Best Hikes in Idaho

Idaho's hiking is concentrated in the Sawtooth NRA, the central Idaho wilderness areas, the northern panhandle, and the volcanic Snake River Plain corridor.

Sawtooth NRA: Alice-Toxaway Loop (20 miles)
The premier multi-day backpacking loop in the Sawtooth Wilderness — passing five alpine lakes (Alice, Twin, Toxaway, Petit, and Yellow Belly) beneath the jagged Sawtooth spires. The loop crosses multiple passes and gives the full range of Sawtooth scenery. The trailheads at Alturas Lake and Petit Lake are the access points.

Borah Peak (7 miles, Chicken-Out Ridge Route)
Idaho's highest point — the Chicken-Out Ridge section is exposed and exciting but requires no ropes. The hike begins in sagebrush, rises through aspen and pine, and emerges above treeline on the long ridgeline to the summit. The fault scarp from the 1983 earthquake is visible near the trailhead.

Seven Devils Loop (Hells Canyon)
A multi-day loop in the Seven Devils Mountains above Hells Canyon — the trail traverses the ridge with views 7,000 feet down to the Snake River and across to Oregon's Wallowa Mountains. Heavens Gate Lookout (8,429 ft) gives the definitive canyon view. The loop is 25+ miles; shorter day hikes to Heavens Gate and Devils Farm are accessible.

Craters of the Moon: Caves and Cinder Cones (various)
The Indian Tunnel lava tube (1 mile, flashlight required) and the Inferno Cone cinder cone (0.8 miles to summit) are the prime hikes in Craters of the Moon. The Wilderness Trail (8.7 miles) crosses the open lava field into the park's interior — a surreal experience.

Scotchman Peak (9 miles, Priest Lake/Sandpoint area)
The finest day hike in northern Idaho — Scotchman Peak (7,009 ft) in the Cabinet Mountains gives views of Lake Pend Oreille, the Clark Fork River delta, and the Montana Cabinet Range. Mountain goats are frequently seen on the summit. The trailhead is west of Hope, Idaho.