Idaho Information Source

by Bob Granstrom
(Idaho USA)

Mountain View Idaho

The two heroic explorers Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were the first Euro-Americans to view what is now known as the State of Idaho. The year was 1805.

What they witnessed was raw plains, punctuated with imposing mountain ranges, heart-pounding rivers, sparkling alpine lakes and vast forests. Today, those unspoiled features await Idaho visitors and adventure seekers.

Backpackers, who want an intimate look at the state's awesome attributes, will find more than 19000 miles of hiking trails. When it comes to travel by foot, Idaho has everything from short, easy paths to major, hiking tests. Idaho has everything for the novice hiker on his first easy stroll, to exhausting trials for the expert hiker. The granddaddy of them all is the famed Idaho State Centennial Trail. This hiking trail extends more than 1200 miles from the State of Nevada to the Canadian border.

Some of these trails are designated only for hikers, but many are also used for mountain and road biking, horseback riding, Nordic skiing, all-terrain vehicles, four-wheeling and snowmobiling. These trails are managed and maintained by federal and state agencies. Maintenance, when required, includes trail marking and grooming.

Whitewater enthusiasts, whether rafters or kayakers, flock to Idaho to experience some of the more than 3,100 miles of rivers with breathtaking, rip-roaring runs. The state has more miles of these boiling whitewater stretches than any other state in the continental United States. Many of these rivers make their way through incredible scenery unknown in other places in the world.

There are many other adventures available to Idaho travelers. If you are looking for that special adventure, Idaho may have just what you are looking for. For some suggestions, take time to look through Idaho Insider for a more complete list.