What’s not to love about Fall? Fall is arguably the time when Idaho shines the most. With the steady drop in temperature comes a fantastic show of colors as the foliage turns from lush green to amazing hues of gold, crimson, and orange. The beauty of Fall makes saying goodbye to Summer not so bad. If you’re one of those people that inevitably counts down the days every year until Fall begins, this road trip is for you. This trip takes you through the best places in Idaho for watching the leaves turn colors. Get a head start on your Autumn activities with this picturesque road trip! Customize to your liking, but you can find the complete interactive Google Map here.
Coeur d'Alene is a popular tourist town in North Idaho and it's easy to see why. This place is absolutely gorgeous all year long. Surrounded by the beautiful Coeur d'Alene National Forest and with lakes and campgrounds abundant, the town is an outdoor enthusiasts dream come true. It's the perfect place to start off a fall foliage road trip because the beauty is literally everywhere you look!
As one of the most dramatic and intimidating landscapes in Idaho, Hells Canyon might not be your first choice when it comes to Fall colors. However, when the foliage in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area start to change colors, it's a stunning sight against the backdrop of the desolate canyon. This contrast is what makes this place such a good place to visit during the Fall months!
Covering the majority of a 1,000 acre peninsula that impedes onto the magnificent Payette Lake, Ponderosa State Park is a breathtaking sight all year long. Make your way to the scenic overlook at Osprey Point, for an incredible view of the changing colors among the wooded areas surrounding the lake! Be sure to take advantage of one of the many nature trails which take you through the park for a really good look at the Autumn foliage among the Ponderosa Pines.
The Sawtooth National Forest is vast and one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the country. The forest becomes a photographer's dream come true during the Autumn months, when the Aspens in the valleys turn bright yellow and pop against the Sawtooth mountains looming in the background. The combination of Fall colors with the epic ferocity of the Sawtooths makes for an unforgettable stop on this road trip!
Perhaps the most perfect place to view Fall foliage is the City of Trees itself. It becomes apparent that Boise earned its nickname as the entire city turns yellow, orange, and red as the days become cooler. You'll be hard pressed to find a better place to enjoy this vibrant season. A small hike up the hill at Camel's Back Park or a slightly more intense hike at Table Rock in the downtown area make for the perfect spot to look down at foliage in the valley.
Centered around the Owyhee River is a vast and remote wilderness area that is actually quite lesser known than places such as the Sawtooth or Frank Church Wilderness area. It's this remoteness that makes the Owyhee River Wilderness such a great place to stop and take in all the beauty. The colors of the yellow and red brush pop against the desolate canyon lands.
