Oh man, oh man, oh man--all of the heart eyes! (Not the easiest thing in the world to get to, but…read morelike a hidden treasure, once you find it, the hunt is so worth it!) How to get there(ish): 1. Head up ID 55 like you're going towards McCall 2. Hang a right on Banks Lowman Highway 3. Drive for 28 miles and then you'll see Pine Flats Campground on the right 4. (Now getting to the hot springs is a bit tricky. Side note: I definitely would NOT recommend attempting this in snowy weather, that just would not be smart or safe.) Anyways, you're going to take a trail that runs sort of by the river and is towards the rightmost part of the campground. You'll walk for what I assume to be a quarter mile, and then voila! You'll arrive at a beach along the river with massive boulders and pools stacked against the hillside (this is all natural by the way)! The Campground: Parking is $5/day, and I am not sure about the cost of overnight camping as we only made a day trip here. They have one bathroom here, and, well, it's totally a public park bathroom. The Views: We went on an October weekend, so we had a view that combined all things beautiful that Idaho has to offer in one--snow on mountains in the distance, lush green hills, stunning fall foliage, a rushing river running along the hot springs, and clean mountain air. The Hot Springs: A good amount of the pools of water were warm and I would only recommend sitting in them if the weather is above 80 degrees, or else you'll get chilly real quick. But for the most part, they were toasty, especially if you sat underneath the ones with waterfalls--those will heat you right up! Pro Tip(s): 1. Make sure you have more than enough gas in your car--you're out of service up here and out of luck if you run out of gas. 2. Bring a big water bottle! Sitting in hot water will dehydrate ya real quick.

For anyone feeling super adventurous and spontaneous. Maybe even wanting to just get out and…read moreexperience something new this beginning of spring Pine Flats is definitely the perfect spot. When you arrive it can be a little confusing but don't be overwhelmed with the long walking trail! Overall our experience for first timers was great. We did have to walk a little and if your a first timer also like us you may want to be ready with some hiking shoes, warm clothes/swimming clothes if your using the hot springs and a happy motivation(: The hot springs pool overall is pretty smaller then expected but good maybe for couples if you need a nice date idea. The temperature is perfect if you land in the right spot. (Lower ones are better) would we do this again ? 10/10 yes.

Such an awesome place! Dale and JessAnn are so creative and hard working, re-purposing and…read morerefurbishing to create beautiful, unique spaces...and tiny homes (we loved The Scavenger)! They were so friendly, generous, and welcoming--would stay here again without hesitation.

This is the GREATEST little place I've probably ever stayed at. If you want a place that treats…read moreyou like family, interacts with its guests and just makes you feel like you're at home on the farm, THIS is your place. JessAnn and her husband Dale are some of the greatest people I've met. I LOVE the chickens, the goats, the donkey, the horses and all the peace that comes with it. The accommodations are perfect! This is truly God's Country. Thank you so much Ole RV Park!

Wow, oh wow, oh wow! What an experience this was! Staying at this yurt was one heck of a way to…read morekick off the winter season. This yurt - named after the man responsible for the entire six-yurt system just north of Idaho City - is hidden away three miles in the Idaho City backcountry. During the winter months, this yurt is ideal for snowshoers and backcountry skiers. (Although, I wouldn't suggest trying to ski to it as it has a lofty climb towards the end of your ascent.) Every part of this experience was lovely. The hike in was fun and challenging, the yurt is housed with more than enough amenities necessary to make for a comfortable stay, and the views are priceless! This experience was not glamping by any means, but I wouldn't quite call it roughin' it in the wilderness. It falls somewhere between the two. It requires a 3 mile trek, is located out of cell phone service, houses no running water, no electricity, and its restroom facility is a permanent outhouse 20 yards away from the yurt which has no door (the most scenic view you'll ever have while using the restroom, IMO). Once you are in the yurt you'll find two sets of bunk beds, a futon, table, chairs, a kitchenette stocked with cups, mugs, knives, forks, plates, paper towels, pots and pans, as well as a wood fire stove (along with more than enough wood to keep it running) and a mini propane stove. This yurt is also stocked with board games, coloring pencils, and a journal so you can share your experience with future yurt patrons. The Hennessy yurt is brilliantly located on a peak that overlooks Pilots Peak, Sunset Peak, Trinity Mountains, Steele Mountain, Wolf Mountain and the Crooked River Valley. Watching the sunrise from the deck was unlike anything I've ever seen. There was a thick layer of mist that sat on the trees below us - it actually felt like we were up in the clouds! Other thoughts/things to note: - I was concerned that I would be cold throughout this experience, but I didn't even come close! Snowshoeing in made me work up a sweat, and the wood fire stove kept us cozy and warm through the wee hours of the night. - The view of the stars at night from this yurt is remarkable - you are aways out from any light pollution, allowing you to see stars you had no idea were there! - You'll have to pack in your own food. We brought chili that was prepped and cooked before hand for dinner, and SO MUCH BACON, veggies, and other fixin's to make a scramble for breakfast. I also suggest bringing tea, coffee, hot coco, or some other sort of warm drink to keep you feeling cozy! - While you can melt snow down and proceed to boil it for 15 minutes, then let it cool, then drink it - I would suggest packing in some water bottles, just to make your life a little easier. - Snowshoeing to the yurt is a blast, but be sure to take some time to snowshoe around the yurt once you've arrived! - Be sure to book in advance!!!! My friend who booked this yurt did so in September. From what I gathered, the yurt is completely booked for the 2018/19 winter season (on the weekends and optimal times, at least). If this is something you want to do, plan ahead, find out when booking opens up for these, and hop to it as soon as you can! - Cost was $115 a night - split between 6 people, that's a little less than $20 a person. That is a steal for the views and experience you get here!

We stayed there on July 14-16th. Great campground, clean and well maintained. This was a great…read morelocation to do day trips to other sights in the area. Lots of hiking in the area. Enjoyable place to just kick back and relax.

This is an amazing place to reconnect with yourself and nature. Depending on the time of day, you…read morecan see deer and elk that roam the property. Dan & Jamie said they even saw a moose and her calf coming up off the river. The pool is wonderful and clean. If you are a star gazer it is a perfect place to take in the view while relaxing in the pool. If you are tired and just want to hang out in the cabin, Jamie & Dan supply you with snacks, books, and they have a large library of movies you can choose from. I encourage you, to take the time and treat yourself to your own private get away. Once they give you a tour of the place and answer your questions, they disappear unless they are needed.

We recently had the privilege of staying at this wonderful place. If you are a hot springs…read moreenthusiast and love nature, but in a peaceful and relaxing setting, this place is for you. This property juts up to a beautiful section of the South Fork of the Payette River. The hosts have set up many different seating areas overlooking the river. The property sits above the river and there is a cliff right next to the river, but with a couple of private trails that lead down to the property's own private beach areas when the river is lower. The crown gem of the property however is a nice little hot pool that is the perfect temperature for soaking. Our favorite times to soak were in the early morning hours and well into the night when it was nice and dark. The hosts had provided some nice floating equipment to use in the pool that were great for relaxing in the water and enjoying some epic stargazing. This property is in the wilderness away from town so the setting is perfect for this type of activity. And best of all...you have the whole place to yourselves. The hosts, Jamie and Dan, are some of the nicest and most helpful people and really care that you have a good time on their property. They are very warm and welcoming in their demeanor. They are always available if you need them, but they have a way of making it feel as if you have the whole property to yourself, which you kind of do. The separate cabin for the guests is small but super cozy. Even though there is not a kitchen, there is a fridge and microwave with a grill just outside the door. There are a couple of fire pits as well and so there are opportunities to cook over an open fire if you want to. We ate very well while we were there. The hosts also stock the cabin with a variety of different snacks and treats. There are also treats provided for you to feed their horse Legs if you so desire. Activities abound in this area and we are avid hikers, so that is where we spent a lot of our time, but we always loved returning after a long hike to just chill on the property and take it all in. We have stayed at a lot of different places like this, but Double J&D Hot Spring Ranch is probably our favorite. As I said before, the hosts are amazing and there are tons of things to do in the area. They provide their guests with a good range of activities and the property guide book has a good deal of information about the area with recommendations. And if you can't find what you're looking for, Dan and Jamie will probably be able to point you in the right direction. It was our second time staying there and it certainly won't be the last. We were only there for three nights, and I wish we could have stayed longer. If you decide to give this place a chance, I'm sure that you will leave feeling refreshed and rejuvinated as this is the perfect place to unwind, relax, and re-connect with nature.

We did the full tour. We had a good time on the tour. We would be interested in doing the night…read moretour next time. Tip to future Zippers: 1. Absolutely bring bug spray. If not for the mosquitos, definitely for the wasps that are literally swarming every platform you will zip line too and from. And since there is no where to run too on the platforms to avoid the wasps-you best be prepared. 2. Bring your patience. The full tour is about 3 hours. We had a full group of 10 for our tour and its fair to say you spend 3/4 of the time waiting for the rest of the group to zip from one platform to another. There is quite a bit of opportunity to staff the tours better so this is less of an issue. 3. Try not to over think the process. One of our guides was really over exaggerating everything, so far as to say you get severe rope burn/whiplash from the green brake ropes if you don't grab them as you approach the platforms. This is definitely not the case. I could tell it made some newbies pretty nervous. But after your first zip line, you learn to relax and enjoy the ride- and quickly figure out which of the guides is full of it. ;) Happy Zipping!

Took my son to Zip Boise for his birthday, had a great time. The full tour includes a jump from…read morethe 6th tower that makes it worth the full tour price. To have the most amazing time make sure your zip tour guide is Cody, dude was absolutely hilarious. He made the zip tour outstanding and a great time.

Had an awesome time rafting with our awesome guide, Dylan! Did a half day on the main Payette…read moresection. Views were stunning, the water was great, and both guides with the group were helpful and friendly. Our group had been rafting a couple of times, so the class 2/3 rapids were fun and very doable. An additional guide was taking pictures on the way, which we were able to pay extra for at the end-- super high quality pics for an affordable price. One thing to note is that the rafting office is a drive from the actual launch spot, so there is a bus ride on the way there as well as the way back. Highly recommend this company; we had so much fun!

Went out for a run down the north fork of the Payette this afternoon, and the trip was stunning…read more Easy drive out there, while getting some knowledge from our guide Jack. Once we arrived we got into the river pretty quickly and headed off. It was scenic, warm, and beautiful. Even saw a duck catch a fish, and a few osprey. Jack did a great job keeping us entertained and safely guiding us through some great rapids. I should mention this is only my second time doing this and the experience was everything I'd hoped for. Lunch at the end was also perfect, a little protein, little starch, and a salad, even dessert! If you get the chance to go out I highly recommend these guys. If they're anything like jack you'll have a great time!

FREE primitive campsites on the banks of the Payette River! There are about 5 sites here, on a…read morebluff overlooking the river, and you can climb down to the water if you're surefooted. No tables or BBQ grills, but there were fire rings. No bathrooms either, which is slightly problematic as there aren't any secluded areas to pee out of sight of the other campers (unless you hike a ways across the road). Other annoyances included the incessant sound of gunshots (I think there was a firing range nearby), the sound of small aircraft buzzing (must be an airstrip nearby -- combined with the gunshots, sounded like a battlefield) and the constant whir of motors from rednecks' gold-panning equipment sucking and filtering river water in search of gold flakes. Aside from all THAT....really, it was a pretty good spot to camp. It was F R E E !!!!