NC so curvy roads don't scare me.. but if they are covered in snow I would rather not find myself in a ditch lol

I am a ski bum at heart

 

[Aftermath]

That road looks awesome! I’d love to drive it. My wife, not so much. Can’t be worse than The Dragon’s Tail in North Carolina.

The old grade is twisty. It is only driven now by tourists and is not in very good shape. The new grade has about 6 turns and is a steady incline. If you are leaving Boise for northern Idaho, you will miss out on LOTS of Idaho if you do not take US95.

Idaho County is nice. Nez Perce County is nice. Depending on who put together the data, Nez Perce County ranks as 3rd most armed county in the nation. I like the Lewiston area because of the weather. It is the lowest elevation of the state and does not get below freezing for very long. 2 rivers confluence there and the fishing is phenomenal. LOTS of public land with yardages beyond the ability of you and your equipment. Lots of wheat, barley, lentils grown there.

Skiing...Sun Valley, McCall, Schweitzer, Silver Mountain. You will be able to rub elbows with a lifetime supply of extreme liberals in McCall and Sun Valley.

 

[Blaster7Romeo]

Jackson is a great place to ski, steep and deep!!! Can't help you there much with what to do... Now Utah that I can help you with for sure. If you want info on Utah let me know.

yea I have been to Jackson and skied 3 or 4 times . done the fall Yellowstone trip. kind of over the vibe there..

Been to salt like city 10+ times skied all of those places. but still like it there.

Henc the exploring new areas

 

[Redmanss]

… but if they are covered in snow I would rather not find myself in a ditch lol

Far more likely than not you’ll end up on snow covered roads in WY this time of year, it’s just part of life here. Make sure you have the states’ DOT road condition apps for where you’re traveling through, roads close with nearly every storm, especially I-80 and all roads that bypass the freeway. If you don’t want to be stuck in a town longer than you planned, get out ahead of a storm. No travel on closed roads is authorized for out of state plates either, so watch the weather and have contingency plans because when those gates go down, it’s a $750 fine and a trooper escort back to where you came from if you go around them.

I assume with where you live, you have good tires, but if they’re not at least 3PMS rated, I’d suggest you (or anyone else planning similar) do yourself a favor and get some before the trip. Snow covered roads aren’t bad at all with them on this side of the country, as snow is pretty good traction.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

s

Don't geuss I added that in.. going to leave NC and head that way latter this week and be out there for 2 weeks or so.. depending on what I find lol. I have a newer ford explorer 4x4.

I live in the " mountains " of western NC so curvy roads don't scare me.. but if they are covered in snow I would rather not find myself in a ditch lol

I am a ski bum at heart

So you'll be hotel/motel hopping?

 

[acpchuck]

On your way to Boise, stop and see Shoshone Falls

Shoshone Falls Scenic Attraction | Twin Falls, ID - Official Website

Visit the Shoshone Falls scenic attraction in Twin Falls, ID

www.tfid.org

This time of the year, the falls are almost dry. Best time of the year to view them are during the spring run off. Picture from my daughter taken about a month ago.

 

[Srgt. Hulka]

Pick me up on the way. I want to go rock hounding while you ski.

 

[Blaster7Romeo]

s

So you'll be hotel/motel hopping?

hotel hopping. I got room and a good sleeping bag for in back of the car to sleep if I get tired in my drive..

yea I have been throe middle of no where WY a few times in the middle of the winter.. tires are good and in no hurry to get anywhere to working around a snow storm is not a issue and a situation I am aware of .

 

[MJF]

If you plan to come to Coeur d'Alene, contact me. I can recommend hotels, restaurants, places to see ect..

 

[Llatikcuf]

Come to Coeur d'Alene. We have three great ski resorts, great farmland, beautiful mountains, along with great steaks. And Coeur d'Alene is not even remotely liberal.

Yup I've only seen a couple of issues but it seemed to me the Coeur d'Alene paper was a lot more conservative than the one here in Lewiston.
OP if you make it up north there's skiing at Silver Mountain in Kellogg. I believe it has the longest gondola ride in North America, 3.1 miles that takes 17 minutes.

 

[Aftermath]

Agreed...the Lewiston Morning Tribune has always been EXTREMELY liberal. It's the Alford ownership. I moved there in 1970 at age 9. Over the last 10 years, the influx of dipshits from the coasts has taken some toll but the area is still very Conservative as a whole. Of course, having 2 major state universities just 40 miles north and the state normal school there in Lewiston does contribute to the increase in the number of idiots.

 

[MJF]

Yup I've only seen a couple of issues but it seemed to me the Coeur d'Alene paper was a lot more conservative than the one here in Lewiston.
OP if you make it up north there's skiing at Silver Mountain in Kellogg. I believe it has the longest gondola ride in North America, 3.1 miles that takes 17 minutes.

We always eat at the Mystic cafe when fly fishing the Clearwater. Have you been there? I wish they would open one up here.

 

[Llatikcuf]

We always eat at the Mystic cafe when fly fishing the Clearwater. Have you been there? I wish they would open one up here.

Mystic Cafe is good, I usually have the shrimp and grits. My wife is a cook and used to work for the company that owns it, Happy Day and Bruce Finch, he owns a bunch of restaurants around here.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

hotel hopping. I got room and a good sleeping bag for in back of the car to sleep if I get tired in my drive..

yea I have been throe middle of no where WY a few times in the middle of the winter.. tires are good and in no hurry to get anywhere to working around a snow storm is not a issue and a situation I am aware of .

imo, to get the best experience and the way to really see Idaho is camping, RV, overlanding. there are a lot of places not really accessible in winter and a lot of activities that are not conducive to winter either.

I guess if your intention is skiing then base your trip around hitting the various resorts. you might squeeze a snowmobile excursion in there. I know of some around McCall.

Other than moutain snow landscape tye scenery is pretty dead and plain this time of year.

 

[Mike Casselton]

We always eat at the Mystic cafe when fly fishing the Clearwater. Have you been there? I wish they would open one up here.

Is that the one with the Kitchen Sink omlette?

 

[Aftermath]

It's the one right across Main Street from Dairy Queen. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$/calorie there.
Don;t get me wrong, I'm most generally a Happy Day Corp fan. Just across the Interstate (Blue) Bridge is Tomato Bros. Very good eats and Wino Wednesdays is fun. Then up on 21st Street is Zany Graze. Best Sushi in Lewiston, good bar with plenty of craft style beers, real eclectic menu.
But breakfast at the Mystic before all day on the river is a questionable decision. Go to Hazels on Bridge Street in Clarkston or Waffles and More on Main Street in Lewiston.

 

[MJF]

I normally hit the cafe for dinner after a day on the river. I'll check out Hazels next trip.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

yea I have been to Jackson and skied 3 or 4 times . done the fall Yellowstone trip. kind of over the vibe there..

Been to salt like city 10+ times skied all of those places. but still like it there.

Henc the exploring new areas

Targhee got dumped on last night. Eastern Idaho is having a good snow year, the rest of ID not so much. If you're driving east to west across I84 you may want to check out Sun Valley since it's on the way (mostly) to Boise.

Schwitzer and Silver Mountain are at least eight hours from Boise. If you are interested in those areas, it's faster to drive from Idaho Falls to Kellog through Montana rather than going through Boise first. Most Idaho ski resorts are mid compared to UT, CO, MT. If you're going through Riverton, depending on your route, you may enjoy Big Sky first and then Targhee, both are having great snow years.

For what it is worth, Eastern Idaho has been cold and has gotten quite a bit of snow. Western Idaho and the pan handle have been warm and have very little snow. If mountains and exploring are your jam, I'd skip Boise unless you're dead set on going through Lewiston.

 

[Blaster7Romeo]

Thanks for all the intel guys ! it will be used !

 

[chevy_man]

Just resorts or Backcountry?

There's a ton of snowmobile accessable places where the crowds will only be the people with you.

 

[Blaster7Romeo]

Just resort skiing... I have some friends on Pinedale WY I am going to go snowmobile with latter in my trip

 

[42N8 1]

Jackson is a great place to ski, steep and deep!!! Can't help you there much with what to do... Now Utah that I can help you with for sure. If you want info on Utah let me know.

Skiing in Idaho is crap. I recommend Utah or Colorado. Good luck.