Idaho residents probably don’t want this to get out, but their state is an incredible destination for outdoor activities.
We suggest taking the time to explore the whole state. But if you plan to just cruise through toward Montana, you can still enjoy some unique experiences.
Check out these gems we’ve gathered for you.
Let’s roll!
Why Do People Love Idaho?
Anyone who loves the outdoors should have Idaho on their travel bucket list! Winter provides the ideal weather for skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, tubing, snowshoeing, and other activities. But summer is when The Gem State really shines.
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area alone has 700 miles of trails and 10,000-foot mountain peaks, all ready for mountain biking, hiking, and climbing.
Water people could spend years exploring the 2,000+ named lakes and 3,100 miles of navigable whitewater. And that doesn’t even count the unnamed lakes or slower-moving river areas. Unsurprisingly, Idaho is one of the most popular destinations for anglers, especially fly fishing.
Approximately 60% of the state is wilderness, about 4.7 million acres, and hosts some of the most abundant wildlife and wildflowers in the lower 48. You’ll find it’s a birder’s paradise!
The state is also home to one of the most unique national monuments, Craters of the Moon, and the largest number of hot springs in the USA.
We could go on and on about where to go and what to see in Idaho. Sometimes, though, you’re only traveling through, and that’s where these destinations come in.
The trek across the state’s panhandle via I-90 is a short 74 miles, but we still found some fun and exciting places to stop along the way.
Coming from Seattle? The I-90 Road Trip Guide to Unique Washington Destinations
Destination #1 Post Falls, Idaho
Post Falls is the first town you’ll reach as you head west on I-90 out of Washington, about 30 minutes from Spokane. History buffs will want to stop at Treaty Rock and Falls Park.
Treaty Rock is a stone wall where someone etched an agreement between Chief Seltice of the Coeur d’Alene Nation and settler Frederick Post. It states that Post would receive 200 acres of land to build a water-powered sawmill. And, in return, he would provide lumber to Seltice’s people.
Today, you’ll find interpretive signs at the site, and the etching is covered with plexiglass to prevent vandalism. You can view the dam at Falls Park, which is a quick four-minute drive to the other side of the freeway. It offers a nice half-mile ADA-friendly trail that loops around the park and along the river gorge.
Treaty Rock GPS: 47.7140, -116.9517
Falls Park GPS: 47.7097, 116.9535
Check out these 5 Outstanding State Parks in Idaho with Full Hookups and explore more of the state!
Destination #2 Wallace, Idaho
Head east on I-90 for about an hour, and you’ll definitely want to take exit 61 for the old mining town of Wallace. This is a fantastic place to stop for a bite to eat and explore for an hour or two. No time? Try some of the best huckleberry shakes in the Rockies, and take a pic of yourself in a UFO at the Red Light Garage.
Frontier towns were famous for their brothels, and Wallace wasn’t any different. The Oasis Bordello was open until 1988, when the FBI raided it! Madame Ginger had received a tip, so she and the other women grabbed their few possessions and ran, never to return.
In 1993, the building’s new owner discovered the interior was just as the ladies had left it five years earlier. They turned it into the Oasis Bordello Museum and currently offer tours.
For funky oddities, check out the North Idaho Trading Company, which displays a mermaid mummy, an albino elk, and all kinds of other weirdness, plus vintage jewelry and firearms. Then mosey a block down Bank Street to Sixth and find the Center of the Universe on a utility hole cover.
If you decide to stay the night here, be warned. Locals and travelers alike say the ghost of a young woman named Maggie haunts room #3 at the Jameson Hotel.
Wallace lost hundreds of people to two major fires and one flood, plus multiple mining accidents and violence. We can imagine ghosts might fill the streets in Wallace, so venture to this Idaho destination only if you dare.
Wallace GPS: 47.47302, -115.92583
Destination #3 East Wallace and Mullan, Idaho
Outside Wallace, take a left at exit 62 onto ID-4 and go about seven miles to Burke. It’s a ghost town with a unique layout.
The old mining town is in a canyon that’s only 300 feet wide, so the townsfolk had to carve out holes in the canyon walls for their homes. The trains shared the road with cars, and when the railroad expanded, it had to go through the middle of the hotel lobby!
Watch your step as you explore because many old tools and other artifacts are scattered around town. We also suggest staying out of any caves or dwellings, for your own safety. Whether you stay after dark is up to you. But don’t say we didn’t warn you about wild animals and rumored paranormal activity.
After your ghost town adventure, hop back on I-90 for a few miles until mile marker 66 to view Elmer’s Fountain. These are three fountains made of steel pipes and other items left over from mining. In addition, you can see a mining car, a birdhouse, and (down a short path) a miniature log cabin.
Elmer Almquist, who created these art pieces, was an important local miner and welder. He initially named the fountains after his friend and the property’s owner, Arnold. Before he died, Elmer purchased the property from him. Later, the widow Almquist renamed the fountains after her husband.
Note: No signs mark the fountains. Watch for a pull-out on eastbound I-90 right before mile marker 66, which will loop back onto I-90. The fountains are all bright yellow and on the south side of the pull-out.
Burke Ghost Town GPS: 47.52066, -115.81880
Elmer’s Fountain GPS: 47.46183, -115.82231
Explore more of Idaho: Moon Idaho – Hiking & Biking, Scenic Byways, Year-Round Recreation
Is an Idaho Road Trip Along I-90 Worth It?
In about seven more miles, you’ll be in Montana! We wouldn’t necessarily tell you to make I-90 in Idaho a destination. But, if you’re driving through, the above spots make for great places to stretch your legs and get to know Idaho. If nothing else, grab a huckleberry shake for the road!
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