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    Bruneau Dunes State Park

    4.6 (33 reviews)

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    Amy D.

    Bruneau Dunes State Park is located about an hour outside of Boise, and the drive is mostly freeway. It was really interesting to see the sand dunes pop out of nowhere, and the rest of the area nearby is mostly agricultural. I lucked out and came on a perfectly warm but not hot day in early October. There were a good amount of people sledding down the smaller dune, with a few brave kids running down and somersaulting/face planting into the sand. There is a $7 entrance fee for cars- make sure you lift the lid to grab the envelope. Bringing exact change is highly recommended unless you want to pay extra, since there wasn't anyone in the booth when I arrived. Don't think about skipping payment, since the ranger WILL give you a ticket (you'll then have to pay $27, with the $20 ticket). Thankfully, I saw the ranger and explained that I couldn't find the envelope earlier, and they very nicely let me pay the $7 (probably felt some pity for someone too dumb to lift the lid, sighs). I thought it was worth the $7 and drive to check out such a unique spot (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=fSW2ox9rq6mRDmx-A8GhOw&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=pnVxwi8niknFjXlQyQxiBg&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=20GV3L3xrP3g9EUFuQ3tlA&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=g_Roo-dwnckjBpPbt0dw7A&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=4irJLOXU-awKDGTLE6EnpQ&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=mwey3i5CoN4W1DKWVMUXbw&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg). I climbed to the top of the dune, and started from the trail to the right of the lake (drive past the parking lot next to the first sand dune and park in the second parking lot by the lake). Keep an eye out for the trail markers since you'll walk through some shady areas with trees before you reach the base of the sand dune. It was a little easier climbing up by using the footprints left behind by previous climbers, but it wasn't an easy climb since the sand would shift constantly. It took about 30 minutes to get to the top of the dune, and I was definitely sweaty by the end of the hike. In another dumb move, I wore flip flops- wearing sneakers or hiking boots would've been the way to go. Wearing a hat and applying sunscreen beforehand is highly recommended, as well as bringing a bottle of water! You can also camp here, and this would've been an awesome place to star gaze at night. There were "bathrooms" available, but they were more of a hole in the shape of a toliet versus the flushable variety.

    Bring sleds!
    Vika Z.

    I would say this was a fun place to go for a day trip with your family. None of the reviews that I read beforehand said anything about the wind, but boy was it windy! Be prepared for it, just in case. We went a couple weeks ago and the sand was already hot, so bring socks for your little kiddos. Bring your sleds too, bc sledding down the dunes was fun!

    Mike R.

    Great place for a day trip get away (although there is a great campground there). Several large sand dunes formed from a great flood 11,000 years ago. You can hike up them, sled down them great place for the kids. 2 lakes that are stocked with fish. And the best us the observatory!!! They have viewings in evenings. I am amazed at how many locals don't know about this place.

    Sand dunes
    Larisa P.

    Really enjoyed our photo shoot here. The views were amazing. We went really early to catch the sunrise and to have good lighting! Definitely worth a trip. Would love to come back when it's cooler for a day trip.

    entering at dusk
    Sachi M.

    We stayed at the Broken Wheel campground. Because it's in a flat dry place, it didn't have trees or anything for privacy between the sites, like we're used to on the coast. They did have a two-walled roofed structure around each picnic table, probably to provide some shade from the relentless sun. Some campsites had a cleared-off area for the tent, but we couldn't find one for our site. The tiny bushlets were no problem to put the tent on top of, though. No bear-proof lockers at this place, but we kept our shoes inside the tent in case there were scorpions and stuff. Reading Pea P.'s review, I guess there really are! We tried snowboarding on the dunes, but it didn't work. The sand was too heavy and stayed on the front edge of the board, not brushing off like powder snow. We'd only seen photos of people skiing on the dunes, so I guess that was why. Since it was so warm, the lake was a good place for a dip at the end of the day. Shallowness continued for a while, though, so we had to squat down to get our shoulders under the water. Lots of mosquitoes, too :-( There was no cell phone connection here. But Idaho State Parks provide Wi-Fi at their campgrounds! You can buy 1-day access for $3.00, up to 154 days - the whole 2012 camping season in any Idaho State Park - for $29. OR, you can use 20 minutes for free every 12 hours! There is an observatory at the park, and I saw on the notice board that they have ranger tours on Fridays and Saturdays. I saw the structure next to the lake, but it was on flat ground, not on a peak, so I was a bit confused. We didn't have time to check it out.

    Allan C.

    Hey! I know we just flew through Salt Lake City to get here, drove down and had to get some work done. That, and we're headed back at 11pm to get more work done but do you want to climb up almost 500 ft of SAND? It's awesome... something to do with the cross winds carrying crap that get stuck in some plateau valley. Or something. My first thought about this was "seriously? I just want to go to sleep..." but I didn't want to disappoint. The dunes did not disappoint either. It's just a totally different world out there. I think it was the soft sand that led to my coworkers doing crazy crap like BACKFLIPS OFF THE TOP... or maybe because they're total whackjobs... I haven't figured out which yet. Regardless, I'm really glad they took me there because it was a super strong kickoff to travel that got long and arduous super fast. I say anyone driving through the area or even finding themselves within an hour's drive of here should stop by just to see the place. It's definitely worth it.

    George N.

    Came here to do the full 6 mile hike, man was it an experience. I did the full 6 mile hike (beginning and ending at the Visitor's Center), and let me tell you, I was EXHAUSTED by the end. DON'T do a leg workout the day before coming here! This was a very difficult hike, especially once it's time to get up to the sand peak and walk the ridge. Now I understand why NFL players have beach workouts, maneuvering in sand is tough and is one heck of a workout. I noticed little kids and older people on the peak when I finally made it up, and I was in SHOCK as to how they got up there, since I was exhausted and consider myself to be in shape. I then found out you DON'T have to hike from the Visitor's Center to get there, but instead can park super close. I was drenched in sweat before going up to the peak, and after getting to the top, the wind really is refreshing. Views are amazing, you're going to get some great shots up there. I DIDN'T use my "real" camera (even though I packed it) since I was worried about getting sand in the lens, so I just used my cell phone. You have to "straddle" the peak when hiking it, I was almost doing a roller skating motion, which was kinda fun. The 6 mile hike is broken down in waypoints on the map. The land marking are decent up to waypoint 4, then it's pretty much a free for all. Hard to distinguish where the path is, since everything just blends in. Some of the marking around waypoints 11 - 15 are missing or fallen over. I HIGHLY recommend getting the 'Maplets' app for your phone so that you can have a visual map with a GPS while hiking, it REALLY helps. I did the whole 6 mile hike, as well as resting at the top of the peaks, in around 3 hours, which thinking back, I would recommend you take your time and pace yourself to do it in around 4-5 hours. I was just in a hurry to get back to my car and RELAX (since I had NO IDEA I was in for this kind of hike lol). Now for some tips. You're 100% exposed to the sun during the entire 6 mile hike. Wear WHITE colored clothes (yeah SCIENCE)! I didn't wear bug spray, and got about 10 bites overall, mostly through waypoints 8-10 (marshy areas aka bug city). Bring sandals when on the sand, trust me! Wearing running shoes, the sand gets in very quickly and your shoes turn into bricks, making it a BIGGER workout. Bring as much water as possible. I packed food but didn't have any urge to eat during the hike, I should've subbed the weight of the food for water. Water fountains work at the observatory, so top off your bottles and wash up your face with cold water in the bathroom. I hiked during mid day, high 70s, and was ROASTING. I'd say hiking this is best in late evening, or when sun rises, OR in fall / winter / spring when it's not so hot. I didn't wear full body covering clothes (just workout gear) and was satisfied with the decision, you need mobility & comfort if you're hiking the 6 mile trip. I came across 0 people on the full 6 mile hike, so be PROUD that you're one of the few OGs that do the 6 mile hike. I HATE bugs, and from waypoints 1-4, there were a TON of these wasp like bugs (sphecid wasps?) all over the path, flying in and out of these holes in the ground. I almost turned right back to the car and left, but I'm glad I didn't. Wearing pants would've helped with my fear, but I don't regret wearing shorts for mobility. Visitors center is DOPE inside, gotta check it out. If I could only bring 2 things, it'd be WATER and sandals. Pace yourself, and spend as much time up on the peaks as possible (before it gets too boring). Overall, I had a blast. I don't plan on doing this hike again, until a fall night, I'd really like to try doing some star photography. Don't be intimidated by the OG 6 mile hike. Once you reach the end of the hike and you look back at the dunes, you'll be amazed at how much ground you've covered and how tall those peaks really were. 5 stars all day, if you're up for the challenge, it's very rewarding.

    Kim L.

    My friend wanted to celebrate her birthday here! We got some great photos taken with the dunes behind us, got to fly some kites, AND got to see Mars, Jupiter with four moons, and Saturn at the observatory. It was the Memorial Day weekend so it was busier than usual, but was totally worth it! I've also taken a photo of Milky Way here. I would say it is a great place to take photos of a night sky with low light pollution.

    From the side of the main dune.
    Chelle L.

    Bring water, sunglasses, hat and SHOES! The sand is ungodly hot and if possible, wear boots about 6" high. I hiked with 4.5" Danner boots and although it was in my boots, I managed not to get too much in. If you hike, we took the route to the right and tried to come up the back side of the main dune off the water. When you get to the top, be careful. It is not flat, it is a peak and you have to straddle it when you walk, since it is breezy you could be blown over and fall off and tumble down the sand. I wold wear high socks unless you want sand in your low cut socks. We went between 630-7PM and it was still hot but cooled quickly. Plan to stay and check the observatory out if you have time, you can stargaze.

    $5 CASH entrance fee. Part of me does not want to advertise this place only because of how clean, quiet, & beautiful it is. A must-do for outdoor enthusiasts, bird watchers, naturalists, star gazers, & sand surfers. Hiking options: Pond loop, small dune, large dune. Bring SUNSCREEN, plenty of water, & bug spray. If you bring anything in-please take it out with you. Animals spotted: Quails, Owl, Hawks, Deer, Coyote, Black tailed jack rabbits, and much more. Equestrian trails, boat launch, & more. Camping (tent, RV, & cabins) available. See the states website & check out the parks Facebook page.

    Sarah R.

    Totally unique state park in the middle of no-where Idaho. It's super cool to see huge sand dunes when you are least expecting it. We were doing a road trip and put it on our list of places to stop. Once we pulled in we went to the visitor center to look at maps and ask questions. The woman working at the counter honestly wasn't very helpful. We asked her questions and she didn't have answers because she had never hiked there. How can someone be the only one working at a state park visitor center and not have experienced what the park has to offer. We drove around to the dunes and got out and walked. It was warm, maybe 80 degrees but cloudy. We decided to attempt the tallest dune and we were successful. Best place to park is the furthest picnic area and then it's about a 10 minute walk on a path to get to the dune. Despite many reviews saying to take your shoes off, we kept ours on and it took us about 30-40 minutes to get to the top. It was definitely worth it because it's the tallest single dune in North America. We were the only ones around which was cool. It only took about 10 minutes to walk down it - it's super quick to go down obviously. I would recommend if you are in the area to knock off the bucketlist.

    The Dunes at sunset.
    Bradley N.

    I am standing uneasily on a knife's edge of shifting sand as high as a 45-story building with steep sloping sides in both directions. The wind is so intense that it feels like I will fall off; and if I don't then the sand all around surely will. It is swirling and spinning about madly. Below me, the Great Sand Vortex looms, like something out of the Return of the Jedi, minus Jabba the Hut. My shoes are filled with sand. My ears are filled with sand. I am walking on a knife's edge, and that edge is slipping away slowly beneath my trembling feet. And all because of Markus N., and his friendly suggestion to stop and visit Bruneau Dunes. Which led me here, to one of the most exhilarating and exhausting 2 hour hikes in recent memory. And the only one where I kissed the (very sandy) ground when I had slipped and slid down the eastern face of the Great Dune to relative windless safety. Did I mention the wind already? It was very persistent, and part of the charm of Bruneau Dunes. The place is otherwordly, a remnant of the flooding of ancient Lake Bonneville eons ago, and of thousands of years of wind, sand, and sunlight creating the amphitheater-like Eagle Cove, which traps the blowing sands and sculpts the enormous dunes and sand vortices (deep craters carved by the wind) that tower over the calm lakes below, where people float and swim and stargaze and picnic to their hearts content. But on top of the Great Dune, with winds whipping the surrounding sky into a swirl of sand, none of that matters. All that is the universe is contained in a few square feet of soft sand, with you perched on the knife's edge like some sort of crazy mountaineer, stumbling forward, lurching onward, driven by the wind and by that desire to live to see solid ground. Is it dangerous? No, not really. It's sand, not snow and ice, although it will take your mind a little time to adjust. It's that instinctual fear of falling that you feel, but when the wind dies down, it is calm and peaceful here on the Great Dune, and you almost start to feel something like serenity; but then the wind returns, the sands fly, and the fear of falling returns, so it's not easy to stay here for long. You will need to find the bottom, walk along barely marked trails past impenetrable brush and desert dunes, back to the lake shore and back to your camp site, where the stars will come out at night in their multitudes. And you will dream of shifting sands and high-pitched laughter, and perhaps of Markus N. with a triumphant look in his gleaming, bright eyes. And then, after much tossing and turning in the wind-blown night punctuated by coyote chorus song, you will wake up, wipe the crusted sand from your reddened eyes, boil water for oatmeal by the light of your headlamp, and wait in renewed hope for the sun to rise so that the deep chill of a predawn May morning will once again disappear. You will no longer feel fear, or hope, or anything really, except an immense gratefulness still to be alive, still to have a planet of solid earth to stand upon, and still to be here, at Bruneau Dunes, Idaho, where so much more than potatoes are to be found. Including the biggest sand dune on the continent, which is something to celebrate and to cherish, after all. Who knew such little grains of sand could hold such deep reservoirs of wisdom?

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    Beautiful vistas and an interesting museum. Bring plenty of bug spray and wear a hat.

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    $1 fly swatter, $3 astronomy viewing fee, $6 wood, entrance fee extra. Strong odor of sulfur in the water. Neat sand dunes.

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    Ask the Community - Bruneau Dunes State Park

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    Yes dogs are allowed.

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    Review Highlights - Bruneau Dunes State Park

    Make sure and bring plenty of water, sunscreen, mosquito repellent and $5 for the vehicle entrance fee.

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    Boise Depot - Lovely day for a tour of this local landmark

    Boise Depot

    4.4(26 reviews)
    53.9 mi

    Tour guide Rob was fantastic! It only took us 12+ years to visit Boise Depot. Don't wait to take an…read moreengaging free tour and hear the fascinating history of railways in Boise dating back to 1887 (in current location since 1925). We had a small group at noon on March 22, 2026 and Rob was great about answering our many questions and curiosities! His next tour at 1:30pm was huge so we were lucky to have a more intimate gathering! Now I need to figure out a reason to have a party there and rent the space. So cool.

    The Boise Depot is a historic Spanish-style structure operated by the Boise Parks & Recreation…read moreDepartment as a public ceremonial or meeting space & historic site. It was designed by NY architects & opened in 1925. However it was closed when we arrived Monday at 10:30 we came back in the afternoon and walked inside. We took the elevator up to the bell tower for city views. The Great Hall is a 3,542-sq ft multi-story atrium that once was the stations waiting room. Ten original benches line the walls of the Great Hall holding 300 standing & 165 seated people.. hours are limited because this venue is rented out The original 1925 Barkalow Brothers Newsstand is featured on the west wall. The newsstand has been slightly restored but remains in its' original form. This area is great for a buffet or display. The Great Halls' ceiling is lined with Spanish trusses, each imprinted with antique locomotives. The famous Platt Gardens are here.

    Photos
    Boise Depot - "Old Mike"

    "Old Mike"

    Boise Depot - Waiting room

    Waiting room

    Boise Depot

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    Evel Kneviel Jump Site

    Evel Kneviel Jump Site

    4.2(15 reviews)
    67.5 mi

    We followed our gps & too dirt roads to Canyon Rim Trail. There were benches & markers…read more In 1974, Evil Knievel tried & failed to leap across this mile-wide chasm of the Snake River Canyon west of Shoshone Falls on his engineered rocket motorcycle. His parachute prematurely deployed as the Skycycle left the launching rail but winds caused him to drift into the canyon. At the bottom, he landed near the water. If he landed in the water, he probably would have drowned, due to a jumpsuit/harness malfunction the kept him strapped in the vehicle. Surprisingly, he survived the jump with minor injuries. At the city's visitors center, Knievel's supporters erected a monument to their hero with a carved likeness of the rocket motorcycle. It's engraved, "Robert 'Evel' Knievel: Explorer, Motorcyclist, and Daredevil. Attempted a mile-long leap of the Snake River Canyon on September 8, 1974 employing a unique Skycycle. The large dirt ramp is visible appox. 2 miles east of this point on the south ridge of the canyon. Donated to the community by Sunset Memorial." The mound of his jump is from the marker.

    Pretty nostalgic place to visit considering my father used to talk about this stunt a lot while…read moregrowing up. My husband brought me and there is plenty to see. Many roads to certain falls were closed which is such a shame. All in all I had a wonderful time.

    Photos
    Evel Kneviel Jump Site
    Evel Kneviel Jump Site - The earthen ramp that supported the metal ramp...

    The earthen ramp that supported the metal ramp...

    Evel Kneviel Jump Site - From the Perrine memorial bridge

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    From the Perrine memorial bridge

    Bruneau Dunes State Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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