Author: Jane

My digital nomad journey: lessons I’ve learned (and relearned) working remote from around the U.S.

My digital nomad journey: lessons I’ve learned (and relearned) working remote from around the U.S.

Whether you call it digital nomading, location independent, extreme remote work or something else, this not-so-new lifestyle is something that a lot of new people are choosing. My best friend and I are two such people. We are living and working remotely from various places 

An Idaho State Parks Challenge: 27 parks in one year is the best way to see the Gem State

An Idaho State Parks Challenge: 27 parks in one year is the best way to see the Gem State

The Idaho State Parks Challenge consists of visiting all of Idaho’s state parks in one year. We made up this challenge to see a bit more of our beautiful state and help alleviate the restlessness caused by Covid-19 travel restrictions. It was maybe the best 

Missing Idaho State Parks: how many state parks are in Idaho?

Missing Idaho State Parks: how many state parks are in Idaho?

Missing Idaho State Parks Overview

Rating: 4 out of 5.

When B and I started our Idaho State Parks Challenge we were a little confused on how many state parks there actually are in Idaho. It seems like this should be pretty clear. So our first step was to get a list of all of the state parks. Imagine our confusion when we saw different numbers listed for the total number of Idaho State Parks in different publications! I reached out to the Idaho State Parks department to get to the bottom of the discrepancy. It turns out there are a few parks that have flip-flopped between being on the list and off the list over the years. If you look in Idaho State Code, you’ll see 30 parks listed. However, the Idaho Park and Recreation website lists the number at 27, which includes two trails.

Four “parks” you may see listed on literature but no longer make the cut are Veterans Memorial State Park, Mowry State Park, Glade Creek State Park, and Malad Gorge State Park.

The Parks

  • Veterans Memorial State Park: this park has been turned into a city park in Garden City/Boise. It is right on the Boise River and has access to the Greenbelt. There are playgrounds, bathrooms, picnic areas, and lots and lots of grass. In one area there is a tribute to veterans, and different vet’s names are written on bricks. I’m partial to this particular park because my dad’s name is on a brick (Go Pops!). 
Veterans Memorial State Park
Nice monuments remembering those who have served our country at Veterans Memorial State Park.
  • Mowry State Park: this teeny former state park is only accessible by a boat now. It is essentially a campground. We weren’t able to actually go there, but from where we stayed in Harrison we figured we could see it across the Lake Coeur d’Alene. 
Sunset in Harrison, Idaho
Formerly Mowry State Park is in this general vicinity.
  • Glade Creek State Park: This former state park can be found on the stunning Highway 12 between Missoula, Montana, and Kooskia, Idaho. The park is now basically a campground. It will be pretty clear when you visit here why this area was a state park for a hot minute. The Lochsa River is one of Idaho’s prettiest, and that is a bold statement given Idaho’s stockpile of gorgeous rivers.
Clearwater National Forest
The Clearwater National Forest in northern Idaho has some of Idaho’s most glorious scenery.
  • Malad Gorge State Park: this park got absorbed into the Thousand Springs State Park. If you are ever driving across southwest Idaho on I-84, you will drive over the gorge. However, you need to pop off the freeway and walk over to fully experience this deep canyon.
Formerly Malad Gorge State Park
No reason to take down a perfectly good sign even if the the state park doesn’t exist anymore.

Conclusion

We’ve learned a lot about Idaho State Parks during 2020, and were able to see the great, not quite as great, and average parks throughout the state. While we didn’t physically step foot in every one of our four missing Idaho state parks, we can understand why they didn’t quite make the cut, mainly due to size. This is not to say you shouldn’t go visit! Like we learned at Harriman State Park (neighbor to Yellowstone National Park), sometimes it is better to be the unassuming neighbor with all the perks and not as many people.

Note: we visited Idaho State Parks as part of our Idaho State Parks Challenge. The challenge consists of visiting all of Idaho’s state parks in one year. We made up this challenge to see a bit more of our beautiful state and help alleviate the restlessness caused by Covid-19 travel restrictions. Feel free to join the challenge!

Related posts you might like:

Or if you want to see all of our posts, visit Past Posts.

Ponderosa State Park: water, snow, and crowds

Ponderosa State Park: water, snow, and crowds

State Park Overview Ponderosa State Park is in McCall, Idaho, which is two and a half hours north of Boise. Boiseans enjoy this park in all seasons, with hiking, boating, cross country skiing and mountain biking accessible in a pretty area. Pros: Lots to do 

Hells Gate State Park: much less scary than the name would imply

Hells Gate State Park: much less scary than the name would imply

Learn a little history or ride a jet boat at the lowest point in Idaho (733 feet) when you visit Hells Gate State Park. The name sounds a lot less inviting than this park actually is. State Park Overview Hells Gate State Park is located 

Heyburn State Park

Heyburn State Park

Heyburn State Park is Idaho’s and the Pacific Northwest’s first state park. Created in 1908 (or 1911, depending on who you ask), this park on the banks of Lake Coeur d’Alene set a great example for parks to come.

Stone welcome sign at Heyburn State Park
An original stone sign.

State Park Overview

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Heyburn State Park is located at the southern end of Coeur d’Alene Lake, where the St. Joe River feeds into the lake. Technically, there are a lot of lakes merging in this area. But to a layman (me), it all seems like Coeur d’Alene Lake. You can relax and soak up the scenery of pines trees and idyllic lakefront property. Boating activities abound.

Pros:

  • Interesting history with the CCC
  • Nice lake activities
  • Chill swim areas

Cons:

  • Road construction (to be fair, this is only a problem in 2020 most likely)
  • Pretty crowded
  • If you live in Coeur d’Alene, you pass a lot of nice areas that look a lot like this on your way to this park
Blue skies, girls paddle boarding on Lake Coeur d'Alene
R paddle boarding on the lake.

What To Do

  • Boat
  • Swim
  • Paddleboard

Amenities

The park and rec’s site lists the usual suspects for amenities in this park, but also has quite of variety for water activities, including non-motorized boat rentals and boat ramps. There is also a store with gasoline and some unusual lodging opportunities, including cottages and cabins.

Front view of the Heyburn State Park visitors center.
Visitors center at Heyburn State Park.

Crowd situation

Rating: 4 out of 5.

There are a few different places you can visit the park. We went with the Rocky Point area and there were not that many people at the beach. The other ones might be more popular.

Paddle board Lake Coeur d'Alene
Calm waters to learn how to paddle board.

Unique to Heyburn State Park

Being the first state park in Idaho is pretty cool. Only one park gets that distinction.

A little history about Heyburn State Park

In the early 1900s, Idaho’s congressional Senator Weldon Heyburn pushed real hard to get a national park in this area. His bill didn’t quite make it through Congress though. At the time, the feds were breaking up the Coeur d’Alene reservation and land that was a part of that would eventually be turned into Heyburn State Park. But don’t feel super sorry for Mr. Heyburn; he also got a mountain and town named after him.

In the 1930s and 1940s the Civilian Conservation Corps came to the area and built up the park. We saw the Rocky Point Lodge they built, which looks very good for its age.

Girl in front of Rocky Point Lodge in Heyburn State Park
R in front of Rocky Point Lodge.

Explore nearby

Our experience at Heyburn State Park

We decided paddle boarding at Heyburn State Park would be a fun way to see this area and also get a little more experience on paddle boards. There are a few different places that have places that have beach areas that we could start at, but we decided to launch our boards at Rocky Point. Rocky Point Lodge was right next to the parking lot; we couldn’t go in, but we took a peak-see around and it was super cool.

We were both successful at not tipping our boards over and we were able to follow along the edge of the water. In the distance, we could see the Chatcolet Bridge, which we would ride our tandem bike over the following day as part of the Coeur d’Alene trail. The paddle boarding was very nice and a good place for beginners (which I am). I didn’t tip over once and there weren’t that many boats to send wakes that would threaten my balance too much. We saw a bunch of boat slips, so this place could probably get pretty busy, but we didn’t see that much traffic. 

Two girls sitting on paddle boards in Northern Idaho
Two novices learning to paddleboard.

There was a nice grassy area where we could fill and empty our paddle boards (they are inflatable) that was close distance to the car and water, so we didn’t have to carry them far.

Conclusion

Heyburn State Park, on the opposite end of Coeur d’Alene Lake from Coeur d’Alene, is a nice alternative to hanging out in Coeur d’Alene. It is more secluded and has a more outdoorsy, camping feel while not being too far away from the city.

Note: we visited Heyburn State Park as part of our Idaho State Parks Challenge. The challenge consists of visiting all of Idaho’s state parks in one year. We made up this challenge to see a bit more of our beautiful state and help alleviate the restlessness caused by Covid-19 travel restrictions. Feel free to join the challenge!

Related posts you might like:

Or if you want to see all of our posts, visit Past Posts.

Farragut State Park: wind, frisbee golf, and deep waters

Farragut State Park: wind, frisbee golf, and deep waters

Forces of nature (wind) tried to keep us away from Farragut State Park by knocking over trees and power lines, but we persevered and got to explore (some) of this beautiful park. State Park Overview Farragut State Park in northern Idaho is located on the 

Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park: Idaho’s oldest building

Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park: Idaho’s oldest building

State Park Overview Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park (that’s a mouthful so it will hereafter be known as Old Mission State Park) in northern Idaho celebrates the first building in all of Idaho: the Cataldo Mission. Priests came to this part of Idaho to 

Priest Lake State Park: a northern Idaho gem with smaller crowds

Priest Lake State Park: a northern Idaho gem with smaller crowds

State Park Overview

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Priest Lake State Park is the northernmost state park in Idaho. It is 15 miles from the Canadian border and a beautiful blue lake surrounded by mountains and pine trees. Less visited than its sister lakes (Coeur d’Alene and Pend Oreille), Priest Lake feels like a secret that you are lucky enough to be in on. 

Priest Lake State Park sign.
Priest Lake State Park entrance sign.

Pros:

  • Very, very pretty
  • Not as crowded as other lakes      
  • Range of boating activities

Cons:

  • Cold water
  • Takes a long time to get to
  • Will want to come back again and again and again

What To Do at Priest Lake State Park

  • Boat
  • Fish
  • Camp
  • Paddleboard
Girl on a paddleboard on Priest Lake, Idaho.
Paddle boarding on the lake.

Amenities

There are three units that comprise Priest Lake State Park: Lion Head, Indian Creek, and Dickensheet. Different amenities can be found in the different units. In the section we went to, Indian Creek, there is a small camp store, RV hookups and camp spots, and vault bathrooms. For all of the details about Priest Lake, visit the Department of Parks and Rec website.

Crowd situation

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Better than the other lakes in this area, but it can still get crowded. We went the day after Labor Day and didn’t have any problems, but we heard Labor Day weekend had no available campsites.

Unique to Priest Lake State Park

A silent movie film star in the 1920s, Nell Shipman, made Priest Lake her home and starred and produced several movies here. Shipman Point is named for this impressive woman who bucked the gender roles in the 20s. Hey girl hey….

Priest Lake State Park dock.
Enjoying the last days of summer on Priest Lake.

A little history about Priest Lake State Park

One theory for the name Priest Lake is that the previous name for it, Kaniksu, meant black robe in the local native dialect. Get it? Black robe=priest. Logging was (and still is) big business in Northern Idaho. In an effort to protect the area’s resources in the 1900s, land around Priest Lake became national forest and then Idaho forest lands, eventually making its way to a state park.

Explore nearby

Pine trees at Priest Lake State Park.
Sun and shade at Priest Lake State Park.

Our experience at Priest Lake State Park

We visited the eastern part of the park. When we arrived, we popped into the quaint camp store to see what they had to offer (an odd selection of camping supplies and lake merchandise). I ended up with a Priest Lake sweatshirt and B got a wall hanging. Go figure. We then made our way to the water after driving through the camp spots. Parking spots next to the water were starting to fill up, but we scored a close one and blew up our paddle boards. The water was a little choppy, but we managed to paddle around a segment of the lake that had cool lake houses for us to look at. The water was pretty chilly, so I was glad I didn’t fall off the board. 

We talked to a few people and learned that most visitors to the park were from the area, not just in Idaho but in Washington also. It is pretty clear why, the scenery is hard to beat.

Two friends on the lake in northern Idaho.
Lake time for B and R.

Conclusion

Priest Lake State Park is a long ways from Boise. But if you are into clear water and pine trees, and don’t want to be surrounded by very many Boiseans, this might be the park for you. Nell was on to something.

Note: we visited Priest Lake State Park as part of our Idaho State Parks Challenge. The challenge consists of visiting all of Idaho’s state parks in one year. We made up this challenge to see a bit more of our beautiful state and help alleviate the restlessness caused by Covid-19 travel restrictions. Feel free to join the challenge!

Related posts you might like:

Or if you want to see all of our posts, visit Past Posts.

Massacre Rocks State Park

Massacre Rocks State Park

State Park Overview Massacre Rocks State Park can be found on the Snake River in southeastern Idaho. This dry stretch of land is full of sagebrush and rattlesnakes, but the Snake River adds variety to the landscape. History is the name of the game here,