This Might Just Be The Most Peaceful Town In All Of Idaho (2024)

Idaho is full of delightfully historic towns that ooze new frontier promise, weathered architecture, and small-town charm. But of all the quaint towns that fit the rustic, rural lifestyle Idaho has come to be known for, few can live up to the iconic Wild West status of Idaho City. This humble gem looks straight out of a Clint Eastwood movie and fully embraces its unique culture. But while the old-fashioned saloons and rich history here are incredible, there is so much more to love about this cozy town!

Welcome to one of the coolest small towns on earth: Idaho City. Population: under 500.

This welcoming small town began as "Bannock" in 1862, a mining town within the Boise Basin that flourished and produced more gold than anywhere else in the region. You'll find Idaho City about an hour outside of Boise in Southern Idaho, but it feels lightyears away from the bustling life of the capital.

Some say the town was forged by fire. A brochure from the 1970s once called Idaho City the "Ghost Town that Refused to Die."

Much like every old mining town and those seen in classic shoot-em-up movies, nearly every building in Idaho City has always been predominantly made of wood. When multiple fires scorched the town in the 1860s, burning it to the ground, like a phoenix... it just kept rising time and time again. Even the town's most recent fires haven't crumbled the town's enduring community spirit.

In this wonderfully rugged town, you'll find incredible stories around every corner, starting with the architecture.

The Visitor Center should definitely be your first stop for directions to the best historical places in the city. And believe me, there's a lot of them.

This unique little nugget of a town was once wilderness inhabited only by Native Americans, with the occasional mountain man passing through. Within months of the first mine strike, the area became the largest settlement in the Pacific Northwest, with a population that surpassed Portland in size by 1863.

Historic Downtown is the best place to start to admire these weathered old buildings and historic structures!

You'll find a big sign that lists all of the buildings, so you know what you're looking at.

Every structure has a tale to tell, whether it's still in use or is a preserved part of the past. The Idaho Territorial Penitentiary, Masonic Temple, and more are just waiting to be discovered! And the oldest general store in the state is here as well - the Boise Basin Mercantile - although it no longer acts as a grocery and necessities shop.

The Boise Basin Museum is a must-visit to learn more about the history of the area and to admire Western antiques, mining equipment, and local collections.

Seasonal festivals and events throughout the year recreate the town's gold rush history, as well as celebrate Idaho City's unique setting.

Check out Idaho City Days and Kokanee Days, just to start!

Everything here is a fantastic blend of old and new.

But it's the fantastic beauty of the surrounding mountains that takes Idaho City's historic charm up a notch.

This rugged haven is surrounded by the Boise National Forest and is an easy gateway to the breathtaking Sawtooths.

In winter, thousands pass through or stop in this delightful town to enjoy the abundance of fresh powder and famous yurt camping opportunities.

Of course, every season is pretty spectacular!

But don't mistake this idyllic small town for a hokey Western movie set. This gem embraces all of the small-town mountain adventures we've come to know and love, like off-roading, camping, fishing, and hiking. There are countless things to do in Idaho City!

But no matter how you choose to spend your time here, a visit to the Pioneer Cemetery is a must.

These headstones are so old that they're not even made of stone at all - they're made of wood! Fascinatingly, this seemingly small cemetery holds the graves of over 3,000 people, only a fraction of whom have been identified, and of those, very few are known to have died of natural causes. Like the wild and dangerous western town that it once was, in Idaho City, it was far more common to catch a bullet in the streets than reach old age. Stand-offs and poker games gone wrong were all too common.

And getting to this wonderfully historic town (or leaving) is best experienced on the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway.

But don't worry, you'll be back soon, pardner!

Here in Idaho, we love our small towns, and Idaho City is one historic spot that just can't get enough attention!

Camping, exploring, digging into some epic pie at Trudy's - what are your favorite things to do in and around this slice of the Gem State?

If you've been around for a while, you already know that Idaho City has some pretty epic hot springs hiding around town - both natural and man-made. This means you're definitely going to want to stick around for a spell and hike a few local trails to really earn that much-needed soak! Then, head to Diamond Lil's for some steak and drinks to end a fantastic weekend here.