Idaho’s history is rich in texture, from the early preeminence of American Indians to the pioneer fur trappers, miners, loggers, railroad builders, and farmers who later settled the territory. Traces of Idaho history can still be viewed today in many parts of the state.
Northern Idaho has the greatest concentration of lakes in the West and evergreen forests abound. The Salmon River bisects the rugged Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and provides some of the best whitewater kayaking and rafting in the world. The Sawtooth Wilderness Area and the White Cloud peaks provide additional
recreational opportunities. World-famous Sun Valley is located between these mountain ranges. Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America, lies on the state’s western border, overlooked by the Seven Devils Mountains.
In Idaho’s southwestern corner are the tallest sand dunes on the continent. In the south central region is the Craters of the Moon National Monument, where America’s astronauts trained for moonwalks.
Idaho has 16 alpine ski areas, over 320km (200 miles) of groomed nordic trails, over 11,500km (7,200 miles) of groomed snowmobile trails, 188,000 hectares (464,000 acres) of lakes and reservoirs, 41,000km (26,000 miles) of fishing streams, 3,916km (2,433 miles) of floatable rivers, 25 state parks and 15 national forests, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
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