Quick! What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “Idaho?” If you thought potatoes, you’re like us and probably 90% of the other people that have never been to the Gem State before. Now we know what you’re thinking, what the heck would make us want to travel to Idaho? To be honest, we ONLY went because we have never in the history of travel heard ANYONE ever say they traveled to Idaho. We thought this would be a great opportunity to be pioneers and explore a place less traveled. Much to our surprise, there was a lot more to Idaho than just fields full of potatoes. Here are 6 hidden gems you wouldn’t believe are found in South Idaho!
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1. Box Canyon State Park
On our way from Boise to Twin Falls, we made a pitstop at Box Canyon State Park. We would definitely consider this a “hidden gem” as you almost wouldn’t believe it’s there if you didn’t KNOW it was there. Driving up, we passed nothing but farms and fields until we arrived in an empty parking lot with a trailhead sign. We got out and walked over to the rim of the 200 ft. deep canyon and our eyes were met with the most beautiful crystal waters. You can either experience the view from the canyon overlook or hike the unmanaged trail down to the base. We weren’t dressed for hiking, so we sat at the rim and admired the Caribbean blue waters and the sound of the waterfall down below.
2. Pillar Falls
Once in Twin falls, we decided to spend the next day kayaking the Snake River to Pillar Falls. Although the waterfall was beautiful, the real hidden gem was the awesome view of the IB Perring Bridge along the way. This bridge is nationally known for its epic base-jumping scene with over a 500-foot drop. It was incredible to watch them jumping and flipping off of the bridge from below as we paddled by.
3. Blue Heart Springs
We actually had no plans of visiting Blue Heart Springs during our trip until some locals we met while eating at Elevation 486 advised us it was something we could not miss while we were in South Idaho. With its heart-shape & clear blue waters, (hence the name “Blue Heart”), this hidden oasis is a DEFINITE must see. It is the perfect place to cool off after a long kayak down the Snake River with freezing cold waters year-round! The best part about it is that it is only accessible by water transportation, so it remains an exclusive hangout spot.
4. Perrine Coulee Waterfall
On our way to zipline at Centennial Park we stumbled across Perrine Coulee Waterfall. For those of you that aren’t about that hike life, you’d be delighted to know that you can park steps away from this waterfall. The trail leads you right behind the waterfall for an up close and personal view and is an incredible place to take in one of Idaho’s breathtaking sunsets.
5. Dierkes Lake
There is no way we can mention sunsets without mentioning Dierkes Lake. We witnessed probably the most mesmerizing sunset of our lives here. The water reflected beautiful hues of oranges, pinks, and blues giving us two sunsets in one! Aside from watching the most beautiful sunsets ever, this lake is a great area for just hanging out on a hot summer’s day, or scuba diving! That’s right, you can scuba dive in the lake and experience the scuba diving park in the making, which features sunken rowboats, hidden treasure chests, and more.
6. City of Rocks
Adventurers of all kinds come from around the world to visit this otherworldly site. It has both scenic and historic significance with over 14,000 acres of giant boulders surrounding you at every turn. Even though it’s called City of Rocks, it felt like we were on another planet most of the time. Some of the granite formations were over 60 stories high and came in all shapes and sizes. You can spend the day here rock climbing, hiking, or just sight-seeing from the car. Whatever you do, make sure to stop by Rock City Pizza on the way out for an out of this world lunch!
It’s hard to believe that beautiful places like this exist in Idaho, but it definitely helped us understand why it’s is nicknamed the (hidden) Gem State. For more outdoor adventures and gems in the US, check out our blog Day Trip to Death Valley: The Best Sights to See!
