I can confidently say that the state of Idaho has much more to offer than just potatoes. I had always heard that Idaho was a hidden gem and after hearing about it from so many people I had to check it out for myself. With a little research I found VanCraft and they helped me make this trip possible! From start to finish VanCraft was absolutely amazing, and the van was better than I could’ve imagined! I have traveled to many different places around the world and Idaho has one of the most dramatic landscapes I have ever seen and I’m going to tell you how you can see it for yourself!
Day 1: Van Pick up in SLC – Craters Of The Moon
When traveling I like to make the most out of the time I have, so I picked up the van as early as I could at 9am. The process of getting the van was incredibly easy. If you have never rented or stayed in a van before, VanCraft has an amazing video they have you watch before departing that covers EVERYTHING! It was so well spoken that I felt like an expert by the time I got the keys.
After we had everything loaded up we made the 4 hour drive north to the first location, Craters Of The Moon. To say this place lives up to its name is an understatement. The landscape is otherworldly. The park was incredibly easy to navigate and works as a first come first serve campsite. There are multiple lava tubes that you can walk through, but you will need a permit that you can get for free at the visitor center at the entrance of the park. I suggest taking headlamps because you can travel pretty deep into these caves. Also, to my surprise the view of the Milky Way was absolutely incredible. There is little to no light pollution so stay up a little later & get a breathtaking view of our galaxy! I couldn’t believe how amazing this place was and I will definitely be going back in the future!
Day 2: Sawtooth Mountains
On the morning of day 2 we packed up our things and made the 3 hour drive up to Redfish Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains. This lake was definitely a hot spot for the locals who were so welcoming. They have a great outside bar with a fantastic view of the lake with a massive marina. Here you can relax on the beach, rent paddle boards, canoes, or even boats. You can also take a 10 minute boat ride across the lake to get to some amazing trailheads. I recommend checking out Lily Lake, a short hike close to where the boat drops you off. You can get lucky with finding a campsite but I highly recommend getting a reservation. If not, there are some free campsites off the highway about 5 minutes from the lake.
Day 3-5: Coeur D’Alene
After waking up on day 3 and hiking to Lily Lake we packed up and made the 8 hour journey to Coeur D’Alene. Now this little lake town was brought up to me every time Idaho came up in conversation and for good reason. This town is located in northern Idaho about 20 minutes from Spokane, Washington. When we drove in we were greeted with one of the most stunning sunsets that blazed over the lake. There are a few free campsites but again your chances of getting one are low. We made the mistake of not making a reservation the first night but we were able to secure 2 nights at Camp Coeur D’Alene. I can’t talk about this place enough. Customer service was great and they have a huge selection of campsites ranging from down by the river under some weeping willows or high up in the mountains in dark timber. They also have free canoes and paddle boards you can use on the slow moving river on site. There is also a huge selection of great restaurants in town. I recommend checking out Taphouse Unchained for great beer and burgers, and the Crown & Thistle Pub for amazing Irish food and ambiance. On our last day we had the privilege to play the Coeur D’Alene Golf Resort which is home to the world’s only moveable floating green. This town had so much charm and so much to see. I recommend taking a few days to relax and soak it all in!
Day 6-7: Twin falls – Return Van in SLC
After our unforgettable game at the Coeur D’Alene Resort Golf Course we drove 8 hours south to Twin Falls Idaho. This city is home to one of Idaho’s most famous waterfalls, Shoshone Falls. This place was really cool to check out, it’s a $5 fee. You get a great view of the falls as well as some history about the area. After we finished seeing that location we didn’t really think there was much more to see… Let me tell you we couldn’t have been more wrong. After looking for another golf course we came across Canyon Springs golf course that has one of the most spectacular waterfalls I have ever seen. This waterfall was huge with a trail taking you right behind it! There was also a cave that the trail took you through but we were so infatuated by the falls that we decided to stay and soak it all in. Out of the whole trip this hidden gem was the best surprise!
This trip was one that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I learned so much on this trip and the memories I made will be with me forever. I hope to inspire a few of you to check this amazing state out and experience the wonders of Idaho for yourselves. Thank you VanCraft for making it possible!
