All United States Idaho

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Idaho

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

Updated August 17, 2023

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Cities

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All Cities
  1. Arco
  2. Boise
  3. Coolin
  4. Leadore
  5. Salmon
  6. Sun Valley
  7. Twin Falls
  8. Wallace

Unusual Attractions in Idaho

See All 53 Things To Do in Idaho

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Idaho

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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.

View Itinerary

Explore Idaho

Nature 9
Mines 7
Museums And Collections 6
Geology 5
Ghost Towns 4
Water 4
Waterfalls 4
Rocks 4

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Recent Idaho Activity

Stories About Idaho

Wood River Valley, site of a roughly four-mile move of an entire house—while its residents were in it.

Podcast: A House Move Like No Other

Author Dave Eggers shares the story of a unique family and one of the strangest, slowest moves in history.
by The Podcast Team
A sea lamprey that's clearly ready for its close-up—and for a new appreciation of its role in its native ecosystems.

Sea Lampreys, Long Reviled, Are Finally Getting Some Respect

Once dismissed as "ugly," this sucker-mouthed fish plays an important role in its native ecosystem.
by Ted Williams

Podcast: Yellowstone's Zone of Death

Can a legal loophole make it possible to get away with murder?
by The Podcast Team

Podcast: Museum of Clean

Keeping history squeaky-clean.
by The Podcast Team

Podcast: Trailing of the Sheep

What happens when thousands of ovids take over an Idaho town.
Sponsored by GoUSA TV
Hells Canyon National Recreational Area, which runs mostly along the border of Idaho and Oregon, encompasses more than 650,000 acres.

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
Just offshore from the postcard-worthy landscapes is a seismic threat as catastrophic as any on earth.

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
The cabin is short, squat, and free of frills.

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

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