Idaho has been rated as one of the best places to visit for nature lovers. This is due to the presence of some of the vast expanses of forests and huge mountain ranges like the Rocky Mountains. The history of the state talks about Indian presence on the soil of Idaho for many centuries. It also speaks of the mining boom as well as a plethora of events that can be observed by visiting various museums that are constantly endeavoring to preserve the essence of various forms of art and culture. Besides museums and monuments, Idaho also has a lot to offer the adrenaline junkie who seeks adventures to enjoy life. There is no dearth in Idaho of various tourist attractions which can be added to one’s list.
The Garden Valley in Idaho is one of the safest bets when it comes to adventurous outdoor activities like trekking, mountain climbing or river rafting etc. This is because the Payette River flows through this area.
The nature of the river is such that it has something to offer to the beginners (who are more interested in treading the water than taking on the challenging waves) and the veterans (who seek out the most dangerous sections for white water rafting).
Certain sections like the Gateway, Little Falls and Lone Pine etc are favorites with the veterans.
This in itself shows that Idaho is a great place to just relax and get away from the urban life or immerse oneself in challenging outdoor activities.
| Hagerman Fossil Beds Location | Twin Falls County / Gooding County, Idaho, USA |
| Hagerman Fossil Beds Nearest city | Hagerman, IDNearest city: Hagerman, ID |
| Hagerman Fossil Beds Coordinates | 42°47′25″N 114°56′43″W |
| Hagerman Fossil Beds Area | 4,351 acres (17.60 km²) |
| Hagerman Fossil Beds Established | November 18, 1988 Established: November 18, 1988 |
| Hagerman Fossil Beds Visitors | 22,442 (in 2004) |
| Hagerman Fossil Beds Governing Body | National Park Service |
Hagerman in Idaho is particularly famous for the exhibits of fossilized historic and sometimes extinct species of plants and animals. Some experts are of the view that humans did settle in this area thousands of years ago on the basis of certain findings.
Some fossils have attracted a slew of archeologists and historians alike. For example the exhibit of the Saber Tooth Cat was a huge attraction with the kids and the academia too.
Other examples of exhibits like Mastodon, Bear, and Shrew are surprising enough.
Horses hold a special place at the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. This is because a huge number of fossils on show for the visiting public are those of horses (nearly 30 complete horse fossils).
Idaho’s tourist places to visit definitely include this national monument of fossil beds. The staff presiding over this park is extremely tourist friendly and they offer educational DVDs, at a price of course.
| Coordinates: 42°56′12″N 114°24′28″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Lincoln |
| Area | |
| - Total | 1.0 sq mi (2.5 km2) |
| - Land | 1.0 sq mi (2.5 km2) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,963 ft (1,208 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 1,398 |
| - Density | 1,432.0/sq mi (552.9/km2) |
| Time zone | Mountain (MST) (UTC-7) |
| - Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP codes | 83324, 83352 |
| Area code(s) | 208 |
| FIPS code | 16-73900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0400083 |
Another one of the well known and famous tourist places in the state is the Shoshone Indian Ice Cave. It is deemed as a miracle of nature. The dimensions and the nature of this cave is enough to attract anybody to it.
This cave is actually a historic lava tube and is speculated to be formed a few thousand years ago. The total length of the cave is an astounding thousand feet whereas the difference between the floor and the ceiling is between eight feet to thirty feet.
The reason behind the formation of such an unusual ice cave is said to be because of the extreme weather conditions and a phenomena called ‘cold trap effect’.
In the winter season, all the cold air flowing through the tunnel is responsible for freezing the water which percolates the fractures in the walls of the cave. Over time, the entire wall gets covered with sheets of ice. As the interior of the wall is not exposed to sunlight, the internal conditions remain the same.
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The average temperature inside the cave is between -7 degrees C and .5 degrees C. One can explore the entire cave as the floor has been covered by a wooden platform to further facilitate the visitors’ interest at this tourist destination.