6 Bucket-List Small Towns In Idaho

Boasting 2/5 national forest coverage, providing over 20.4 million acres for recreation, Idaho is a veritable playground in the PNW of converging rivers, ranges, and resorts for skiing and water sports. Filled with beauty from every corner of your eye, the inbound compilation of landscapes weighs on small, derelict towns throughout.

Each, a puzzle piece to the Gem State, is a gem in its own right. From the northeastern corner to the panhandle region in Priest River, you'll pass McCall within the Payette National Forest along the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway, one of three converging in the next town, welcoming you with an eye-popping sunrise over the Sawtooths.

Bonners Ferry

Bonners Ferry is the state's crown jewel on the Kootenay River's course through northern Idaho. Surrounded by jagged peaks near the Canadian and Montana borders, the winters may be snowier, but the sun shines with all its might on the historic shopping district, neatly tucked along the waterfront, with lodgings and amenities to keep you warm as the nip sets in. Moreover, it is a key stop on the iconic International Selkirk Loop, which winds for 280 miles through Washington and BC.

Defined by abundant flora and fauna in the warmer months, Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge invites scenic exploration to the 70-foot Myrtle Falls via a 0.8-mile loop. A hike to Moiye River Outlook provides a closer peek at the tree-covered ranges and the high-deck truss bridge towering over huge lodgepole pines. The nearby Eileen Dam has a 50-foot veil, a serene backdrop to explore the history and relax in the rushing water sounds, plus an excellent summertime swimming hole.

Hailey

Tucked along Hwy 75, this riverside town is the eastern getaway into the iconic Sawtooth National Forest, with family-friendly attractions and scenic views right here in the Wood River Valley, like the wooden play area at Hop Porter Park. You can picnic and skip rocks in the river. The small town of 8,000 is home to Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN), the closest to Sun Valley, which services nonstop flights from six major cities, as well as private and chartered aircraft.

Stretch your legs across the Big Wood River bridge through Draper Preserve, then hop onto Carbonate Mountain Trailhead for a bird's-eye view of the valley upon ascent. Once the national forest calls you, you'll pass the 9,150-foot Bald Mountain peak, featuring ski lifts, trails, and panoramic valley views, should you take a crack. The sprawling park is threaded through scenic byways and hiking trails, offering camping amid varied terrain on two million acres.

McCall

Surrounded by majestic peaks, this charming lakeside mountain town is a year-round playground tucked ideally between the Payette and Little Payette Lakes. Praised for more than its mountain and lake access, you'll want to soak in every ray along the trails, watersports, and winter thrills, like a local ski hill. In addition to the town's Art Walk of 15 custom pieces installed throughout, treat yourself to a relaxing soak at Burgdorf Hot Springs or indulge along the McCall Ale Trail—to each their own.

The imposing Ponderosa State Park offers dreamy downtown access to all-season trails, launches, and campsites proximate to downtime hotspots after. Wake up early for a sunrise hike (or drive) to Narrows Overlook, with deer and wildlife along the way to the sweeping views from a clifftop of the foliage-fringed lake and beyond. Are you hung up on beaches? Davis Beach is family-friendly and downtown-adjacent, with docks along the sand and the 4th of July fireworks over the lake.

Priest River

Settled two years before the railroad in 1891, the village of Priest River saw quick fruition at the junction on the north shore of the Pend Oreille River. Today, the small city at the gateway to the aqua and forested mountain pursuits is a bucket list item for every type of traveler in the northwestern Idaho panhandle region. The fresh air seeping from the surrounding national forests and easy-on-the-eyes views provide relaxation alike, via leisurely strolls, scenic drives, and lakeside experiences.

Just north, Priest Lake provides a shoreline of nearly 80 miles with recreational islands, with launches and rentals, plus fishing and giant-sized trout. In addition to the town's pier at the pet-friendly Bonner Park West, the Priest River adds a sparkly lace east of downtown. Travelers enjoy easy access at the junction of two highways, minutes east from the Washington border and Schweitzer for skiing and snowboarding, without crowds, and a top-rated motel waiting back after a day on the slopes.

Stanley

This stoic frontier town immerses you in the Wild West vibe, with a touch of funk and some of the freshest air on earth, in an amphitheater of beauty, at the foot of the untouched and rugged Sawtooth Mountains. Three National Forest Scenic Byways converge in Stanley within the 756,000-acre Sawtooth National Recreation Area, renowned for its aqua and mountain adventures, marked by at least 40 10,000-foot jagged Sawtooth peaks and the headwaters of four major rivers.

Home to ranchers and artists, Stanley is an enchanting retreat for all the senses, with eye-popping sunrises, a diverse array of outdoor activities, and the prolific promise of the Salmon River. The on-the-town fun takes you from the insightful Stanley Museum into the hands of river companies, outfitters, and backcountry guides to jet you from the doorstep. Mountain Village Hot Spring leaves an indelible mark for hot spring lovers to soak in the bluish tint of the snowcapped peaks, smoking up hazy horizons.

Sun Valley

Renowned across the world, this resort town layers cultural gems and panoramic valley vistas under the 9,150-foot peak, at the convergence of picturesque rivers. Bald Mountain is a bucket list for skiing and snowboarding, with multiple ski lifts and varied terrain, plus Dollar Mountain for beginners. Named for the abundance of annual sunshine, take the iconic Adams Gulch Trailhead, or fish for the fan rainbow trout in the Big Wood River. The fun stretches beyond a hefty daytime dose of vitamin D.

Enjoy an après-ski scene of ice skating, hot pools, and culinary adventures, with a choice of lodgings to soak in the views and stunning mountain scenery from the balcony, accompanied by a spritzer. Upon the night's descent, Sun Valley turns into a funnel for stargazers, with top-tier Milky Way views from just about anywhere. In addition to its year-round arts scene, the Sun Valley Museum of Art hosts rotating exhibitions, intimate concerts, and workshops that spotlight regional heritage and Western creativity, adding a cultural counterpoint to the town’s outdoor playground. Sawtooth Botanical Garden invites you along the lush, winding paths with flora and water features.

A Charming Vacation In Idaho

Idaho’s remote towns echo the rugged soul of the state, each one shaped by peaks, forests, and the rivers that carve through them. Together they form a tapestry of frontier heritage and unfiltered natural beauty, where quiet main streets open into wild backcountry and everyday life is still tied to the land. Whether soaking in a mountain sunrise or venturing into deep pine country, visitors come away with a deeper sense of the West and its enduring spirit.