Eastern Idaho is truly a hidden gem. It’s home to massive sand dunes, impressive waterfalls, wildflower hikes, the winding Snake Rive, and views of the majestic Teton Moutain Range. In this Eastern Idaho itinerary, we’ll show you how to spend an epic weekend exploring this underrated adventure destination.
About Eastern Idaho
Eastern Idaho lies east of the Magic Valley region. The towns we visited in Eastern Idaho were Island Park, Tetonia, Driggs, and Victor, Saint Anthony, and Warm Springs. We would recommend staying in Island Park or Victor or Driggs as they will have the most accommodation options.
If you are planning on extending your trip to visit nearby Grand Teton and/or Yellowstone National Parks, we would recommend staying in Victor/Driggs or Island Park, as they are respectively closer to the parks.
How to get to Eastern Idaho
Fly into Idaho Falls: This is the option we chose. Although Idaho Falls is a smaller regional airport, we were able to find a direct flight from Denver which was super quick and easy!
Once we arrived in Idaho Falls, we drove a little under 1.5 hours to Island Park, where we stayed. Idaho Falls itself is also a great place to explore with some tasty restaurants, cute shops, and a beautiful river walk called the Greenbelt.
Fly into Jackson, Wyoming: Jackson is less than an hour from Driggs and Victor, so it may make sense to fly into Jackson if you are planning to stay there.
Where to stay in Eastern Idaho
We stayed in Island Park at Springhill Suites Island Park which was a comfortable homebase right on the Snake River. Our float trip left right next door to the hotel.
Island Park is very close to Harriman State Park, Big Springs, Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, and Mesa Falls, but if you want to spend more time exploring Fall Creek Falls, the Teton Scenic Byway, and Darby Canyon, then Driggs or Victor are also great places to stay!
Day 1: Float trip and Mesa Falls
Float Henry’s Fork of the Snake River
Henry’s Fork of the Snake River is a world-renowned fly fishing location that is also a breathtaking and peaceful place to float.
We rented kayaks from Mack’s Inn, adjacent to our accommodation at Island Park at Springhill Suites, and then set out on a two-hour float down the scenic river.
The river is home to a variety of different birds and moose sightings are common! It was such a relaxing way to start the day!
Hike to Mesa Falls: Upper and Lower Falls
Upper Mesa Falls
Located on the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, Mesa Falls is a must on your Eastern Idaho itinerary. Mesa Falls has both upper falls and lower falls and visitors can view both.
The Upper Falls Overlook has several viewing decks on a boardwalk with stairs and is very popular, so we recommend going early.
Lower Mesa Falls
To view the Lower Falls Overlook, you’ll take a flat 1-mile interpretive trail near the visitor center parking lot. If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s an unmaintained trail from the Lower Falls Overlook down to the base of the Lower Falls.
Keep in mind the unmaintained trail requires hiking boots with good traction due to very steep sections and some scrambling; however, the trail is very short and manageable with caution for those with a moderate fitness level.
Dinner at Cafe Sabor
If you are a fan of Mexican food like us, you’ll love Cafe Sabor. It’s right across the street from our hotel in Island Park, located on the Snake River.
Cafe Sabor serves traditional Mexican food. We got freshly made guacamole, shrimp tacos, and margaritas to celebrate the perfect first on our eastern Idaho itinerary.
Day 2: Darby Wind Cave and Saint Anthony Sand Dunes
Darby Wind Cave
Day 2 on your Idaho itinerary starts early because you’re going on a hike! Although the Darby Wind Cave hike is a bit of a drive from Island Park (about 1 hour and 30 minutes), it’s well worth it.
The Darby Wind Cave hike is 6.3 miles and 1,800 feet of elevation gain. It features tons of spectacular multicolored wildflowers, mountain views, and even a unique cave and waterfall at the end of the hike.
We didn’t do the entire hike since the heat was getting to us in the middle of July and we wished we started the hike even earlier! There’s minimal shade so be sure to prepare with sun protection and plenty of water.
Even though we didn’t make it to the end, the hike was absolutely stunning and one of our favorite things we did on our Idaho itinerary.
Lunch at Grand Teton Brewing
Grand Teton Brewing is located in Victor, Idaho, and offers incredible local brews. There was a burger food truck outside when we went and I think they recently started offering food of their own!
This is a great place to hang out on the patio and relax for a bit.
Explore Victor & Driggs
Both Victor and Driggs are charming small towns near the border of Idaho and Wyoming. We loved souvenir shopping, tasting cider at High Point Cider, and getting huckleberry ice cream!
Sunset at St. Anthony Sand Dunes
The St. Anthony Sand dunes are a photographer’s dream with over ten thousand acres of white quartz sand to explore.
We highly recommend visiting during sunset as the dunes come alive during golden hour with the sun casting interesting shadows and turning the sky into dramatic colors.
The dunes make for an amazing picnic spot, outdoor workout, and of course, an epic photography location.
Day 3: Harriman State Park and Fall Creek Falls
Big Springs
Big Springs was close to our hotel in Island Park and was a cool stop, but it was one of the most crowded places we visited! So if you were to skip anything on this Eastern Idaho itinerary, we’d recommend skipping this one.
Big Springs is one of the headwaters of the Snake River and features large blue springs. You can see trout swimming in the water, tons of seagulls flying around, and you can also visit the historic Johnny Sacks cabin.
It’s a good family-friendly stop since minimal hiking is required. The bugs were also intense here so bring bug spray!
Harriman State Park
Harriman State Park is a must stop on your Eastern Idaho itinerary! This state park has tons of beautiful hiking and biking trails and horseback riding tours are available too.
We didn’t take a horseback riding tour, but we did meet the friendly horses which was a highlight of our trip! The cost is $7/vehicle to enter the park.
Fall Creek Falls
Videos of Fall Creek Falls convinced us to visit! It was extremely crowded when we went there mid-afternoon, so keep that in mind! We also didn’t bring bathing suits, but many people were enjoying swimming in the falls.
Since it was so crowded and we didn’t have bathing suits, we just briefly stopped here, but with better planning, you could spend longer here! We recommend some water shoes with good traction, as the walk down to the falls is pretty steep and can be muddy.
Dinner at Citizen 33
We were really impressed with the food at Citizen 33 in Driggs. It’s a craft brewery and restaurant, so they feature a lot of food and drink options!
They really have something for everyone on their large American inspired menu. We both got the house made veggie burger and they were delicious!
Sunset at Teton Scenic overlook
On your way back to your hotel, stop at Teton Scenic Overlook for sunset! This overlook has a large parking lot with an incredible view of the Teton range. It was one of our favorite views of the trip!
Day 4: Depart
Explore Idaho Falls before departing
Idaho Falls is a charming small town. We were really impressed with the variety of shops in the town! We ended up picking up a few local gifts for some friends. Our favorite shops were Winnie & Mo’s Bookshop and Holiday House Boutique.
The Idaho Falls Riverwalk is also a scenic place to walk if you have some time before your flight.
Responsible Recreation in Eastern Idaho
Carry bear spray and be bear aware. The Teton Valley is grizzly territory! You should carry bear spray when hiking and know how to use it and what to do should you encounter a bear. Never run from a bear!
Respect wildlife from a distance. Stay 300 yards from bears and 25 yards from other wildlife. If you come upon a moose on a trail, slowly and quietly back away, and run if they charge. Never run from a bear.
Pack out your trash. This includes biodegradable waste like apples and oranges.
Consider the altitude. Eastern Idaho sits at around 6,000 feet and this will be more noticeable if you’re coming from sea level! Be sure to know the signs of altitude sickness and drink plenty of water. Consider acclimating a day before attempting any strenuous hikes.
Consider the heat. Wear sunscreen, bring a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses, and at least 1 liter of water per hour of hiking.
Remember not to step through wildflower fields or pick wildflowers so that others can enjoy them.
Eastern Idaho is very close to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, so if you have more time, we’d highly recommend a visit to both parks! Check out our 3-day Grand Teton itinerary.
