Looking for Idaho suggestions.

[wicked1]

I'm going to spend a couple weeks in Idaho in June. I've seen a bunch of great trip reports. And after many of them are people saying things like, Let me know before you go again, because there are so many things to see, etc..

Mostly interested in sight seeing.. or, just being in beautiful areas. Mountains, rivers, and abandoned or historic places. We mostly just explore and hike. (Me, wife, and 10 year old son). We've got a fairly capable rig and our intention is always to get as far out into nature and away from people as possible. We avoid public campgrounds unless there's something very worth seeing there.

This will likely be our only visit there, at least for quite a while.. It's a long drive from home base! (southern-ish midwest).

I've already got a bunch of places on my map and am sure it will be great, but if anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it.

 

[jiminruskin]

Search online for the Idaho BDR, we are going to try to drive most of this. I am sure there will be snow/road closures or just some terrain that is not suitable for our rig.

 

[nikonron]

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is beautiful and Stanley is a quiet little town. Plenty of hiking trails, the hike to Alice lake is a good one, 11 miles round trip.

 

[kmcintyre]

So many great things to see/do, etc. You'll be really close to the FWC rally!
One of my all time favorite trips we did was along the Lolo Motorway. You'll be too early for that but that area where you go East towards Missoula is great. I'm mainly into fishing and there's a lot of great spots along rivers, etc. I know (St. Joe, etc.) and up north is amazing. I know more about backpacking, etc. in the Southern part of the state near Stanley/Sun Valley/etc. areas but that's a bit out of your way too. I'll dig around and see if I can find any specific places. I know we camped at a state campground (Heyburn) up north that was nice but you may not want campgrounds. The lakes in N. Idaho are great.

 

[wicked1]

Thanks for the suggestions! Lolo looks great! Our time frame is fluid, so we might push it back a week or two and the trail could be open. We've had a few suggestions about the area around Stanley, and it looks beautiful around there.
I was perhaps too harsh about public camp grounds in my first post. If there's anything worth seeing/doing, it's worth it for a night or two. I know there are often really unique areas in state parks. We do like to eventually find a dispersed camp where we can just spread out and be in nature alone for a few days. But, I don't expect anyone to tell me their favorite private dispersed spot on a public forum! So yeah, if there are any good parks or campgrounds, I'm open to suggestions.

But otherwise, I think we can easily fill our two weeks w/ the info I've got.

Now my big concern is whether or not to get new tires.... 35k on them. ~8/32 tread remaining.. On road tires, they'd be fine. If I were going to the desert, I wouldn't be concerned. But the mountains w/ snow melt and mud...

 

[kmcintyre]

Thanks for the suggestions! Lolo looks great! Our time frame is fluid, so we might push it back a week or two and the trail could be open. We've had a few suggestions about the area around Stanley, and it looks beautiful around there.
I was perhaps too harsh about public camp grounds in my first post. If there's anything worth seeing/doing, it's worth it for a night or two. I know there are often really unique areas in state parks. We do like to eventually find a dispersed camp where we can just spread out and be in nature alone for a few days. But, I don't expect anyone to tell me their favorite private dispersed spot on a public forum! So yeah, if there are any good parks or campgrounds, I'm open to suggestions.

But otherwise, I think we can easily fill our two weeks w/ the info I've got.

Now my big concern is whether or not to get new tires.... 35k on them. ~8/32 tread remaining.. On road tires, they'd be fine. If I were going to the desert, I wouldn't be concerned. But the mountains w/ snow melt and mud...

Lolo and the Locksa lodge are awesome. To do the Lolo could take 3-4 days if you don't push it too much and longer if you do side trips/roads, hikes, etc. You'll have to check the snow pack. Usually they say around July 1. The year we did it, it was late July and we were mtn biking it. Great side trips to lakes, etc. History too. I think there's a campground down from Locksa lodge too. We spent the night at the lodge and then drove up the road towards the Lolo then got on our bikes, rode up and started the trip. We took 7 days.

 

[wicked1]

Lolo and the Locksa lodge are awesome. To do the Lolo could take 3-4 days if you don't push it too much and longer if you do side trips/roads, hikes, etc. You'll have to check the snow pack. Usually they say around July 1. The year we did it, it was late July and we were mtn biking it. Great side trips to lakes, etc. History too. I think there's a campground down from Locksa lodge too. We spent the night at the lodge and then drove up the road towards the Lolo then got on our bikes, rode up and started the trip. We took 7 days.

K,
How has the weather been this year? We're finalizing plans.. Can leave on either the 14th or 21st. If it's been warm or there wasn't a lot of snow pack, we'll go for earlier.. Otherwise, later makes sense.

Thanks!

 

[wicked1]

I called the forest service.. They were incredibly helpful and friendly! (That's not always the case).
Winter snow was average. Temps have been warmer than average.
No one knows if they'll be open around last week of June.. Maybe.

Super cool people, though.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

We did the Lolo pass area back in 2009. Stayed several nights at the CGs
along the Locksa/Clearwater river area.
We were headed to Glacier NP and did the return through that area but didn't camp on the return. Beautiful country.
Frank

 

[wicked1]

Thanks. I think we're pushing off the vacation a week so we can drive it.

We were in Glacier a couple years ago, around this time.
The day we were leaving, they opened the going to the sun road! That was a beautiful drive, and amazing timing.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

When we visited Glacier we took advantage of the free shuttle up to the Going to the Sun.
Better then driving.Got to watch the Mt. Goats.
We visited in late August early September.
Frank

 

[kmcintyre]

K,
How has the weather been this year? We're finalizing plans.. Can leave on either the 14th or 21st. If it's been warm or there wasn't a lot of snow pack, we'll go for earlier.. Otherwise, later makes sense.

Thanks!

I don't really know on historical weather as it's a bit far from Boise. Seems about normal to me though. I'd also watch for fires in the area (smoke).

 

[kmcintyre]

When we visited Glacier we took advantage of the free shuttle up to the Going to the Sun.
Better then driving.Got to watch the Mt. Goats.
We visited in late August early September.
Frank

I once did that road on my road bike. It was one of the best days on a road bike (bicycle) ever. Had to do it East to West as they close it early going West to East.