Monty's Musings - RV Travel Blog » Idaho RV Camping

RV Vacation Ideas in Southern Idaho

Monty — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:39:51 +0000

Need ideas for an exciting RV camping vacation within three hours of Salt Lake City? Southern Idaho has an amazing array of top vacation spots. Ancient volcanoes, hundreds of freshwater springs and a wild and scenic river set the stage for days filled with outdoor adventure. Take a trip to Southern Idaho this summer; it’s a place we recommend all RV campers visit at least once.

So what’s so special about Southern Idaho? That’s a big topic, so let’s break it down into three popular RV vacation styles.

Sight-seeing RV Vacation in Southern Idaho

You’re going to find breathtaking scenery no matter where you drive in Southern Idaho, but here are two of the most memorable scenic drives in the region:

Thousand Springs Scenic Byway: Witness the awesome sight of hundreds of freshwater springs emerging from the rocky sides of the Snake River Canyon. Highway 30 from Bliss, ID to Twin Falls follows this rugged canyon for almost seventy miles through historic western towns, the Thousand Springs State Park Complex and dozens of fascinating attractions. Here’s an excellent brochure on Thousand Springs Scenic Byway (PDF) to help plan your trip.
City of Rocks Back Country Byway: Wind your way through Western history as you explore the Albion Mountains from Albion, ID to Oakley. Starkly beautiful City of Rocks National Reserve is worth a long stop, as are historic Oakley, ID and Lake Cleveland Recreation Area.

Family RV Camping Trip to Southern Idaho
Not only does Southern Idaho promise plenty of room for the kids to climb, hike and explore, there are also many attractions with built-in lessons in history and geology. Imagine, for example, letting the family loose to learn about ancient volcanoes at Craters of the Moon National Monument.

Or picture your family’s RV parked at Anderson Camp in Twin Falls, just a short drive from Hagerman National Fish Hatchery, home to a million steelhead annually. And don’t miss the chance to see an Oregon Trail trading post at Rock Creek Station and Stricker Homesite.

For a soothing trip to one of the area’s most famous attractions, visit Miracle Hot Springs near Buhl, ID, where you can soak away your troubles in the healing waters and visit the attraction’s famous alligators! By the way, there’s an RV campground on-site.

Adventure RV Camping in Southern Idaho
The splendidly rugged geography of Southern Idaho can unlock weeks of outdoor adventure for RV camping fans. Here are five ideas for experiencing the region at its wildest:

Ready to roll this summer to Southern Idaho? VisitSouthIdaho.com is an excellent resource for more information about area attractions. Float the Snake River, fish for trout in a mountain stream or explore the secrets of an ancient lava bed. Whatever outdoor activity gets you on the road, Southern Idaho has a place to make it happen.

Gemstone Hunting RV Vacation in Idaho

Monty — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:11:32 +0000

You may have parked your RV in Idaho’s National Parks, seen the Craters of the Moon and hiked the trails once followed by the Nez Perce. But have you ever hunted gemstones in the Gem State? RV campers looking for true adventure are invited to learn the joys of a gemstone hunting RV vacation in Idaho.

Where to Find Gemstones in Idaho
A good place to start when planning your trip is the guide to rock-hounding and gemstone hunting available at idl.idaho.gov, Idaho’s Department of Lands’ website. They point out something very important to remember as you pull over next to a promising prospecting site…to respect private property and to help keep Idaho in its pristine wilderness condition.

The site identifies dozens of minerals and gemstones likely to be found in Idaho, including fire opals, rubies and star garnets. In fact, according to Idaho’s Museum of Natural History, Idaho is second only to Africa in the variety of gemstones found there!

For example, in Adams County, you might find rubies and pink garnets in the Rock Flat area adjacent to Payette National Forest near New Meadows. This area also just happens to be the reputed source of the largest diamond (19.5 carats) ever found in the U.S.!

Follow the Salmon River in Custer County, ID (especially the East Fork) to find amethyst and citrine. If you’re traveling with rock hounds, they’ll want to stay awhile in this area, as an abundance of geodes, agates and petrified wood can also be found here.

According to the Cash and Treasure Wiki created by the Travel Channel, opals can be dug from the Spencer Opal Deposit centered near the town of Spencer in Eastern, ID. The Deer Hunt Mine in this area is world famous among gem prospectors and offers gem hunters access on a fee-per-pound basis.

Another easy place to discover wonderful gemstone finds is the Emerald Creek Garnet Area near Clarkia in St. Joe National Forest. It’s the home of record-breaking star garnets, reputed to be some of the best outside of India.

Where to Find a Gem of an RV Campground in Idaho
The next big question is where to stay once you’ve decided to make a prospecting trek to Idaho by RV. You’ll definitely strike it rich staying at one of the many state and national park and forest campgrounds in Idaho. The Moscow, Idaho Chamber of Commerce website has a helpful listing of marinas, parks and recreation areas where RV campers are welcome in Western Idaho.

If you’re hoping to snag a handful of amethyst in Blaine County, make your prospecting base camp at Riverside RV Camp in beautiful Bellevue, ID. Another memorable home away from home for RV camping prospectors is Mountain Home RV Park in the heart of Owyhee County fire opal country.

Whether you’re hungering to find the perfect amethyst or hoping for a blindingly beautiful fire opal, Idaho is the place to spend your RV camping and gem prospecting vacation. If you’re not afraid to get your jeans dirty and hike a bit up a creek bed, the fun you’ll have just may have you planning a return trip to Idaho soon.

RV Trip on Idaho’s Salmon River Scenic Byway

Monty — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 05:00:44 +0000

Are the pressures of daily life getting you down? Would you like to simply get in your RV and drive? Idaho’s Salmon River Scenic Byway, from the Montana border along the wild and beautiful Salmon River to Stanley, Idaho, may be just what you need to recuperate.

Salmon River Scenic Byway – The Route
Even if you’re not from the region, getting to Idaho’s backcountry isn’t all that difficult. Salt Lake City is only about six hours south of our starting point in Stanley, Idaho. Reno, Nevada is a ten hour drive across the Northeast corner of Nevada. Even from the West Coast, the Salmon River Scenic Byway is just a twelve hour drive from either Sacramento, CA or Seattle, WA.

Here’s the lowdown on the actual Scenic Byway route, once you get to Stanley, ID. Follow the Salmon River north and then east through the Salmon-Challis National Forest on Hwy 75. You’ll pass over Sunbeam Dam and link to Hwy 93 North about fifty miles into your drive. After one hundred sixty unbelievably scenic miles across the high ridges of the Northern Rockies, you’ll arrive at Lost Trail Pass on the Montana Border. You’ll begin and end your drive at about 7000 ft. elevation, so the opportunities for mountain photos and stirring memories are endless.

Salmon River Scenic Byway – The Attractions
It may be only one hundred sixty miles long, but plan to slow down and enjoy the many historical and natural attractions along the way. Your starting point at Stanley, Idaho is surrounded not only by three rugged mountain ranges, but also by the same number of national forests.

You’ll be traveling along the Salmon River’s untamed route, crossing numerous mountain creeks and streams. One of the natural attractions you’ll want to save time to visit is Salmon-Challis National Forest, home to Borah Peak, Idaho’s highest mountain.

Explore the Salmon and Middle Fork Salmon Rivers, world famous for their whitewater rafting opportunities and the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness, the largest pristine wilderness area in the continental US. At the end of the trail, you’ll find Lost Trail Pass, where hiking and horseback riding trails challenge outdoor adventurers.

Northern and Central Idaho are also Lewis & Clark and Sacajawea country, providing abundant history lessons for the kids.

Sacajawea Interpretive Center – Salmon, ID
Land of the Yankee Fork Historical Mining Area
Lemhi County Historical Museum – Salmon, ID

Salmon River Scenic Byway RV Camping!
Here are just a few suggestions for comfortable RV camping along the Salmon River Scenic Byway. Twenty miles south of Salmon, Idaho, right on Hwy 93, RV campers will find Salmon River RV Park. It’s surrounded by mountains, right on the river and prime wildlife watching territory.

Also plan to make a stop at Challis Hot Springs to swim in the natural mineral springs pool and camp at one of their RV campsites on the Salmon River. One more area park that’s highly recommended is Wagonhammer RV Park and Campground near the Montana border. Not only will you find modern campground amenities, you can also fish for trout, hike canyon trails or follow Lewis & Clark’s footsteps to Thompson Gulch.

Put the Salmon River Scenic Byway on your “must see” list. The history, beauty and prime RV camping you’ll find there will linger in your memory.

RV Camping Trip to Idaho’s Shoshone Falls

Monty — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:50:43 +0000

An RV camping trip to Twin Falls, Idaho will open your eyes to the joys of the Gem State. One of the real jewels of the Twin Falls area is Snake River Canyon, crowned by Shoshone Falls, the “Niagara of the West.”

We want to help you plan your RV trip there by giving you lots of information about this wonderfully scenic area. To begin, let’s talk about how to get to Twin Falls, ID, home to Shoshone Falls. This town on the Snake River is just three hours north of Salt Lake City on I-84, and seven hours northeast of Reno, NV, mostly on I-80.

But let’s get back to the star attraction, Shoshone Falls. This thousand-foot wide, two-story high waterfall on the Snake River sits in the heart of the Shoshone Falls/Dierkes Lake Complex run by the city of Twin Falls. (By the way, well-maintained hiking trails combined with scenic lake swimming and picnic areas will make this Park a hit with your entire family!)

The Falls themselves will capture your imagination, crashing down over impressive rock faces. Snake River Canyon also offers abundant scenery, wildlife viewing and recreational activities. Area outfitters offer guided tours and a wild Class IV whitewater rafting experience when the River’s running at peak.

Once your senses have feasted on the Falls, there are plenty of other attractions to round out your motorhome vacation in Idaho. Plan to spend some time visiting these area wonders while in Twin Falls:

Perrine Bridge – Snake River Canyon near Twin Falls
Shoshone Ice Caves – Shoshone, ID north of Twin Falls
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument – Hagerman, ID, 30 miles north of Twin Falls
Craters of the Moon National Monument – American Falls, ID, one hour east of Twin Falls
Thousand Springs State Park – Twin Falls area

Where to Camp Near Shoshone Falls
RV camping in Idaho is an unforgettable experience. Much less traffic than found around many other Western US attractions and scenery out every window have made the area a favorite with motorhome campers. Here is an RV camp near Shoshone Falls that stand out for its amenities:

Anderson Camp – Eden, Idaho – Walking distance to Snake River Canyon and equipped for any size rig.

Idaho’s ready and waiting to thrill your entire RV camping crew. Plan a visit to Shoshone Falls and these memorable area attractions soon!