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ekirkland's avatar
ekirkland
Explorer
Dec 14, 2019

Northern Utah and Idaho in 2020

My wife and I are planning a trip to northern Utah and Idaho in June/July 2020. We are towing a 30' travel trailer. I'd like to get recommendations for sites to see and things to do plus scenic drives and scenic campgrounds. I'm mainly interested in Forest Service or State Parks with at least electric hookups; any private parks that are not so crowded are OK too. I plan to do some fly fishing and short hikes (wife has bad knees). I'd like to see Hell's Canyon; any great viewpoints? How is the area around Copperfield? We are planning about 30-40 days for the whole trip. Thanks for any help!!

16 Replies

  • While waiting do a Google search for `_______ tourism' and put the city, state or area in the blank space and read what the specialists have to recommend.
  • We did the N. Utah and Idaho run last year. We stayed at a couple of forgetable cg in N Utah then up the Tetons where we had a fantastic boondocking site with a full view of the mountains from our campsite. Spend 3 days over the fourth and could have spent more time. Then west into Idaho.

    Ditto on Craters Of the Moon. We ran up thru Arco to Challis where we stayed at Challis Hot Springs for a couple of days. OK park with hot springs on site but no sewer hookup. Then down 75 to Stanley which was socked in with rain and fog. Going down 75 stop at the Bayhorse Ghost Town SP. Boondocking all along the river.

    Then west across the Banks-Lowman road, and very scenic drive along another river. Again lots of Boondocking in the area. Then north on 55 to the Cascade SP. Now be careful booking this park, there are separate units of this park. Some have FHU and others do not. So book what you need. Very nice park whichever unit you end up it.

    We then took 55 up to the intersection with 95 then followed that all the way north almost to Canada. Took three days to Bonner's Ferry, I think and we stayed at various commercial cg.

    Then East on US 2 to Kalispel MT. A good time was had. We were just sorry we missed the Sawtooths because of the weather. Maybe next year after the Escapade.
  • Bakers Hole NFS at the West entrance of YS is on the river and a number of people fly fish there.


  • Powell Creek NFS N46° 30.781' W114° 43.157' Also the Pink House NFS near by




    The best dirt road adventure in the lower 45 states. The road to Pittsburgh Landing Camp on Hells Canyon. I did NOT TAKE THE TT but some people do. Dry Camping on the river. N45° 38.068' W116° 28.631'


    Click For Full-Size Image.
  • It is so unusual to find someone taking a 35 day trip to only two states. That is good planning. Then you get to be there instead of doing all of that traveling. You will have time to see everything.

    I like the interior Batholith of Idaho the central mountains and really like the panhandle up in the lake country north of Coeur d'Alene.

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