Athol Live Cam

A city in Kootenai County, located in beautiful North Idaho

Live Webcam Silverwood Theme Park, Boulder Beach, Athol, Idaho - United States

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A beautiful northwestern U.S. state

If you've seen any "Best Places to Live" lists over the past few years, chances are you've found Idaho on them. Whether you seek world-class recreation or the nation's most livable small cities, Idaho delivers. With just 1.2 million people in its 82,751 square miles, Idaho has plenty of room for residents and visitors to stretch out. And there's plenty to see and do, from skiing and hiking in the mountains to whitewater action, pleasure cruises, and fly-fishing on the rivers and lakes.

Like most of the other big Western states, Idaho is really several states rolled into one, with each region marked by a landscape and lifestyle all its own. Plan to spend plenty of time exploring this diverse and delightful state. Choose your area of interest below, and get set to discover Idaho, "the undiscovered America."

Tourism regions

Idaho includes seven tourism regions. From north to south, they are:

  • Northern Idaho (see Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene), also known as the panhandle region. With its lush pine forests and large lakes, Northern Idaho comes closest to embodying what people think of when they picture the Northwest.
  • North Central Idaho, a region steeped in history. Rugged and wild, this is the land of Hells Canyon, the Nez Perce Indians, and the place where Lewis and Clark faced some of their most difficult challenges. Its largest cities are Moscow and Lewiston.
  • Central Idaho (see Ketchum/Sun Valley), home to endless mountain ranges, a River of No Return, and more than 300 alpine lakes. Experience world-class resorts and unparalleled backcountry adventure.
  • Eastern Idaho, where the sun rises on the Tetons and rainbow trout rise for flies. Idaho Falls is the hub of this region and its many recreational pleasures.
  • Southwestern Idaho (see McCall and Boise), the state's most populous region. Here in the Treasure Valley, you'll find everything from commerce and culture to ghost towns and wilderness gateways.
  • South Central Idaho (see Twin Falls), also known as the Magic Valley. Defined by the Snake River and its famous canyon, this is one of the world's most productive irrigated farming regions.
  • Southeastern Idaho, famous for its pioneer roots and routes. Pocatello, the region's major city, is a transportation and cultural crossroads. The Oregon Trail and unusual natural springs are among the many attractions.
Road trips

Eager to see the sights? Get oriented on any of Idaho's scenic byways. These routes feature numerous turnouts, overlooks, picnicking and camping opportunities, and stunning scenery everywhere you look. The byways include:

  • Pend Oreille Scenic Byway (near Sandpoint) -- 33 miles from U.S. Highway 95 north of Sandpoint, then along Idaho 200 to the Montana state line. Allow 45 minutes.
  • Lake Coeur d'Alene Scenic Byway (near Coeur d'Alene) -- 58 miles, from the junction of Interstate 90 and Idaho 97 south and east along Coeur d'Alene Lake to Idaho 3 then north to Cataldo. Allow 1 hour, 30 minutes.
  • White Pine Scenic Byway (near Coeur d'Alene) -- 83 miles, from the junction of Idaho 97 and Idaho 3 south on Highway 3 to Idaho 6, the southwest to U.S. Highway 95 at Potlatch. Allow 2 hours.
  • Clearwater Canyons Scenic Byway -- 90 miles, from U.S. 95 at Spalding along Highway 12 east and south along the Clearwater River to the junction with Idaho 13, then south along Highway 13 to Grangeville. Allow 2 hours.
  • Hells Canyon Scenic Byway -- 22 miles, from Oxbow Bridge near Copperfield, Oregon, north along the Idaho side of the Snake River to Hells Canyon Dam. Allow 45 minutes each way.
  • Payette River Scenic Byway (near McCall and Boise) -- 112 miles, from the junction of U.S. Highway 95 at New Meadows along Idaho 55 south to Idaho 44 west of Boise. Allow 2 hours, 15 minutes.
  • Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway (near Boise) -- 131 miles on Idaho 21 northeast of Boise to the Idaho 75 junction at Stanley. Allow 3 hours.
  • Salmon River Scenic Byway -- 162 miles, from Stanley to Challis east on Highway 75, then north on U.S. Highway 93 to the Montana border. Allow 3 hours, 30 minutes.
  • Sawtooth Scenic Byway (near Ketchum/Sun Valley) -- 116 miles from Stanley to Shoshone on U.S. Highway 75. Allow 3 hours.
  • Thousand Springs Scenic Byway (near Twin Falls) -- 68 miles, along U.S. Highway 30 from Bliss to Twin Falls, then north on U.S. Highway 93 or Idaho 50 to Interstate 84. Allow 1 hour, 30 minutes.
  • Mesa Falls Scenic Byway -- 29 miles, from Ashton northeast on Idaho 47 to Bear Gulch Ski Area, then northwest on Forest Service Road 294 to U.S. Highway 20. Forest Service Road 294 closed in winter.
  • Teton Scenic Byway -- 69 miles, from Idaho 31 at Swan Valley northeast to Idaho 33 at Victor, then north on Idaho 33 and Idaho 32 to Idaho 47, then west on Idaho 47 to Ashton. Allow 2 hours, 30 minutes.
  • Bear Lake-Caribou Scenic Byway -- 111 miles, from the Utah state line north on U.S. Highway 89 to U.S. 30.

In addition, there are two designated backcountry byways, a bit farther off the beaten path but still accessible to most vehicles:

  • Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway -- 103 miles of gravel road between Grandview (on Idaho 78) and U.S. Highway 95 at Jordan Valley, Oregon. Allow 6 hours. Closed by snow from October to May.
  • Lewis and Clark Backcountry Byway -- 39-mile gravel loop road beginning and ending in Tendoy (along Idaho 28 south of Salmon). Allow 3 hours. Closed by snow from November to early June.

Southeast Idaho also is home to the Pioneer Historic Byway, which traces the steps of some of Idaho's earliest white settlers. It runs from Franklin north on U.S. Highway 91 to Preston, then north on Idaho 34 to Soda Springs and the Wyoming border.

The great outdoors

What's your passion? Rock climbing? Heli-skiing? Jet-boating? Birdwatching? You can pursue all of these activities and many more in Idaho. Here are a few highlights:

  • Whitewater rafting and kayaking -- Idaho has more stretches of whitewater river than any other state in the Lower 48, about 3,250 miles all told! With a hundred major rapids, the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is the most famous. But river excitement may also be found on the Main Salmon, Snake, Lochsa, Selway, St. Joe, Bruneau, Jarbidge, Owyhee, Payette, Moyie, and Clearwater rivers. You can take a guided trip or paddle your own (or rented) boat.
  • Fishing -- Whether you enjoy lazily trolling from a boat or wading hip-deep into a blue-ribbon trout stream, Idaho will fulfill your fondest fishing dreams. Many experts consider the Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Eastern Idaho the world's best dry fly-fishing water. Silver Creek south of Sun Valley is another premiere fishing venue. In North Idaho, the big lakes provide great fishing for kokanee, chinook, trout, mackinaw, and more. The "Official Guide to Fishing in Idaho" is available by sending a $2 check or money order to the Idaho Fish and Game Department, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707.
  • Winter sports -- Idaho has 17 alpine ski areas, ranging from the nationally and internationally known (Sun Valley, Schweitzer, Silver Mountain, Grand Targhee) to small, family-style hills. Nordic skiing is also widely available throughout the state; favorite locations include the Wood River Valley in Central Idaho, Harriman State Park (near Island Park), Ponderosa State Park (near McCall), and 4th of July Pass (near Coeur d'Alene). Snowmobilers will find more than 5,000 miles of trails throughout the state.
  • Biking -- Idaho has about 13,000 miles of single-track trails, nearly twice that number of dirt roads, and still more miles of prime road cycling. A major cycling event, the Powerbar International Women's Challenge, takes place each June all across Idaho.
  • Golf -- Coeur d'Alene's famous Floating Green and the championship courses at Sun Valley offer some of the most challenging golfing experiences you'll have anywhere. Other notable courses include those in the Snake River Canyon at Twin Falls and Buhl; Soda Springs' Oregon Trail Golf Club (where ruts made by pioneers' wagons provide a most unusual hazard!); and nearly two dozen public links in the Boise area.
  • Hunting -- Two-thirds of Idaho's 83,000 square miles are public lands, and much of that is open to hunting. Idaho has a wide array of game, including elk, bighorn sheep, cougars, deer, upland game birds, bear, moose, antelope, and many species of water fowl. Knowledgeable guides can help visiting hunters make the most of Idaho's vast and varied terrain.
  • Watchable wildlife -- Not everyone wants to "hunt" birds and animals with a gun.

If you're more interested in catching prey through binoculars or your camera's lens, you'll find nearly 100 designated sites for wildlife viewing. Look for the roadside signs bearing the binoculars symbol, or pick up the Idaho Wildlife Guide, available for $6.95 at many bookstores, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Idaho Fish and Game offices, or by sending a check to Viewing Guide, Idaho Fish and Game.

  • Hiking and camping -- Idaho's wealth of public lands also means countless opportunities for camping and hiking. You can plan everything from a weekend car-camping trip to an extended wilderness backpacking journey. The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is the largest designated wilderness area in the Lower 48 states, with trails and landing strips offering access to 2.3 million acres of unspoiled backcountry. But trail systems abound all over the state, as do public and private campgrounds. Check our "Don't Miss" section for some outdoor playgrounds you won't want to miss.

Other Idaho recreational highlights include world-class rock climbing at the City of Rocks National Reserve south of Burley, jet-boating into Hells Canyon, parasailing on Lake Coeur d'Alene, and horseback riding throughout the state. The Idaho Official Travel Guide contains extensive information on these and many recreational opportunities.