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Terrain Features |
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Terrain Features |
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In areas that are flat, people moved without a care for the weather or terrain. However, in Idaho, the mountainous areas limit movement. Trails, ferries, mountains, rivers, seasons and the weather played a significant part in settlers movements through the state.
Gorges and Canyons
| Name | Location |
| Blackfoot River | Begins near Soda Springs, travelling NW 136 miles to the Snake River |
| Bruneau Rivert | Begins in Jarbidge Mountains, Nevada, travelling N 153 miles to Snake River |
| Burke-Canyon | Canyon with Burke Canyon Creek located in northernmost portion of Shoshone County |
| Hells Canyon | 10-mile long canyon created by Snake River along boundary between Idaho and Oregon. Mostly impassable by vehicle. Deepest river gorge in North America. |
| Lochsa River | Begins in the Bitterroot Mountains and flows to the Clearwater River |
| Payette River | 83-mile River running west from Boise County to Snake River |
| Salmon River | Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley 425-miles to Snake River |
| Selway River | Bitterroot Mountains to Clearwater River |
| Snake River Canyon | Located in the Magic Valley region. Perrine Bridge crosses the canyon just north of Twin Falls |
Caves
| Cave | Details |
| Kuna Caves | Lava Tube Cave System, which at one time ran to the Snake River, but the Army Corp of Engineers blocked off portions. Unmaintained |
| Minnetonka Cave | Largest limestone rock cave in Idaho. Near Bear Lake. Half mile route with stalactites and stalagmites. Tours available |
| Niter Ice Cave | Located near Grace, Idaho. Lave Tube Cave. Early settlers found this to be a great place to store food, supplies and keep ice. Still a favorite picnic spot. |
| Wilson Butte Cave | Air Bubble in petrified sea of lava. Located near Twin Falls on the Snake River Plain. |
Geysers
Named for thousands of natural carbonated water springs in the area. Served as a way point on the Oregon Trail and used by many Native American Tribes. The geyser is a man-made carbon dioxide generated cold water geyser
Hot Springs
| Spring | Details |
| Lava Hot Springs | City in Bannock County, in the Portneuf River Valley. Known for numerous hot springs. Way stop on the Oregon and California Trails |
| Stanley Hot Springs | Series of primitive soaking pools located in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness |
Mountains
There are several mountain ranges that make up Idaho: Caribou Mountains, Centenniel Mountains, Coeur d'Alene Mountains, Lost River Range, Owyhee Mountains, Pioneer Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Sawtooth Mountains, Selkirk Mountains, Smoky Mountains, Uinta Mountains, White Cloud Mountains
| Mountain | Details |
| Bald Mountain | Smoky Mountains in Sawtooth National Forest. Primary mountain in the Sun Valley ski resort known for its constant gradient. |
| Borah Peak | Highest Peak in Idaho. Located in Lost River Range. Center of 1983 earthquake. |
| Castle Peak | Highest Peak in White Cloud Mountains. Located within largest roadless area not part of a wilderness area in the lower 48 states. |
| Mount Cramer | Second highest peak in Sawtooth Range. West side drains to Payette River, East side drains to Salmon River. |
| Granite Peak | Five different peaks designated by this name in Idaho. Two in Shoshone County, One in Clearwater, One in Idaho and One in Valley |
| Mount Heyburn | Part of Sawtooth Range. With Grand Mogul, it frames the southwest end of Redfish Lake. |
| Mount Jefferson | Located on the Continental Divide between Fremont County, Idaho and Beaverhead County, Montana. The NE slope drains ultimately into the Snake River. The south and west drains ultimately into the Missouri River. The east slope is considered the source of the Missouri River |
| Kings Peak | Located in Benewah County |
| Mica Peak | Located in the Selkirk Mountains, Kootenai County |
| Pioneer Mountain | Mountain range just north of the Snake River Plain |
| Ranger Peak | Located in Northern Idaho near the border with Montana |
| Shadow Butte | Located in Southwest Idaho, northwest of Sweet |
| Stripe Mountain | Highest point in the Clearwater Mountains. It's ridgeline forms the boundary between Lemhi and Idaho counties |
| Thompson Peak | Highest peak in the Sawtooth Range. |
| Williams Peak | Sixth highest peak in the Sawtooth Range. 3/4 mile NNW of Thompson Peak |
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