Summer in Idaho: Sawtooth Wilderness Spotlight

  Photo Credit: Pxfuel.com Summer is here, bringing with it those long sunny days. There is no better time to get outside and explore the nature Idaho has to offer, and there is no better place to do it than the Sawtooth Wilderness. The Sawtooths are a mountain range in Central Idaho and are legendary for rugged, sharp peaks, crystal clear alpine lakes, and spectacular vistas. Start planning your Sawtooth trip this summer using this guide! Redfish Lake: Redfish Lake is a stunning alpine lake that sits right outside of Stanley, Idaho. It has been a popular destination to relax and unwind since the 1800s, and was inhabited by the Sheepeaters tribe much earlier than that. Redfish gets its name from the bright red Sockeye Salmon which swim upstream to spawn at the lake each summer. It is said that back before dams and overfishing reduced the Sockeye numbers dramatically, there used to be so many spawning fish returning to Redfish that you could walk on their backs across the lake. Nowadays, visitors flock to enjoy the camping, hiking, boating, and fishing that surround this remarkable lake. Whether it be a day trip or a weekend getaway, Redfish Lake is a staple of the Sawtooths and a must-see! Photo Credit: Unsplash Hiking: Hiking in the Sawtooths can include some serious elevation gain, but the views at the top make the trek very rewarding. Since the sheer number of trails can seem overwhelming, here are our top 3 choices that are worth the effort: Goat Lake:  This trail is an ~8 mile out-and-back hike that leads to a breathtaking alpine lake surrounded by impressive mountains. This trail is challenging with a lot of elevation gain, but jumping in the cold lake at the top helps to refresh and cool off for the hike down. Fishhook Creek Trail: A family-friendly option, this 5 mile out-and-back trail has minimal elevation gain and ends up with views of the Sawtooth mountains sprawl beyond a gorgeous meadow. Bench Lakes: A nice intermediate-advanced option is the Bench Lakes trail, which starts near Redfish Lake and goes 8 miles out and back to five different alpine lakes. From the tranquil lakes, you can see craggy peaks of the Sawtooths and even spend the night in one of the countless campgrounds at the 5 Bench lakes. Photo Credit: Kaija Zoller Camping: The Sawtooths are a part of the Central Idaho Dark Sky reserve and once the sun sets on the sharp peaks and vast wilderness of this mountain range, the real show begins. When it comes to camping in the Sawtooths, there are two main options: campgrounds and dispersed camping. Campgrounds will typically have much more amenities such as bathrooms, picnic tables, and trash; reservations are recommended and can be tricky to secure. Dispersed camping is camping anywhere in the Sawtooth National Forest outside of designated campgrounds, meaning you could sleep right next to alpine lake and under the tall peaks of the Sawtooths. This is very popular among backpackers and although it can require more gear, it is useful in splitting long hikes into multi-day trips. Remember when camping to Leave No Trace, and pack out or throw away everything you bring in. Whether you're driving up to a campsite for a night or backpacking into an alpine lake, camping is an amazing way to experience the Sawtooths both at day and night!  Photo Credit: Kaija Zoller Wildlife:  The Sawtooths are home to countless species of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects and it is almost impossible to enter this National Forest without seeing wildlife. At lower elevations, you might see elk and mule deer, coyotes, snowshoe hares, chipmunks, pine martens, and even the rare black bear. At high elevations, you may be able to spot a mountain goat or a bighorn sheep, which are more common than you would think. Birds you might see include golden and bald eagles, a variety of sparrows, meadowlarks, and red winged blackbirds among many others. Photo Credit: Kaija Zoller        

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Back To School Bucket List

  Credit: Olia Danilevich - Pexels School is just around the corner and a lot of us are wondering how summer flew by so quickly. Make the most of these last few weeks of free time with this Back to School Bucket List for you and your family!   Last minute camping trip: One of the best things about summer is the warm nights perfect for camping. A last minute camping trip doesn’t need to be a challenging endeavor, all it takes is packing your car with the essentials (tent, sleeping bag, food, ect) and choosing a campsite near Boise. You can even make it a backyard camping trip for a fun and easy experience at home! Photo by Laura Pluth on Unsplash   Discovery Center visit: The Discovery Center is the perfect place to get your kids excited about learning and going back to school! It is full of hands-on science activities that help kids understand complex concepts while having fun. Exhibits are constantly changing and always built to nurture curiosity in children. Although admissions are on the pricier side ($19.50 for children and $27.50 for adults), there are endless exhibits and experiments for your child to partake in. Photo by Junior League of Boise   Farmers market: The Boise Farmers Market is the perfect Saturday morning activity and is open from 9am-1pm every Saturday through October. Whether you are shopping for local and fresh produce, pasta, milks, breads, jams, and other food items, or just grabbing breakfast and a coffee, the farmers market is an awesome place to wander around and support local businesses. Photo by Boise Farmers Market   Go swimming: Stay cool in the last days of the summer and go swimming before pools close up and it gets too cold! Head down to a public pool (take a look at this blog to see all the public pools in Boise), or have a “beach” day at Quinn’s pond to enjoy the last of outdoor swimming this summer. Photo by City of Boise   Go on a hike: As the July heat slightly fades and it becomes possible to workout outside without struggling through three-digit temperatures, it’s once again possible to go on a hike in Boise. Although you will still likely have to avoid the midday heat, head out in the morning or evening and take on one of these awesome Boise hikes!                                                                                                Photo by Kaija Zoller

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5 Events in Boise and Beyond - July 7th - 9th

Credit: Elina Fairytale on Pexels 5 Events in Boise & Beyond 1. Eagle Fun Days Where: Heritage Park When: Saturday, July 8th Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm EVENT DETAILS HERE   2. Sip Idaho Where:  The Riverside Hotel When: Saturday, July 8th Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm EVENT DETAILS HERE   3. Family Fun in the SUN-Day Where: Payette Brewing Co. When: Sunday, July 9th Time: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm EVENT DETAILS HERE   4. Pause, Look, & Listen Where: Idaho Shakespeare Festival When: Saturday, July 8th Time: 8:30 am - 9:30 am EVENT DETAILS HERE   5. Bubble Run Boise Where: Expo Idaho When: Saturday, July 8th & Sunday July 9th Time: Sat: 7:00 am & Sun: 6:59 am EVENT DETAILS HERE

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