Idaho is home to nationally recognized areas, like City of Rocks National Reserve and Minidoka National Historic Site and to an abundant amount of state parks that are well worth the drive and visit.
Let’s get into some of the more popular state parks of Idaho, and don’t worry! There will be a full list of all of Idaho’s parks at the end.
Bruneau Dunes
Bruneau Dunes State Park is located just over an hour away from downtown Boise. The park boasts the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America, with a peak rising nearly 500 feet above the desert floor.
Bruneau Dunes has one of the longest camping season in the parks system, with campsites and campgrounds available for reservation, along with first-come, first-served sites. Aside from camping, you can also go fishing, sandboarding or horseback riding.
The Bruneau Observatory is also available for public viewing and you can see scorpions glow with the help of a black light.
Castle Rocks
Staying on the unique terrain theme, Castle Rocks State Park in Cassia County has hundreds of routes to explore. The park attracts rock climbers from all over because of the challenging landscape.
You can also go hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding to check out the remains of Native American pictographs and historic trail crossings. Idaho Parks and recreation says there is evidence of people coming to Castle Rocks for nearly 9,000 years.
Campsites are also available here, nestled among the pinyon pine forest on the east slope of the Smoky Mountain.
City of Rocks
City of Rocks is a national reserve located in Almo, Idaho. The reserve was described by emigrant James F. Wilkens as “City of Rocks” on his way to California in 1849, and the name stuck. In the reserve, you can find pioneer inscriptions, wagon ruts and journal accounts from pioneers, saying nearly a quarter million people traveled through the area between 1843 and 1882.
City of Rocks is one of the finest granite-face climbing sites available. There are many camping and recreational opportunities available at the reserve, like hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and skiing.
Eagle Island
And if you are in the Boise area and don’t want to go far from home, Eagle Island State Park is located not too far away in Idaho. There are five miles of trails available for hiking and horseback riding within the park’s 545 acres.
The park also offers a swimming beach, grassy picnic area and a 19-hole disc golf course, which is sure to provide a challenge for players. The park is open to only non-motorized boats, so it’s a safe place for the kids to go swimming or to break out the paddlebaords and kayaks.
Three Island Crossing
Rounding out our list of top state parks is Three Island Crossing State Park, located near Glenns Ferry. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the park and see the original wagon ruts from 19th century Oregon Trail pioneers, who crossed the Snake River within the park.
The Oregon Trail History and Education Center is available as well for people to learn more about pioneers, early settlers and Native American history. For fun, there is camping in cabins and disc golf available at the park, along with several different picnic areas. You can also go mountain biking, hiking and RVing within the park.
And here is the full list of all 27 state parks in Idaho!
Ashton to Tetonia Trail
Bear Lake State Park
Bruneau Dunes State Park
Castle Rocks State Park
City of Rocks National Reserve
Coeur d’Alene Parkway
Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park
Dworshak State Park
Eagle Island State Park
Farragut State Park
Harriman State Park
Hells Gate State Park
Henrys Lake State Park
Heyburn State Park
Lake Cascade State Park
Lake Walcott State Park
Land of the Yankee Fork State Park
Lucky Peak State Park
Massacre Rocks State Park
McCroskey State Park
Ponderosa State Park
Priest Lake State Park
Round Lake State Park
Thousand Springs State Park
Three Island Crossing State Park
Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes
Winchester Lake State Park
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