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All United States Idaho

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Idaho

48 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Idaho

Updated March 2, 2023

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Cities

Top Cities
Boise
Wallace
Arco
Sun Valley
Coolin
Salmon
All Cities
  1. Arco
  2. Boise
  3. Coolin
  4. Leadore
  5. Salmon
  6. Sun Valley
  7. Wallace
Attractions
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Unusual Attractions in Idaho

Arco, Idaho

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve

Home to the deepest rift anywhere on Earth.

Wallace, Idaho

Burke Ghost Town

A mining town, now abandoned, was built in a canyon so narrow that the railroad ran right through the hotel lobby.

Coolin, Idaho

Lionhead Natural Water Slides

Natural rock water slides hidden in the remote forests of northern Idaho.

Stanley, Idaho

Custer Ghost Town

See just what life was like in a 19th-century prospecting town.

Blackfoot, Idaho

Idaho Potato Museum

This museum glorifies the humble potato.

Boise, Idaho

The Black Cliffs

These black pillars of volcanic basalt seem to call mountain climbers with an unbreakable siren song.

Boise, Idaho

Big Idaho Potato Hotel

When in Idaho, sleep in a giant potato.

Cottonwood, Idaho

Dog Bark Park Inn

Sweet Willy, at 30 feet tall, is the world's biggest beagle.
See All 48 Things To Do in Idaho

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Idaho

Blackfoot, Idaho

Idaho Potato Museum

This museum glorifies the humble potato.

Boise, Idaho

Big Idaho Potato Hotel

When in Idaho, sleep in a giant potato.
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

6 Stone-Cold Stunners in Idaho

It turns out that no one really knows how Idaho got its name. It's been thought that the name came from Shoshone, but in truth it may have just been made up by a somewhat shady politician. Regardless of what you call it, the Gem State is sparsely populated and unapologetically wild, and full of wonders—especially geological ones. As the pandemic continues, we hope this virtual trip helps you explore America’s wonders. If you do choose to venture out, please follow all guidelines, maintain social distance, and wear a mask.

View Itinerary

Explore Idaho

Nature 8
Mines 7
Museums And Collections 6
Geology 5
Ghost Towns 4
Rocks 4
Waterfalls 3
Hotels 3
Subterranean Sites 3
Art 3
History 2
Places To Stay 2

Idaho Leaderboard

Places Added

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Add an unusual place to Idaho.

Places Edited

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    Collector of Experiences
    10
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    rebecaschandel
    6
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    tylercole
    6
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    Molly McBride Jacobson
    4
  5. Avatar image for ccesare
    ccesare
    4
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Places Visited

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    DallasKarhu
    34
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Recent Idaho Activity

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    cindy 9baa4c88

    has been to Shoshone Falls

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    has been to Geyser Park

  • A

    Anonymous22

    has been to 'Gentle Breeze'

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    Anonymous22

    wants to go to Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

  • A

    Anonymous22

    updated Freak Alley Gallery

Stories About Idaho

Podcast: Trailing of the Sheep

What happens when thousands of ovids take over an Idaho town.
Sponsored by GoUSA TV

Come Hell or High Water, Mail Arrives Weekly in This Remote Canyon

Jill and Jim Koch have been delivering mail by boat to Hells Canyon for decades, following a century-old route.
by Michelle Harris
November 24, 2021

A Massive Earthquake Is Coming to Cascadia—And It Can't Be Stopped

But it can be anticipated and mitigated. Meet four guardians of the Pacific Northwest.
by Kaitlyn Schwalje
August 25, 2020

How to Restore a Hermit Hut in the Idaho Wilderness

A team of forest archaeologists and preservationists trekked into the wilderness to rebuild a century-old cabin.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
August 12, 2019

The Most Magical 'Little Free Library' Is Built Right Into a Tree Stump

A rotting 110-year-old black cottonwood gets a second life.
by Cara Strickland
January 28, 2019

The Behind-the-Scenes Story of an Unplanned Meltdown at America’s First Nuclear Power Reactor

Ray Haroldsen didn't really notice anything was wrong.
by Sarah Laskow
April 11, 2017

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