If you are new to the state, you are probably eager to try some of the many outdoor adventures Idaho has to offer. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Remember... Be safe. Idaho has its share of rock slides, poisonous snakes, wildfires, avalanches and deadly drop-offs. If you get into trouble, you may find yourself a hundred miles from the nearest help. Never go alone. Always take emergency survival equipment. Cellular phones or radios may not work in some parts of the state, so tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. If you think smart, your adventure won’t be the last thing you ever do.

Idaho rivers

There are more than 3,100 miles of whitewater river in the state. For information about guided river trips or float trips, check out the Idaho Department of Commerce’s Official State Travel Planner Web site at www.visitid.org/Outdoors/Rivers.html or call 334-2470.

Borah Peak

Borah Peak is the highest mountain in Idaho at 12,662 feet. Borah Peak is seven feet higher than it was in 1983, thanks to a 7.3 earthquake, and it still experiences occasional tremors. See rock spires, huge peaks, vast vistas, and wildlife near the mountain and in the surrounding 150,000 roadless acres. There are places for primitive camping, and the mountain can be climbed, but proper gear is recommended.

To get there, drive to Arco, go 45 miles north on US 93, and turn east on Birch Springs Road. For more information, see www.americasroof.com/id.html.

Silver City

Silver City is Idaho’s most well-preserved ghost town. It boomed from 1864 until 1889, yielding more than $60 million in precious metals. Between May and September, you can see 70 historic buildings. The Idaho Hotel offers food and fascinating information. To contact them, call 583-4104 or write to P.O. Box 75, Murphy, ID 83650.

To get to Silver City, drive southeast to Murphy on Hwy. 78. About six miles past Murphy, turn right on Silver City Rd., which will become a dirt road after a few miles. Continue southwest until you reach Silver City. Silver City is difficult to reach, and a four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. The road is usually impassable from October to April.

Lake Lowell

If you want nearby nature, Lake Lowell and the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge, located southwest of Nampa and Caldwell, are ideal for recreation and wildlife observation. Bird watchers can enjoy ducks, raptors, herons and gulls. Other recreation includes warm water fishing, picnicking and boating. Sailboats and motorboats are allowed from April 15 to Sept. 30. For more information call 467-9278.

Skiing

During the winter make some turns on one of Idaho’s 16 ski areas. Bogus Basin is only 16 miles north of Boise, or Brundage Mountain is 7 miles north of McCall. Idaho is also home to world-famous Sun Valley. For more information on alpine skiing, cross-country skiing or snowmobiling, check out the Idaho Department of Commerce’s Web site on winter activities at www.idaski.org.

Hunting

In Idaho, hunters can try for anything from quail to deer to mountain lion. For more information including rules, regulations and boundaries, call (800) 635-7820. For hunting and fishing information, see www.idfishnhunt.com.

Rafting the river

Every summer when the weather gets hot, the Boise River in Boise gets crowded with rafters and tubers, usually launching from Barber Park.
Call 343-6564 for information on how and where to get into the water.

Memorial Park

How about a family day in the park? Pack a picnic lunch and spend the day enjoying the park’s playground equipment, four tennis courts, three ball fields, swimming pool, Van Slyke Museum, bandshell, sand volleyball court and basketball court.

Ward Massacre Site

History buffs will find this area rich in events. Five miles northeast of Caldwell on Highway 20/26 is the site of a famous Indian massacre located along the Old Oregon Trail.

Luby Park Rose Garden

Spend a summer evening enjoying the wonderful fragrance of thousands of roses in bloom. Stroll through manicured gardens or sit under the flower-laden gazebo. Located in Luby Park, these gardens were established during the Depression era of the 1930’s. Today, over 2,000 roses are in bloom from May through September in the Caldwell park. For more information, call 455-3060.

TThe Idaho Shakespeare Festival will celebrate its 26th year of professional theater this summer in its year-old outdoor amphitheater located at 5657 Warm Springs Avenue, Boise.