After months of being in the city and postponing our international travel plans, it was time to search within our own country for something fresh and unexpected. We spent the weekend in Idaho, a state that I mostly knew about for its famous potatoes, but had no idea that the natural wonders were on the scale of a national park but without the crowds.
Nicknamed the "gem state", Idaho challenges you to look beyond the surface and uncover what you may have overlooked. There are ancient volcanic landscapes, canyons, waterfalls, and natural hot springs that seemingly appear out of nowhere. As one of the least populated states in the US, Idaho offers plenty of wilderness and space for social distancing. â1. Staying at a creekside cabin resort
The first night we woke up to the sound of a babbling creek at the peaceful Billingsley Creek Lodge in Hagerman, located an hour and a half south of Boise. This unique accommodation features cozy fully-equipped cabins nestled in a tree-lined pastoral landscape. The creek outside the cabins is fed from the natural springs from the Snake River Aquifer. The water is 58 degrees year-round and has been underground for hundreds and thousands of years.
â2. Swimming in natural springs: Next, we visit the waterfalls in Ritter Island State Park, which is filled with natural swimming pools and waterfalls. The water is so clear that it looks drinkable.
3. Malad Gorge
Be sure to leave your fear of heights behind when stepping on to this next landscape. The Malad Gorge seemingly appears out of nowhere. Stepping on to the flat arid terrain, the faint sound of a waterfall seemed like the last thing I would see in this area. I approached a rocky area off the side of the I-84 interstate. As I climbed over the large black basalt boulders, suddenly the ground revealed a sudden drop to an expansive volcanic canyon floor and river with a waterfall billowing out of the freeway overpass.
â4. Box Canyon State Park
The Box Canyon State Park is an unexpected landscape reminded me of Iceland, only with sun. The volcanic terrain drops 200 hundred feet to reveal rivers, waterfalls, and natural springs that are pure aquamarine blue. It looks like an oasis in the middle of the pastoral landscape.
5. Shoshone Falls
Adventuring around the Niagara Falls of the West! The Shoshone Falls are actually taller than Niagara Falls at 212 feet and are truly spectacular. The numerous walking paths around the falls provide a mesmerizing view of the water power.
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Published Travel ArticlesWelcome to Run The Atlas!
We are two adventurous young professionals who turned our passion for travel into a blog to help others travel more.
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