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A waterfall cloaked in snow, with a dark green river in the forefront and misty skies above.

Natural Attractions

Spanning pristine landscapes to striking views, some of Idaho’s most popular and impressive destinations are those created without the work of human hands. Here are five must-see natural attractions.

Shoshone Falls

Plunging 212 feet into the Snake River, Shoshone Falls is considered the “The Niagara of the West.” Other must-see waterfalls include Mesa Falls near Ashton and Fall Creek Falls near Swan Valley.

Hells Canyon

As North America’s deepest river gorge, Hells Canyon carves its way between giant slabs of green and black basalt walls along the Idaho-Oregon border. Filled with Native American and homesteading history, the canyon is well known for great fishing, whitewater rafting and jet boating.

Craters of the Moon

There are more than 500,000 acres of young lava fields protected within the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, which is also a designated International Dark Sky Park. Camping is available so you can explore rock-lined trails during the day and then view the starry sky at night.

City of Rocks

Aptly named for its towering granite pinnacles, fins and domes, the City of Rocks National Reserve is a 14,407-acre reserve situated at the southern end of the Albion Mountains. The area is renowned for rock climbing and counts mountain biking, birdwatching and hiking among its main attractions.

Land of Lakes

Idaho is home to over 2,000 lakes — many of them picturesque bodies of alpine water. Take a dip or cast a fly into Priest Lake, Lake Coeur d’Alene and Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho; Payette Lake, Cascade Lake and Redfish Lake in central Idaho; and Henrys Lake, Grays Lake, and Bear Lake in eastern Idaho.

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