Hidden Gems: Idaho's Underrated State Parks

Thousand Springs/Photo courtesy of Idaho Parks and Rec.

BY CHRIS LANGRILL

Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a newcomer to the state, Idaho’s varied landscape manages to keep you guessing.

Drive to one corner of the state and you’ll find pine trees and bears. Keep driving, and a barren landscape with impressive rock formations will greet you. Then there’s sand dunes. Or maybe a scenic region where water cascades over towering cliff sides into crystal-clear springs.

Idaho’s parks provide a perfect showcase for all the Gem State has to offer.

Here, we take a look at four of the most underrated parks in the state: Bruneau Dunes, Harriman, City of Rocks, and Thousand Springs.

“They all kind of offer the spice of Idaho,” said Craig Quintana, a senior public information officer at the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. “They are parks that people maybe don’t think of first and foremost, but they offer a little different shade of Idaho and they’re all well worth the time to visit.”

They are parks that people maybe don’t think of first and foremost, but they offer a little different shade of Idaho.

Bruneau Dunes

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BRUNEAU DUNES

Want to impress your friends with some trivia about Idaho? Wow them with this fact: Bruneau Dunes has the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America. It boasts a peak rising 470 feet above the desert floor.

By day, Bruneau is great. By night, it’s even more awesome. “People can take in the night sky with an observatory show,” Quintana said. “And then the next day they can go hike the main dune.”

Yes, you can rent a sandboard from the visitor center, but the park offers many other opportunities for fun for outdoor enthusiasts. Fishing? Check. A serene lake for paddleboarding or kayaking? You bet. Campsites and cabins available? Check. Hookups for RVs? Yup.

“It’s a great place to get away from things,” Quintana said. A new observatory is expected to open early this summer, and it will feature an impressive telescope.

“Our park manager assures me it’s going to be the most powerful in the Northwest, bar none,” Quintana said. Getting there: Bruneau is a little more than an hour drive from Boise, just outside of Mountain Home.

Harriman

Photo courtesy of Idaho Parks and Rec.

HARRIMAN

Want to really get away from it all? Head to the eastern edge of the state, where you’ll find Harriman State Park.

This park is part of a 16,000 acre wildlife refuge in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. You’ll find breathtaking scenery and 22 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback trails. Oh, and it’s pretty rugged.

“If you go to Harriman, you’re going to be able to observe wildlife in a very natural, unspoiled setting,” Quintana said. “That’s the attraction for a lot of people…To that point, people are advised to make noise while walking the trails—and carry bear spray, because critters are definitely out and about in that area.”

Harriman is also home to an eightmile stretch of the Henrys Fork River, which draws anglers from around the globe for its awe-inspiring fly-fishing opportunities. The Harriman Ranch section of the Henrys Fork begins its fishing season June 15.

Getting there: Harriman is about a five-hour drive from the Treasure Valley area, located north of Idaho Falls and Rexburg.

Harriman

Photo courtesy of Idaho Parks and Rec.

CITY OF ROCKS

City of Rocks State Park is a major draw for rock climbers—or for anyone who appreciates dramatic geologic formations. Granite spires and monoliths tower 60 stories above the surrounding landscape. Climbers have established about 700 routes to date, and they flock to Morning Glory Spire, Bath Rock, and the Almo Pluton.

“It’s renowned for its climbing opportunities,” Quintana said. “It’s quite well-known and quite famous in the rock-climbing community.”

City of Rocks now has another claim to fame: in February, it received full certification as an International Dark Sky Park. City of Rocks partnered with nearby Castle Rocks State Park to meet certification requirements, and it preserves the night sky with minimal light pollution.

“It’s a confirmation of a lot of work that has been ongoing for years,” Quintana said. “You have to take a number of steps to limit the light pollution and lighting in general…so you have this beautiful view of the night sky that you’re not going to have anywhere in urban Idaho.”

Quintana also noted that Bruneau Dunes is also working toward certification by the International Dark-Sky Association.

Getting there: City of Rocks is a little more than a three-hour drive from the Treasure Valley area. It’s located southwest of Twin Falls.

City of Rocks

Photo courtesy of Idaho Parks and Rec.

THOUSAND SPRINGS

If you’re a person who enjoys being on water—or admiring the beauty of waterfalls, rivers, and lakes—then Thousand Springs is the park for you.

“If you go out to Ritter Island, you’ll see the crystal-clear water bursting through the rocks of the Snake River Gorge,” Quintana said. “It allows for some pretty spectacular scenery.”

Despite its name, Thousand Springs isn’t all about water. The park is divided into six units, all within short driving distance of each other, and each unit offers a unique experience.

For example, visitors can explore the Oregon Trail at the Kelton Trail, ride horses at Billingsley Creek, or watch for bald eagles soaring overhead while hiking Box Canyon.

There’s plenty to explore—and amaze—at Thousand Springs, including a new visitor center that opened in April.

Getting there: Thousand Springs is about an hour-and-a-half drive from the Treasure Valley area, heading southeast on I-84.

For more information on these and other Idaho state parks go to parksandrecreation.idaho.gov.

Thousand Springs

Photo courtesy of Idaho Parks and Rec.