Destinations

DESTINATIONS

Idaho City, Idaho

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO, there were plenty of reasons to go to Idaho City in the mountains north of the Boise Basin. First and foremost, there was gold, discovered there by H.D. Fogus in 1862. That discovery lead to an infusion of miners, businessmen, gamblers, preachers and thieves, making Idaho City the largest population center of the Northwest by 1866.

Today, Idaho City is a virtual ghost town. But there are still plenty of reasons to visit there, especially by motorcycle. Route 21, which goes through the city and into the Boise National Forest, is one of the most beautiful and exciting mountain roads in Idaho. And if you're a dirtbike rider, there are hundreds of miles of legal riding trails throughout the forest.

When the ride is over, the city offers plenty of hospitality to its visitors. What the town lacks in population, it makes up for in color and history. You can still find a comfortable room at the Idaho City Hotel and a thick steak at Killer’s Bar and Grill. Plus, there are enough interesting shops on obscure dirt roads to make the city a great stopover, or a destination in itself. One warning, though: Bring a few bottles of

Perrier. Idaho City offers friendliness, hospitality and history. Nobody said anything about drinking water. —Ron Lawson

Information

Idaho Travel Council Statehouse, Room 108 Boise, ID 83720 800/635-7820