This park was established as a National recreation area in 1975 including 215,000 acres of wilderness for you to enjoy.  There are three rivers which are designated Wild and Scenic in this fabulously beautiful area.  They are the Snake, Imnaha and Rapid.  With nearly 900 miles of trails available you can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking or sightseeing in this truly natural beauty.  There are also camping and picnicking sites available; in fact, there are 36 sites with varying levels of development on both the Oregon side and the Idaho side.

Hells Canyon is North America’s deepest river gorge.  Carved by the great Snake River it plunges more than a mile below Oregon’s west rim and 8,000 feet below snowcapped He Devil Peak of Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains.  There are no roads across Hells Canyon’s 10-mile wide expanse, and only three roads that lead to the Snake River between Hells Canyon Dam and the Oregon-Washington boundary.

The Canyon is hugging the borders of northeastern Oregon and western Idaho.  Here you can engage in world-class whitewater boating that will equal any that you have ever experienced.  See the abundant wildlife, artifacts from prehistoric tribes and rustic remains of early miners and settlers.  Imagine what it would have been like to have encountered this area as the pioneers did so many years ago! 

The Idaho Trailheads include the Black Lake Trailhead where the campground is situated at the very southern end of the Seven Devils Mountains.  Black lake has four unites.  There is no potable water source but the lake is easily reached from the camping area so be sure to treat your water.  To reach Black Lake, take Hwy #95 to Council, ID. From Council, take Forest Road #002 to Forest Road #105 (near the town of Bear, no services). From Forest Road #105, travel to Forest Road #112 (just past Bear Guard Station). Forest Road #112 will continue on to Black Lake. The last part of this drive is very rough and a high clearance vehicle is recommended. The area is usually open and free from the latter part of July through the first part of October.

Snake River Trailhead – Snake River Trailhead -  The Snake River Trailhead, serving the Snake River National Recreation Trail (Trail #102), is located adjacent to Upper Pittsburg Landing in Idaho. The trailhead is accessed by Forest Road 493, also known as the Deer Creek Road, and leaves Highway 95 just south of the town of Whitebird, Idaho. It is 17 miles from Hwy 95 to the Pittsburg Landing Area. This is a well maintained single lane gravel road with turnouts, that crosses the divide at an elevation of over 4300 feet between the Salmon and Snake Rivers. ‘There are steep grades on both sides of this divide, so visitors pulling travel trailers or driving RV’s should use extreme caution. Grades are up to 16% so be sure your brakes and transmission are in good condition before beginning the drive, and use low gears. Follow the signs to Upper Pittsburg Landing and the Snake River Trailhead.

Windy Saddle Trailhead -  Windy Saddle is the primary access to the high country trails in the Seven Devils Mountains of the Hells Canyon Wilderness. To access this trailhead, take Forest Road #517 which leaves Hwy #95 just south of the town of Riggins, Idaho. It is 17 miles from Hwy #95 to Windy Saddle. Facilities consist of two small campgrounds and a pack and saddle stock staging facility. Seven Devils Campground has 10 units and Windy Saddle has nine, four of which are designed for campers with pack and saddle stock. There is no potable water available in any of these areas. The area is usually open and free of snow from the first part of July through the first part of October. RVs or vehicles pulling camp trailers are not recommended.

There is an active move to restore the historic buildings in the area and to maintain the beauty for all to enjoy.  You area asked to leave archaeological and historic sites undisturbed and encourage others to do the same. 

Even before there were records kept of the area the Nez Perce Indians lived here.  They and the Shoshone-Bannock, Northern Paiute and Caysue Indians were drawn by the relatively mild winters, lush forage and the wide array of wildlife.  You can see some pictographs and petro glyphs on the walls of the canyon telling some of the story of their lives.

In the 1860′s gold was discovered in river bars near either end of what today is the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Placer mining activities soon spread into Hells Canyon itself. Though never highly successful, placer miners left considerable evidence of their activities: hundreds of low-lying rock piles are still visible along the Snake River corridor.

By the late 1800′s and early 1900′s, mining efforts shifted away from placer mining. More complex hard-rock operations, sometimes characterized by mazes of tunnels, large buildings to house machinery, and supporting facilities such as stores post offices and saloons, took its place especially in the Jackley Mountain area (in Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains) and the Eureka Bar area near the mouth of Imnaha River, in Oregon.

When you visit the area you will want to stop at a visitor’s center and pick up more information on the Canyon.  The history, beauty and experiences make this a fabulous place to visit.

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area – Grangeville, Lewiston, McCall, Council and Cambridge Area – Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

Coeur d’Alene is located just 30 miles east of Spokane, Washington, which makes Coeur d’Alene a great place to visit no matter where you are staying.

Lucky visitors to Coeur d’Alene in the summer months will want to take in a show at the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre. Each summer, the theatre puts on a variety of different Broadway caliber shows. They change their shows annually.

The Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, established in 1967, is the oldest performing arts group in the entire state of Idaho. The perform Broadway musicals over the course of 12 weeks in the summer. Throughout the months of June, July, and August, they put on 36 shows in total. People from around Idaho, and even neighboring states, come to enjoy the shows.

A recent show at the theatre includes La Cage aux Folles, which is based on a French film. The film was the inspiration for the American movie Birdcage. The show is fun and was quite popular during its run. Another hilarious recent show is Once Upon a Mattress. The story is a retelling of the classic fairy tale The Princess and the Pea.

One of the most popular shows of their 2008 season is Les Miserables. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, this is one of the most popular musicals in the world. The musical has a wonderful score known by people the world over.

The musicals are performed in Schuler Auditorium. You can find the auditorium on the North Idaho College Campus on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene. The venue is beautiful, and when you watch a summer show, you’ll actually think you’re on Broadway.

If you are traveling to the Coeur d’Alene area in the summer, you should do yourself a favor and check out one of their great musicals.

If you’re looking for hotel accommodations while staying in Coeur d’Alene, consider HotelsCombined.com.

1000 W Garden Ave
Coeur D’Alene, ID 83814-2161

Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

The address is 51931 Silver Valley Road, Box 510, Kellogg, ID 83837-0519.  Phone number is 208-783-4653.  

 Winter Hours are from 10 am to 4 pm daily from October 1 thru April 1.  The schedule from December 1 thru March 1 is on Saturday and Sunday only.   Summer hours are daily from 9 am to 6 pm.  

Admission prices are as follows:  Adults $10, Children 4 thru 17 $7.50, Children under 4 are admitted FREE, Senior Citizens $9, and Family Rate for five people is $36 which covers one or two adults and children under 17 years of age.  Each additional child is $5.  Tax is extra.

Group rates and/or school group tours may receive a discount if reservations are made in advance.  

History of the mine:
It was originally discovered by a gold prospector named Tom Irwin in 1879.  He built a cabin and mined the gold for three years.  He blasted the hillside down to hide the mine, left the area with his mining tools inside and never returned.  Consequently, the mine was lost for over 100 years.  His background remains a mystery as it is not known where he came from or where he went after leaving the area.   

The current owner, who is a retired miner, bought the mine in 1996 and turned it into a tourist attraction.  The guided underground tour lasts approximately one half hour and is well lighted, safe and inspected by the State of Idaho.  There is no climbing required.  The tour is a fun adventure that can be enjoyed by the entire family and by people of all ages since there is easy walking on concrete walkways in the mine.   

No reservations are required and flash and video cameras are welcome.  The mine temperature is 48 degrees all year long so a coat or sweater may be needed.  

For those visitors who prefer to come by bus or recreational vehicle, there is a convenient parking area for buses and RVs on site.  Additionally, a picnic area is available for outdoor meals during mild weather.  The Crystal Gold Mine also offers
an underground gift shop where visitors can purchase souvenirs of their tour.    

The mine was considered a sufficiently interesting tourist attraction to television viewers so that it was filmed for future showing on the Arts and Entertainment Channel.

Crystal Gold Mine – Kellogg, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

When you visit Silverwood, you will find the location offers 65 rides and a variety of other attractions.  You can find yourself exploring all types of fun here.  For example, some of the best rides are those that allow you to blast through four underground tunnels.  That ride, the Tremors Roller Coaster, is an amazing experience all on its own.  You can also spend a few minutes with some steam to blow off.  There is an authentic 1915 steam engine train located here.  This creates an amazing and yet a bit educational of an experience.  Then again, do not get too comfortable because there is the140foot plunge that happens while going down fast at Panic Plunge.  This is a drop tower style of ride, and definitely one that will shake you up a bit.

Not only do you get to enjoy Silverwood’s amazing attractions (including live entertainment throughout the park) but you also get to enjoy Boulder Beach Water Park.  This is the largest of all the water parks in the Northwestern part of the country.  You will find that there are new rides opening each year.  For example, a newer option is the Avalanche Mountain ride.  Here, you have nothing more than a 650-foot water slide (that is all!) that will take you down with three to five of your closest friends and family.  

Silverwood is an amazing location for sure.  You will find that there are various lodging accommodations located nearby, too.  If you want to find out more about what is available at Silverwood, visit their website at Silverwoodthemepark.com.  The park is an ideal family experience you will want to spend more than one day at.

Silverwood Amusement Park – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge in northern Idaho is an outstanding place to spend time in a beautiful natural area, and it is a great place to view wildlife. The 2,774 acre Refuge is situated in Idaho’s Panhandle, just west of Bonners Ferry. The large variety of diverse habitats throughout this scenic area supports many types of resident as well as migrating wildlife.

The habitats throughout the valley area of the Wildlife Refuge along the west banks of the Kootenai River include wetlands, forests, meadows and fields. There are ponds, marsh areas and creeks in this part of the Refuge where many types of animals and birds reside and visit during migration. The western area of the Refuge climbs into the foothills of the Selkirk Mountains, where denser forest habitats support additional types of wildlife.

Birds at Kootenai Wildlife Refuge

You can see waterfowl, water and marsh birds, songbirds, raptors and forest birds at Kootenai Refuge: 230 species of birds have been spotted here.

Kootenai Refuge was established in 1965 primarily to preserve a resting and feeding area for migrating waterfowl. Farmers grow more than 600 acres of barley and wheat on Refuge lands. The grain is left standing to provide food for waterfowl and other birds.

Mallards, American wigeon, tundra swans and Canada geese are among the migrating birds that rest and feed at Kootenai Refuge in the spring and fall. Some of these birds such as the mallards, Canada geese and others nest at Kootenai following their arrival in the spring.

Owls, ruffed grouse, Cooper’s hawk and the pileated woodpecker are among the forest dwelling birds you might see at Kootenai Refuge. Northern harriers, red-tailed hawks, American kestrels and Bald Eagles may be spotted hunting over open areas and agricultural fields. In wetlands areas, you can spot great blue herons hunting for fish and other pond creatures, while Osprey hunt for fish from above.

Wildlife at Kootenai Wildlife Refuge

Although birding is a very popular activity at the Kootenai Wildlife Refuge, more than 45 mammals have also been observed here. Mice and woodrats, weasels, coyotes and racoons are some of the mammals that live in the brushy areas and grasslands within the Refuge. A coniferous forest area located at the base of the Selkirk Mountains provides habitat for much larger animals including black bear, elk, deer and moose. Moose, muskrats and beavers may be spotted in the wetland areas of the Refuge.

You can visit Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge during daylight hours. There is an Auto Tour available and several walking trails that provide access to wildlife viewing blinds and observation points. Some trails are available year round, while some close during waterfowl hunting season. Regulated hunting and fishing of designated species are available at Kootenai Refuge, as well.

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge – Bonners Ferry, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

Skiing is a top interest in Idaho where we have one of the two US Ski and Snowboard Association cross country courses.  Idaho is the top choice for cross country skiers – offering a wide variety of courses, slopes, and of course the resorts and accomodations to make your trip excellent!

Idaho’s museums, including the Museum of Idaho offer wonderful educational and historic tours as well.  Ice Age Mammels is exhibiting in the Museum of Idaho, featuring Pleistocene-era mammals, the Columbian Mammoth, Mastodon, Saber Tooth Cat, Giant Ground Sloth, North American Camel, Giant Beaver, Ancient Bison, and Giant Short-Faced Bear.

Idaho Vacation is a post from: Idaho Tourism