Posted by Don Cox on February 18, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Hi!
I'm looking to make a trip to Idaho in the fall (end of Sept or first part of October) for fall photography. I'm having trouble deciding where to stay. Its either around Boise or up near Coeur d'Alene. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Don
Posted by Rod Chandler on February 18, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Don, you might consider Sun Valley. It will be the off-season and there is some gorgeous country in that area.
I've spent a lot of time in central Idaho, but never in the fall. If it were me, I'd base out of Stanley or Challis and go uphill to look for aspens in the Sawtooths, Boulder/White Clouds and Lost Rivers; or go downhill to look for cottonwoods and riparian trees in the river valleys. If Boise and Coeur d'Alene are your only options, I'd go north. I think you have potential for larches up there. You might also consider the Bitterroots in Montana for larches; I believe there are also a few larches hiding in the McCall area a couple hours north of Boise.
Overall, I think your best plan would be to pick a base and explore the area thoroughly. Idaho's not particularly known for fall color (LOTS of lodgepoles and ponderosas), so it may take some patience and perseverance to find good locations. It's a beautiful state, though, and anywhere between Boise and Coeur d'Alene should have plenty of images waiting to be found.
Posted by Cynthia Spence on February 19, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Hi Don: I spent a lot of time as a kid in Idaho, and as a photographer I wouldn't hang out in Boise for grand scenery. I would go to the Sawtooths also, Ketchum, Stanley...etc. You might also want to check out the area of the Salmon River. Southern Idaho is agriculture country and though there are neat places like Craters of the Moon lava area, you have to go into more central Idaho to find mountains. I spent summers in McCall which is a small mountain town on Payette lake about 100 miles north of Boise. Coeur d'Alene is beautiful and a lot of people go north of there to have fun...but the rugged mountains are around Sun Valley. If you want to go to the north you might want to check out NW Montana too...very pretty up there...especially around Flathead Lake.
Discussion
4 repliesI'm looking to make a trip to Idaho in the fall (end of Sept or first part of October) for fall photography. I'm having trouble deciding where to stay. Its either around Boise or up near Coeur d'Alene. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Don
Overall, I think your best plan would be to pick a base and explore the area thoroughly. Idaho's not particularly known for fall color (LOTS of lodgepoles and ponderosas), so it may take some patience and perseverance to find good locations. It's a beautiful state, though, and anywhere between Boise and Coeur d'Alene should have plenty of images waiting to be found.
Have fun.