10 Best Things to Do in Idaho City
LOOKING FOR FUN THINGS TO DO IN IDAHO CITY?
You’ve landed on the right article because we have lived in Idaho for the majority of our lives. We live in the Boise area, which is a short drive from Idaho City. With this article, I’ve created the most complete list of things to do in Idaho City.
I grew up camping in Idaho City and love the unique history of the town. Idaho City was once the largest mining community in the Pacific Northwest during the gold rush about 150 years ago. It was even bigger than Portland, Oregon at the time, with about 7,000 residents.
Today, you can explore the remnants of the old western town as well as the picturesque Sawtooth Mountains. There are so many fun things to do in Idaho City, making it a fun day trip or weekend trip from the Boise area.
Things to Do in Idaho City
Downtown Idaho City
The downtown area is a combination of historic sites as well as charming local shops. You can easily spend half a day browsing the local shops and grabbing a bite to eat. It is a small area so park your car and head out to explore.
1. Shopping on Main Street
There are antique stores, local craft stores as well as specialty shops. If antiques are your thing, be sure to stop by Sluice Box.
There is also an awesome toy shop downtown called Simply Fun, a great place to visit with kids. It is an old-fashioned toy store that lets you play with the toys inside. There are fun toys for the kids and harder adult games as well. Coltin and I had a great time trying to master their Shoot the Moon game.
2. Historic District
The Historic District is in the heart of downtown. There are a handful of historic buildings like the old jail, the Boise Basin Museum, and courthouse as well as a bunch of old farm equipment. There is a fun boardwalk that will take you by most of the 14 historical sites, making it easy to imagine what life was like in the 1800s.
Start your tour of the historic district at the Visitors Center. There you can find information about the sites to see in town as well as a map of all of the buildings. There is a lot of great information discussing the history of Idaho City.
The Territorial Jail: It was built in 1864 and was payable in gold dust. There were 14 cells made from hand-hewn pine timbers. Hand wrought nails, chains, door lifts, and window irons were used through the jail.
Boise Basin Merc: This building was used as a general store. Today it still has the original iron-shuttered windows and huge iron doors.
Miner’s Exchange: The Miner’s Exchange was primarily used as a bar and saloon. It was famous in Idaho due to the great service of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Weigel. Since then, the building has been used primarily as office space.
Pioneer Cemetery: You will probably want to drive to the cemetery because it is on the outskirts of town, but it is worth the drive. The cemetery was established in 1863 and is about 40 acres. There are about 3,000 graves.
One of the most famous graves belongs to Mary Pinney. Mary’s husband, James, was the postmaster in Idaho City. She died in 1869 at the age of 25. James later moved to Boise where he eventually became a very influential mayor.
Hiking
Hiking is a great way to get out and enjoy the beautiful mountains and get some fresh air. Spending time on the trails in Idaho City is one of the great places to go hiking near Boise. There are a few trails that will take you through the nice surrounding Boise National Forest.
3. Charcoal Gulch Hike
- Length: 5.1 miles
- Elevation Gain: 921 feet
- Route Type: Out & Back
- Difficulty: Moderate
This is a beautiful, mostly shaded trail. The hike is mostly uphill until you turn around and then you hike back all downhill. You are mostly hiking through the trees so there aren’t any spectacular views throughout the hike.
There can be lots of mosquitos on this hike so make sure to bring some bug spray.
4. Buena Vista Loop
- Length: 1.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 20 feet
- Route Type: Loop
- Difficulty: Easy
This is a perfect trail if you are hiking with kids or looking for an easy stroll through the forest. There are restrooms at the trailhead along with fitness stations along the trail.
Parking for the Buena Vista Loop trailhead is at the Idaho City Airport. The airport is at the end of Wall Street. You will turn left onto Wall Street from Montgomery Street.
5. Swimming at The Springs in Idaho City
Saturday afternoon we headed to The Springs Resort to swim. The Springs has natural hot springs pools overlooking the Sawtooth Mountains and is one of the best places in Idaho City. We made our reservations a couple of days before our trip to make sure we could swim when we wanted.
The Springs had everything we needed. They had towels, sunscreen, and life jackets for Rowen and Raven. Lockers are complimentary and include a bag for you to put your wet swimming suit in. Genius idea!
The all-day pass includes access to the pool, hot tub, splash deck, steam room, and lounge. Kids aren’t allowed to use the hot tub or steam room though.
If you’re looking for things to do in Boise in the winter, visiting the Springs and cutting down your own Christmas tree make for a really fun day!
You can order food to eat either at the tables surrounding the pool or in a yurt. There is complimentary herbal tea, coffee, and mineral water served poolside. We ordered a Mediterranean plate and it was delicious and not overpriced.
They also have private pools you can reserve, and they offer massages. They do have days where kids aren’t allowed though so if you are planning on going with kids make sure to go on a day that allows them to come.
We loved swimming so much we decided to go back for a second time Saturday evening, and I am glad we did. Just bring your receipt with you to get back in.
6. fishing
Mores Creek is another popular fishing spot. Stocked hatchery rainbow trout are the most popular fish here and in late July kokanee begin spawning throughout the lower portion of Mores Creek. There is also a fishing pond behind the Visitors Center.
Idaho City Events
Throughout the fall and summer months, there are lots of fun events in Idaho City. You can check the Chamber of Commerce for a full list of upcoming events.
7. Gold Dust Rodeo: A fun, local rodeo held annually, usually at the end of June. There are kids’ events as well as regular rodeo events. Make sure to bring a lawn chair.
8. Fourth of July: The holiday events usually include reading the Declaration of Independence as well as other local events.
9. Jack Pine Round-Up: This is another local rodeo featuring bulls, broncs, and barrel racing. Be sure to also attend the Boise Basin Hunger Project Cowboy Breakfast. This usually happens at the end of August.
10. Idaho City Days: Usually happening at the beginning of October, the celebration of Idaho City features vendors, the Mountain Man Competition, photography competitions, and the opportunity to press your own cider.
Is Idaho City a Ghost Town?
There are remnants of the old mining life that once existed in Idaho City in the downtown historic district. However, there are also restaurants, shops, and hotels in town today.
Getting To Idaho City
Idaho City is a quaint town in the heart of Boise Basin. It is found along the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway – Idaho 21.
How far is Idaho City from Boise, Idaho?
The drive from Boise to Idaho City is about an hour. Along the scenic byway, you will pass Lucky Peak Reservoir and the beautiful Boise Basin. It is a quick and scenic drive, making a trip up to this mountain town one of the fun things to do in Boise.
Directions from Boise
From Warm Springs Avenue in Boise, you will turn left onto ID-21 N. This road will take you directly into the downtown area.
Idaho City, Idaho Weather
The weather in Idaho City mirrors a lot of the Boise weather but does get more snow in the winter. Idaho City gets some sort of precipitation about 102 days a year. On average, it is about 5-10 degrees cooler than in Boise. Summer is the best time to visit.
The nights can get chilly in the fall and spring, so it is a good idea to bring a jacket.
Idaho City Hotels
There are a few hotels and lodging options in town which are perfect for an overnight stay, making sure you are close to all of the best things to do in Idaho City.
- The Gold Mine Hotel: a locally owned and operated hotel with weekly live events with a grill and bar on-site in the heart of downtown
- Idaho City Hotel: a charming hotel complete with a wrap-around porch, grab one of the games provided for some relaxing during your Idaho City adventures
- Inn The Pines: Only 1/3 mile from The Springs Hot Springs Retreat making it easy to relax and soak in the hot springs
Restaurants
Although Idaho City is a small, sleepy town, there are lots of yummy dining options. We enjoyed eating ice cream on the Sarasaparilla’s porch and the Gold Mine is a perfect place for delicious steak and potatoes. Trudy’s Kitchen is a fun stop for good home-cooked meals!
- Sarasaparilla Ice Cream Parlor
- Trudy’s Kitchen
- Kayak Pizza and Subs
- The Gold Min Grill and Saloon
- Cyndie’s
- Diamond Lil’s Steakhouse & Saloon
If you need groceries or more ice cream during your time in Idaho City, you can visit Seasons Mountain Dining & Grocery. Another option is to grab some take-out from one of the places to eat in Boise and enjoy a picnic on the way up.
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