Southwestern

Southwestern Idaho covers the metro core of Boise and the surrounding agricultural and mountain country, a region running from the Snake River Plain north into the Salmon River Mountains and west to the Oregon line. The terrain is varied — irrigated farmland and sagebrush plains around Boise at about 2,700 feet climbing into the high country at McCall and Cascade above 5,000 feet. The Boise River and the Snake mark the southern boundaries. Ada, Canyon, Boise, Valley, Adams, Washington, Payette, Gem, and Elmore counties cover the region. Boise is the largest city and the state capital; Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, and Eagle round out the metro; Mountain Home holds the air base; McCall anchors the high mountain country at Payette Lake. Bogus Basin sits north of Boise; Tamarack Resort and Brundage Mountain anchor the McCall ski scene; Hells Canyon National Recreation Area runs the western edge. Most trips here split between Boise and the high country. Boise handles the urban itinerary — the Greenbelt along the river, the Idaho State Capitol, the Old Idaho Penitentiary, the Basque Block. McCall and Cascade run summer-lake and winter-ski itineraries; the Snake River wineries around Caldwell and Sunnyslope fill day trips.