Year-Round Adventures in Southwest Idaho

Fly into Boise. Stay downtown and let the uniqueness of this outdoorsy city sink in. Idaho’s capital city offers cultural experiences that include the Boise Art Museum, Basque Block and the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial. Just minutes outside of Boise, you'll find raptors gliding above high deserts and rocky canyons. Make your own year-round adventures among the city streets, mountains, rivers, lakes, deserts, vineyards and guest ranches.

Summer in Southwest Idaho spans from mid-May through September. Idaho has more raft-friendly whitewater than any state in the continental U.S. Whitewater adventures range from an easy float to a full-day rush of adrenaline. In the summer, the ski slopes are open to the public for hiking and mountain biking trails. Visitors can also learn the skills of a real cowboy, including horsemanship, riding and grooming, all in the beautiful Southwest Idaho nature. Don’t miss taking a thrilling jet boat tour of Hells Canyon, North America’s deepest gorge.

The gateway city of Boise is filled with culture, dining, shopping and relaxation. Don’t miss the Farmer’s Market every Saturday in downtown or Alive After Five, a free summer concert every Wednesday evening during which visitors can sample local food and drinks.

With more than 50 wineries in the state, a high concentration of them can be enjoyed among more than 20,000 square kilometers in Southwest Idaho, especially in the Sunnyslope Wine Region in Caldwell, just west of Boise. It’s surprising to think that wine grapes thrive so beautifully in this distinctly four-season climate. It’s easy to stop into a tasting room or two at the end of an invigorating outdoor adventure. You might choose to make wine touring an all-day adventure of its own, with spectacular scenery for picnics and great people to meet along the way. 

Southwest Idaho’s mild winter climate, bustling downtown Boise and stunning landscape filled with tall mountains and expansive forests make the region the perfect winter destination. With such a mild climate, the area is a hub of outdoor activity: skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing, elk-feeding and natural hot springs. Throughout the season, you can ski at one of the region’s popular resorts, including Brundage Mountain Resort, Tamarack Resort or Bogus Basin; enjoy the natural hot springs; and experience the many other adventures to be found in Southwest Idaho.