Idaho National Monuments and Natural Landscapes
Just a few locations in
Idaho are featured, all in the far south and east (see
map); the state contains a few
national monuments and national recreation areas, together with much wild, remote scenery, mainly mountainous.
Table of Contents for Idaho
Idaho National Park Service Units
★★★★★ CITY OF ROCKS National Reserve - eroded granite formations; spires, narrow ridges, sheer-walled canyons and natural arches. Popular for camping, hiking and rock climbing |
★★★★★ CRATERS OF THE MOON National Monument and Preserve - vast lava beds with craters, spatter cones, lava caves, fissures and many other volcanic features |
★★★★★ HAGERMAN FOSSIL BEDS National Monument - small area of cliffs and grassy hills bordering the Snake River, site of important Pliocene fossil discoveries |
★★★★★ YELLOWSTONE National Park - the first national park in the world, and possibly still the best; amazing geothermal phenomena, rugged mountain landscapes and abundant wildlife. Idaho has only a small section; most is in Wyoming |
Other Scenic Places in Idaho
★★★★★ Bear Lake - deep blue lake on the Utah-Idaho border (described in the Utah section) |
★★★★★
Big Springs - powerful springs in a forested setting; source of Henrys Fork of the Snake River |
★★★★★
Menan Buttes - pair of volcanic craters near Rexburg, one open to hiking |
★★★★★
Mesa Falls - two powerful waterfalls along the deep canyon of the Henrys Fork of the Snake River |
★★★★★
Thousand Springs State Park - powerful springs in the volcanic canyons of the Snake River and its tributaries |
Driving Distances - mileages between selected places in Idaho
Introduction - summary of Idaho's scenic areas
Map - state map of Idaho