Planning Fall Trip, Idaho ?

We detoured through a portion of Idaho on the way to Yellowstone. The scenery was beautiful. We went past Island Park Resivoir and Henry's lake. Both had campgrounds that looked like they may have been nice to stay a day or 2. You are very close to Yellowstone so if you haven't been there it's worth a trip.

concord 05 wrote:
My husband and I usually spend a month traveling in the Fall. Thinking about possibly going to Idaho. Looking for suggestions on places to go. We are in a 32 foot travel trailer. Want at least electric hookups. Enjoy scenic places, wildlife and historical things, museums etc. Health issues limit long hikes but short ones are fine. Prefer quiet away from the crowds. In the past have usually stayed in an area for three days before traveling on but thinking longer maybe better. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Only been through Idaho to get to/from Yellowstone but it seems like another beautiful state with plenty to see and do. Check out Bear lake that splits with UT, Mesa falls, take some side roads into the potatoe farms, drive down I 15 through the lava fields. Stop in lava hot springs.
Noticed numerous campgrounds along the way. Enjoy.

Not a problem towing. As you can see, we tow a 35' 14k fifth wheel with no problem and we've been all over the state, all the grades including the grade into Grangeville and up over Whitebird.

93 from Missoula to Stanley is a good road. Expect the drive to take you a full day, but it's a beautiful drive along the Bitterroot and then Salmon rivers. There are pull outs, campgrounds, and small towns along the way. Make sure to check out the Amish store outside of Salmon -- Baker Country Store. The hand pies are marvelous!

concord 05 wrote:
All great ideas. Farragut State Park sounds very interesting as we love military history. Possible itinerary Farragut down to Lewiston. Then over to Missoula. How are the roads for towing down 93 from Missoula then towards Stanley?

I would like to know too, we're at Farragut in July and looking at down routes to end up around Boise, then make our way back towards La Pine St park.

All great ideas. Farragut State Park sounds very interesting as we love military history. Possible itinerary Farragut down to Lewiston. Then over to Missoula. How are the roads for towing down 93 from Missoula then towards Stanley?

North Idaho, Coeur d Alene is a great place to visit. There are FS campgrounds (Coeur d Alene river), gold mining areas, Wallace & Kellogg (historical and bike riding), Sandpoint (Fairgrounds camping) has the lake, Farragut State Park (camping, water sports, shooting, hiking & biking).
Another super trip we experienced was Highway 21 from Banks to Stanley. The road follows the river and has several roadside hot springs to soak in. There are campgrounds along the highway that are pretty nice.
Idaho has more wild rivers then all the other states combined.

Hellsgate SP in Lewiston, ID. One of our favorites. A gateway to Hells Canyon.

ReneeG wrote:
What parts of Idaho are you looking to travel in? All the state parks are great to visit. The Fall is a great time to travel because there are fewer other travelers and sites are usually plenty. What was mentioned in the first reply is South Central Idaho and is beautiful. There are lots of dry campgrounds and fewer with hookups in the mountains. There is a very nice little full hookup RV park on Hwy 75 between Stanley and Clayton called Torrey's Burnt Creek Inn. It's a great place to use as a base camp to visit the historic Sunbeam Dam and the road (there at the dam) to the ghost towns of Custer, Bonanza, and the historic Gold Fork Dredge. At Sunbeam Dam is Sunbeam Hot Springs, free to use at the Salmon River's edge, just go with your suits on. Cascade Lake State Park has several campgrounds around the lake with hookups and only one has full hookups - Poison Creek. All can be reserved online or if you go midweek, chances are pretty good to get a spot. At Three Island Crossing State Park is the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. This state park has full hookups. Bruneau Dunes State Park is at a natural sand dunes and they have an observatory that runs on a schedule. In Eastern Idaho is the Yellowstone Caldera and there resides Upper and Lower Mesa Falls. There are many campgrounds in that area with hookups. Our favorite is at Lower Mesa Falls called Grand View. Water and electric hookups and really nice. You hear the roar of the falls constantly. Visit too while in the Island Park area, Johnny Sack's Cabin, Big Springs, Henry's Lake - there's a state park here too, Harriman State Park, Quake Lake, and of course this is close to West Yellowstone. We've been all over the state and there's so much to mention. We recently traveled northern Idaho last Fall and stayed at Farragut State Park and toured it. Farragut was one of the largest inland Naval stations in the US. What a fascinating place that was and the state park for camping is fabulous. Full hookups. Definitely a return trip for us. We also stated at Hells Gate State Park in Lewiston on the Lewiston River. Nice, but not as nice as Farragut. Idaho is a large area, so you may want to pick the region you plan to visit and ask your questions again.

Island Park Area Information

Idaho State Parks Information

Visit Idaho Guide

While in the Stanley area, plan to take the Landmark Stanley Road (Middle Form of the Salmon River road)over Cape Horn Summit, down into Bruce Meadows to see the herds of elk that live there. Best time to view the elk are early in the morning or at dusk. We pack our breakfast and head over there early and sit in our truck to view the elk. It's never a boring moment.

If you can handle one or two nights of dry camping, spend some time at Bull Trout Lake Campground in the Martin Lake section, you may just be rewarded with the howl of a wolf as we've been.

Nice write up. I printed a copy for my places to visit folder.

We stay at Sun Meadow in Worley. Very nice place. Great pool.