Top 5 Places to Visit in Idaho (Winter Edition)

January 04, 2018 13 Comments

As the cold winter days settle in, I am forced to put away all my camping and backpacking gear for the next season. Even if the weather isn’t cooperating, I am always itching for a new adventure. Here is a short list of my favorite places to visit in Idaho during the winter. The list is not in any particular order.

1 - Hike to Jump Creek

If you are itching for a quick hike, Jump Creek is the perfect place. The destination is a frozen waterfall coming off a gigantic cliff. Bring warm shoes because it does get snowed in. This place is also great in the summer but beware of poison ivy!

• 45 Miles from Boise, ID
• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 0.5 Miles
• Location: 43.4768374,-116.934177

2 - City of McCall

If you want to escape your busy lifestyle, drive up to McCall, Idaho. It is a small resort town that has plenty of fun activities, fine dining, and a lot of great places to stay overnight. My personal preference is to get a cabin. There are PLENTY!

• 109 Miles from Boise, ID
• Fun Activities:
• Snowboarding - Brundage
• Snowmobiling - Cheap Thrills Rentals
• Hot Springs - Gold Fork Hot Springs 
• Winter Events - Winter Carnival
• Favorites Places to Eat:
• Pancake House
• The Sushi Bar
• Salmon River Brewery

3 - The Springs

If you want quality hot springs with all the possible accommodations, this is the place! They provide towels, hot coffee, and delicious food. The swimming pool is large and water is at a perfect temperature. It is advised to reserve a spot early, especially if you have a large group.

• 39 Miles from Boise, ID
• Additional: Hot tub, Steam room, Private pools, and Massage
• Reservations: Advised (gets busy)
• Reserve here: Link

4 - Bogus Basin

This is where I learned to snowboard. This is where majority of Idahoans will learn to ski and snowboard. Whether you are an expert or a newbie, Bogus Basin is the perfect place to go. There are plenty of easy, medium, and difficult runs to choose from. Lift tickets are affordable and there are huge discounts for students. 

• 18 Miles from Boise, ID
• Additional: Training courses & Equipment rental is available
• Tubing Hill - Requires Reservations
• Reserve here: Link

5 - Boiling Springs Cabin

This cabin used to be an old ranger station. Now that the forests are monitored by planes, these cabins are available for public use. This cabin has gas and no electricity. It is heated by two wood burning stoves. There is a shed that is stocked with fresh chopped wood year round. Best of all, there are hot springs next to the cabin!

• 73 miles from Boise, ID
• Outdoor Vault Restrooms
• Last 11 miles might require a snowmobile 
• Additional: trout fishing, hiking trails, and beautiful views
• Only $70 a night
• Reserve here: Link 

Feel free to share this blog and thank you so much for reading! 

 

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