Idaho Roadtrip!

So Idaho is not just full of potatoes!

I mean it when I say this is one of my favorite states I have visited. The mountains are gorgeous, the people are nice and welcoming, the food is good, the hot springs, and the hiking. 

View of mountains in Sun Valley, Idaho.

There is so much to do but here are my favorite things and some hidden gems you should add to your next trip!

So for context on this trip I road tripped from LA to Utah and then Sun Valley, Idaho but to make things short and sweet I will only talk about Idaho. 

Where did I stay? I stayed in an Airbnb called Hailey Silver Fox. I am giving you the name of this place because it was affordable, cute, in a great location, and the host was awesome. Hailey Idaho was a bit more affordable than Sun Valley but no more than an hour drive from anything we did on our trip. 

Airbnb description and picture of Hailey Silver Fox.

On to what we did!

1. Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve - this is such an underappreciated national preserve, such cool hikes, it feels like another universe!

Lauren posed on a hike at Craters of the Moon.

What is Craters of the moon? - Craters of the Moon is an expansive lava field dotted with cinder cones and sagebrush. This "strange and stunning terrain" showcases the remnants of past volcanic activity and hints at the possibility of future eruptions.

Black sand dune at Craters of the Moon.

How much does it cost? - standard pass $10-$20, National Parks pass also accepted 

What hike did we do? - We did the North Crater Trail on AllTrails, and also climbed the black “sand dune”

Lauren posed walking in shallow water of Redfish Lake.

2. Redfish Lake - This lake I would equate to the lakes in Interlaken, Switzerland. Redfish was clear, crisp, and had a gorgeous mountain view. It was not very crowded and felt like such a hidden gem! We packed lunch and spent the whole day at the lake. 

View of Redfish lake, clear water with a mountain range in the back.

How much did it cost - It was about $12 dollars to park for the whole day. 

Tips - we went to the opposite side of the lake from the Redfish Lake Lodge and we got there early because parking gets very full. 

Lauren laying in Valley Creek Hot Spring.

3. Hot Springs - So this is the reason I traveled out to Idaho not realizing how amazing everything else was. But the hot springs  are fierce in Idaho and honestly I went in June and I was still able to enjoy them. There are so many hot springs to choose from some you hike to some you drive up too but I am just going to list the ones I went too. 

Valley Creek Hot Spring -  This hot spring had drop dead gorgeous views, it wasn't the clearest water but still worth your time. So in order to get here you have to use these coordinates 44°13'18.8"N 114°55'52.3"W. But some tips its located near the Stanley Museum you will drive past the Museum and take a left down the dirt road, the parking is a bit of a free for all but once you get out look for a wooden plank boardwalk in the bushes and follow that to the hot spring. The Cost is Free 

Frenchman’s Hot Spring.

Frenchman’s Hot Spring - This hot spring is connected to a river, it's super clear and such a nice relaxing time! The address for this hot spring is 1080 Warm Springs Rd, Hailey ID. My bets advice is to watch out for no parking signs and download a map before you go! You have to drive about 11 mi down a dirt road!

Hike in Idaho, cows and a hill in the background.

Extra: Also not noted in this article but there is so much more hiking in this area of Idaho so if you want to add more hiking to your trip just look at AllTrails!