The Great American West

Nicknamed the Gem State for its abundance of gemstones and wilderness areas, Idaho is full of adventure and natural marvels. The landscape is ruled by rivers, mountains and crystal-clear night skies. The Rocky Mountains hug the stretch of the eastern border while the Snake River arches down through Idaho’s southern desert before heading north to carve part of the state’s western edge. Idaho’s varied terrain provides a canvas for a true western expedition; from vibrant hillsides, thickly wooded mountains and sapphire lakes in the Idaho Panhandle to the basalt and sagebrush spotted high desert in the Snake River Plain. Home to 10 National Park Service sites, opportunities to explore and be inspired by American history and Mother Nature are nearly endless.

Visit Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve to experience the natural beauty of this otherworldly wonder. Play in the expansive lava flows and exploratory caves and craters by day and gaze at the star-studded nighttime sky in this designated International Dark Sky Park. The towering granite domes of City of Rocks National Reserve are filled with backcountry adventures between world-class rock climbing, hiking, biking, bird watching and photography. See historic markings from Gold Rush pioneers who travelled the Oregon Trail and California Trail.

Walk in the steps of history along iconic trails rooted in the stories of Native American tribes and western pioneers. Explore the past along the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail or the California and Oregon National Historic Trails. Hit the road on the Salmon River Scenic Byway to travel the same path as Lewis and Clark and see the rugged Idaho backcountry that has fascinated visitors for centuries.

Travel to Twin Falls in the spring to experience the power of Shoshone Falls, one of the largest natural waterfalls in the U.S. Taller than Niagara Falls, Shoshone Falls plunges into the rugged Snake River Canyon. Head northwest to Ashton near Yellowstone National Park to see Upper Mesa Falls, a thunderous 10-story tall waterfall that pours into the remnants of an ancient volcanic super-eruption.

Visit historic towns like Wallace, the “Silver Capital of the World,” to gain new insight into the struggles and triumphs of the Old West. Stretch your legs with a bike ride on one of Idaho’s numerous rail to trail or greenbelt paths.

The word “Dakota” derives from a Native American term for “friend” – and visitors will have no trouble making new friends in South Dakota. This warm and welcoming land of “Great Faces, Great Places” embraces travellers from around the world, who long to experience the untamed spirit of the American West.  In every corner of the state – across miles of sweeping prairies, dense forests and breathtaking mountain scenery – history and adventure abound.

Follow the Lewis & Clark Trail up the Missouri National Recreational River to trace the journey of the famed explorers who ventured out into the wilderness seeking the elusive Northwest Passage. Experience what life was like in the frontier prairie town of DeSmet – home to Little House on the Prairie’s Laura Ingalls Wilder – or an authentic military fort at Fort Sisseton Historic State Park. Enjoy good old-fashioned family fun at a South Dakota rodeo. Or up your game and try your hand at the gaming tables in Historic Deadwood, a Gold Rush-era town where gold miners rubbed shoulders with gamblers and gunslingers.

South Dakota is also rich in Native American cultural heritage. Visit the Akta Lakota Museum in Chamberlain to learn more about the heritage of the Lakota Sioux. Stop by Rapid City’s Prairie Edge to see a fine selection of Native American art, crafts and jewellery. Or experience firsthand the pageantry of an authentic Native American powwow at one of South Dakota’s nine Indian reservations.

For outdoor enthusiasts, South Dakota offers 77,000 square miles of scenic vistas. Explore Badlands National Park, gallop on horseback through the Black Hills, take a boat on the mighty Missouri River, or take a subterranean adventure at Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park, home to some of the longest caves in the world.

No trip to South Dakota would be complete without visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Get an up-close look at the 60-foot high faces of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, then journey to the nearby Crazy Horse Memorial, to see history in the making and witness the progress being made on this statue honouring the Native American warrior. Make sure you  witness the unforgettable site of thousands of free-roaming buffalo thundering across the plains at Custer State Park.