8 Most Beautiful Small Towns In Idaho You Should Visit
Idaho might be famous for potatoes, but its true golden treasures are its beautiful small towns and stunning landscapes. From the peaks of the Rocky Mountains down to the valleys and lowlands along the Snake River Plain, Idaho is shaped by dramatic landscapes. Nestled in these dramatic landscapes are small towns that perfectly capture Idaho’s beauty, where there's always a friendly neighborhood diner or remote hiking trail. When you’re ready to discover the best scenery that Idaho has to offer, pack a bag and get ready for a trip you’ll never forget.
McCall
If you’re looking for a mountain escape, there’s no better place than the resort town of McCall. With dreamy views of Payette Lake and the fragrance of the ponderosa pines in the surrounding forests, it’s a place where time moves just a little slower. You can spend the day soaking up the sun at Legacy Park, where there is a public beach and brick walking paths that trace the water’s edge. Or, you can hop aboard McCall Lake Cruises, which takes you on a guided historical tour of the lake.
One of the best ways to spend the day in McCall is to stop by Fogglifter Cafe for a filling breakfast before exploring the breathtaking scenery of the Payette National Forest. It has over 2 million acres of untouched ponderosa pines, alpine lakes, and canyons ready for exploration. Loon Lake, found within the forest, is something out of a postcard. The calm waters of the lake offer a mirror-like effect of the towering mountains in the distance. It's the perfect place to hike, fish, or camp under its incredibly dark skies that light up with stars at night.
Sandpoint
If you thought Idaho was nothing but farmland and potatoes, the hidden town of Sandpoint will certainly prove you wrong! Located on the edge of the Rocky Mountains, it’s an idyllic escape of rugged mountain views in a lakeside setting. Idaho may be miles from the ocean shore, but the beaches of Sandpoint City Beach Park along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille feel like an ocean escape. The shores are sandy, the waters are calm, and there is even a mini Statue of Liberty (called Lady Liberty of the Lake) at the end of a walkable concrete pier that juts out into the water. Taking a picture with her is a rite of passage when visiting Sandpoint!
Spending an entire day on Sandpoint's beautiful beaches is just the beginning. Downtown Sandpoint has an easygoing, laid-back attitude where there’s always something fun to discover. Local restaurants like Spuds Waterfront Grill highlight Idaho’s potatoes with delicious American cuisine, with a view of the water from their cozy outdoor patio. It's a place where you can explore the historical grounds at the Bonner County Historical Society and Museum, and then top off the day with a chilled glass of white wine at the lovely Pend d'Oreille Winery Tasting Room.
Bonners Ferry
The idyllic riverside community of Bonners Ferry is found along the Kootenai River and is known for its forested mountains and open valleys that bloom with wildflowers in the spring and summer. Bonners Ferry is a place where you can explore quaint locally-owned stops in its historic downtown district, like the Boundary County Museum or delightful antique stores like Selkirk Northern Treasures. Downtown Bonners Ferry is one of those communities that feels untouched by time, free of franchises and big box stores.
It's easy to spend an entire day in downtown Bonners Ferry shopping for treasures and browsing its museums. However, just outside town is the stunning landscape of the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. The landscape of the park, which spans nearly 3,000 acres, is a mixture of dense forests, wetlands, and open meadows. The Myrtle Falls Trail is one of the most popular (and easiest) trails in the area. After a short hike, the trail leads to a stunning 80-foot waterfall.
Salmon
The quaint community of Salmon is one of those hidden places you’d never stumble upon by accident. It was originally founded as a mining and lumbering community, and has since transformed into a hub where outdoor recreation meets a vibrant and colorful downtown district. Downtown Salmon has a Wild West vibe, where you can pop into old-timey shops like the Mountain Harvest Community Market or the vintage Wallys Cafe for a home-cooked meal. Downtown Salmon is a place to grab a great meal or stock up on supplies before exploring the wild wilderness surrounding the area.
Salmon is the front gate to the iconic Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. It is one of the largest contiguous wilderness areas in the continental United States! The rugged terrain is carved by the Salmon River, offering steep bluffs, amazing overlooks, and miles of fragrant pine and fir trees. Visitors can hike over 1,200 miles of trails, or fish, kayak, or whitewater raft along the Salmon River. It’s also home to abundant wildlife like wolves, mountain lions, wolverines, bald eagles, and moose, making it a great place for wildlife photography.
Lava Hot Springs
Lava Hot Springs is a community millions of years in the making! Volcanic activity, dating back millions of years, created lava rock formations and underground chambers. Today, it’s known for its amazing hot springs (heated by the underground lava chambers) and breathtaking scenery. If you want to enjoy the natural hot springs, the Lava Hot Springs Foundation World Famous Hot Springs is the best place to take a long soak. The complex has steaming public pools perfect for soaking, or sit in shaded picnic areas overlooking the gorgeous Portneuf River. From the springs, visitors can walk to the locally beloved Chuckwagon Restaurant Lava, known for their generous portions and melt-in-your-mouth scones.
There are more ways to achieve inner zen in town other than just taking a soak in its warm, healing waters. Not too far from the natural mineral springs is the Sunken Gardens at Lava Hot Springs. The scenery in the gardens is perfect for taking a meditative stroll. Along neatly manicured pathways are terraced gardens, colorful flower beds, and areas where you can enjoy a picnic along the river.
Stanley
Stanley is an incredibly small community with a population under 300 residents, considered by most as the gateway to the Sawtooth Mountains and Salmon River Mountains. When you think of Stanley, think long stretches of land that go on for miles with snow-capped peaks towering in the distance. Downtown Stanley perfectly encapsulates a small resort town, with charming grocery stores like the Mountain Village Mercantile, where you can stock up on supplies before heading into the mountains.
Some of the best views in Stanley are found at Sawtooth Valley Pioneer Park, where the air smells just a little fresher. The park has flat walking trails and benches where you can sit and unwind in the vastness of the scenery of the Sawtooth Range. If you’re seeking adventure down the Salmon River, be sure to swing by The River Company in central Stanley. They offer guided tours down the river, from gentle scenic trips to heart-pounding Class III and Class IV whitewater trips.
Driggs
In the Teton Valley of eastern Idaho, right on the edge of the Wyoming border, is the charming hamlet of Driggs. Most travelers looking to catch a glimpse of the Tetons often stay in neighboring towns like Jackson or Teton Village, making Driggs an underrated gem (often called the quiet side of the Tetons). You can learn more about the Grand Tetons in Driggs by visiting the Teton Valley Welcome Center in the heart of town. It’s also where you can sit down for a satisfying meal at Local Kitchen Provisions, or stock up on snacks at the lovely Barrels and Bins Natural Market.
Less than an hour drive outside of Driggs is the main attraction: the Grand Teton National Park. The drive down ID-33 is almost as beautiful as the park itself! It offers visitors a rare view of the ‘quiet side’ of the Grand Tetons, where miles of open road give way to stunning snow-capped mountains in the distance. Once you arrive at the park, you can hike the stunning landscape of dramatic peaks and mirror-like lakes, which is considered one of the most beautiful parks in the entire country.
Ketchum
In the Wood River Valley at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains is the delightful retreat of Ketchum. While it’s known for its stunning mountain views and fragrant forests, downtown Ketchum boasts a modern, artsy vibe. On almost every street, you’ll find a small gallery or museum, such as the Sun Valley Museum of Art or smaller galleries like Gilman Contemporary. If you visit in the summer, you can even catch the Ketchum Arts Festival held on the beautiful grounds of Champions Meadow.
To bask in Ketchum’s natural beauty, residents often flock to the Warm Springs Preserve, known for its wide open fields, shaded hiking trails, and long walks along the shores of Warm Springs Creek. South of central Ketchum is the Sawtooth Botanical Garden, a scenic oasis hidden away at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains. You can walk the pathways scattered with native plants and wildflowers, buzzing with bees and birds in the warmer months. It also has a butterfly garden, a rock garden, and small ponds with the dramatic views of the mountains in the distance.
Escape to Idaho’s Most Beautiful Towns
These Idaho escapes prove that Idaho is so much more than potatoes! It’s an idyllic escape where you can soak your bones in natural hot springs in Lava Hot Springs, or work up an appetite hiking in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area in Salmon. Only in Idaho can you relax on the sandy shores of the beachy escape of Sandpoint, or camp under the stars at Payette National Forest in McCall. Whether you crave the mountains or sandy shores, these beautiful small towns in Idaho are well worth the drive off the beaten path.
