While Idaho certainly has some fantastic cities, there is nothing like its rural areas. In these small and remote areas of the state, you can find some lesser-known hidden gems. In fact, there’s nothing like a drive through the desert to find a beautiful blue spring or three large charcoal kilns. To help you find some of these one-of-a-kind treasures, we’ve put together this rural road trip in Idaho. Get away from the crazy city life and enjoy this remote side of the Gem State.

Google Maps This road trip begins near Leadore and takes you near Twin Falls. This entire road trip requires 4.5 hours of drive time and you will cover more than 250 miles. We recommend you use this interactive map to customize your road trip. Don’t be afraid to add some of your own stops along the way!

Birch Creek Charcoal Kilns, Near Leadore

Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr The first stop on our road trip is sitting in the middle of nowhere but provides quite a fascinating sight — the Birch Creek Charcoal Kilns. These hut-like domes were originally built to make charcoal from wood for smelting ore at the nearby Nicholia Mine and they are quite easy to spot from a distance. In fact, standing at 20 feet in height and diameter, they quickly capture your attention. Leadore, ID 83464, USA

Experimental Breeder Reactor-I (EBR-I) Atomic Museum, Near Arco

kevan j/TripAdvisor Did you know the small town of Arco was the first city in the world to be lit by atomic power? You can learn all about it and much more at the EBR-I Museum. This museum is actually a National Historic Landmark and you’ll find it approximately 18 miles outside of Arco. Arco, ID 83213, USA

Mammoth Cave, Shoshone

Kat n Dog named Thirsty/Google Mammoth Cave is one stop on this road trip that you will not want to miss. This is a remarkable volcanic cave and it is located near the small town of Shoshone. You can take a self-guided tour into the cave, which is approximately 0.5 miles round trip. During your visit, give yourself plenty of time to also check out the Shoshone Bird Museum and the Richard Arthur Olsen Museum of Natural History. Idaho’s Mammoth Cave & Shoshone Bird Museum Of Natural History, 251 W Thorn Creek St, Shoshone, ID 83352, USA

Black Magic Canyon, North of Shoshone

jsharpton/TripAdvisor
Just north of Shoshone, you will find a true treasure — Black Magic Canyon. This canyon is filled with the most unique lava rock sculptures that twist and wind all around. However, to see this unique canyon, you’ll have to hike to it — so don’t forget good hiking shoes! The canyon is only visible half of the year as the Big Wood Canal Company diverts water through the canyon during the spring and summer months. If you plan to visit between March and September, we recommend you call the canal company to determine if the canyon will be dry during your adventure. Black Magic Canyon of Big Wood River, State Hwy 75, Shoshone, ID 83352, USA

Box Canyon, Wendell

devan higgins/Google Box Canyon is quite unique. When you first arrive, you’ll be surrounded by desert. However, if you take the Box Canyon Trail, you will come to the rim of a canyon and hike down to where you will see incredible turquoise water. In fact, you will be hiking to the eleventh largest natural spring in the entire United States! Box Canyon State Park, W Point Rd, Wendell, ID 83355, USA

Blue Heart Springs, Hagerman

Jessica Carney/Google You don’t have to travel far from Box Canyon to reach Blue Heart Springs. This is a secret swimming hole in Idaho with the most vibrant and mesmerizing blue water. It is also a terrific place to get away from the crowds because the easiest way to access this swimming hole is by kayak or canoe. Blue Heart Springs, Idaho 83316, USA

What do you think about this rural road trip in Idaho? What stops would you add along the way? Let us and your fellow travelers know in the comments!

Google Maps

This road trip begins near Leadore and takes you near Twin Falls. This entire road trip requires 4.5 hours of drive time and you will cover more than 250 miles. We recommend you use this interactive map to customize your road trip. Don’t be afraid to add some of your own stops along the way!

Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr

The first stop on our road trip is sitting in the middle of nowhere but provides quite a fascinating sight — the Birch Creek Charcoal Kilns. These hut-like domes were originally built to make charcoal from wood for smelting ore at the nearby Nicholia Mine and they are quite easy to spot from a distance. In fact, standing at 20 feet in height and diameter, they quickly capture your attention.

Leadore, ID 83464, USA

kevan j/TripAdvisor

Did you know the small town of Arco was the first city in the world to be lit by atomic power? You can learn all about it and much more at the EBR-I Museum. This museum is actually a National Historic Landmark and you’ll find it approximately 18 miles outside of Arco.

Arco, ID 83213, USA

Kat n Dog named Thirsty/Google

Mammoth Cave is one stop on this road trip that you will not want to miss. This is a remarkable volcanic cave and it is located near the small town of Shoshone. You can take a self-guided tour into the cave, which is approximately 0.5 miles round trip. During your visit, give yourself plenty of time to also check out the Shoshone Bird Museum and the Richard Arthur Olsen Museum of Natural History.

Idaho’s Mammoth Cave & Shoshone Bird Museum Of Natural History, 251 W Thorn Creek St, Shoshone, ID 83352, USA

jsharpton/TripAdvisor

Just north of Shoshone, you will find a true treasure — Black Magic Canyon. This canyon is filled with the most unique lava rock sculptures that twist and wind all around. However, to see this unique canyon, you’ll have to hike to it — so don’t forget good hiking shoes! The canyon is only visible half of the year as the Big Wood Canal Company diverts water through the canyon during the spring and summer months. If you plan to visit between March and September, we recommend you call the canal company to determine if the canyon will be dry during your adventure.

Black Magic Canyon of Big Wood River, State Hwy 75, Shoshone, ID 83352, USA

devan higgins/Google

Box Canyon is quite unique. When you first arrive, you’ll be surrounded by desert. However, if you take the Box Canyon Trail, you will come to the rim of a canyon and hike down to where you will see incredible turquoise water. In fact, you will be hiking to the eleventh largest natural spring in the entire United States!

Box Canyon State Park, W Point Rd, Wendell, ID 83355, USA

Jessica Carney/Google

You don’t have to travel far from Box Canyon to reach Blue Heart Springs. This is a secret swimming hole in Idaho with the most vibrant and mesmerizing blue water. It is also a terrific place to get away from the crowds because the easiest way to access this swimming hole is by kayak or canoe.

Blue Heart Springs, Idaho 83316, USA

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