Day trip from Boise- Hells Canyon and Dam , and Owyhee Reservoir

"Hells Canyon, North America's deepest rover gorge, encompasses a vastly remote region with dramatic changes in elevation, terrain, climate and vegetation. Carved by the great Snake River, Hells Canyon plunges more than a mile below Oregon's west rim, and 8000 feet below He Devil Peak of Idaho's Seven Devil Mountains. There are no roads across Hells Canyon's 10-mile wiade expanse, and only three roads that lead to the Snake River between Hells Canyon Dam and the Oregon-Washington boundary." (Copied from an informational sign at the Hells Canon Visitors Center) After what seemed to be the winter that would never end, then the Spring where it only rained on weekeneds, the weather gods finally smiled down upon us. We were just ITCHING for a nice road trip where we could drive for a few hours, get out in nature and enjoy each others company. We LOVE the wonderful spots all around Idaho, but wanted to try something new. We decided on Hells Canyon (more specifically the Dam and Reservoir), about 3 1/2 hours away from Boise. We heard the drive was spectacular, and everything we read said the same. The first 3 hours were pretty uneventful. We drove through Emmett, Fruitland, Weiser...getting further and further away from Boise, and into the small towns dotted along the snake river, straddling the Idaho-Oregon border. One of our favorite drives from Boise is up to Idaho City, through the Boise National Forest and the Ponderosa Scenic Byway. As we were driving...and driving...and driving I was starting to get worried. There was nothing here that was different or better than our beloved Idaho City. I couldnt really understand what all the fuss was about. Yeah, it's pretty...but 3 1/2 hours for this?? I was frustrated. Then about 20 miles from our destination we took a different road and headed into the Canyon. Everything changed! It was absolutely breathtaking. 

The roads are well paved, but VERY winding. You cannot drive too fast because of all the sharp turns. The hillsides gave way to tall cliffs and mountains, and the little winding road cutting through the gorge along the fast running snake river kept impelling us forward. Every corner brought new scenery and a new "pull over I need to take a picture" moment. We drove down to the Dam and then over to the visitors center. From what we could see there was a little hiking you could do . We saw people fishing and there were even scenic chartered boat trips.

We drove the sharp and winding roads down to the Visitors Center.

The canyon and gorge are really very striking with the coniferous trees and dark rock canyon.

You can hike, boat, fish and jetski in the recreation area.

Us at the Visitors Center. There is a boat trip going on behind us. (you can see the boat right on top of hubby head)

The Dam.

All said and done it was a great little trip. From Boise it does take 3.5 hours drive time to get to the visitors center. We thought if we did it again we would make it a weekend trip because there is a lot to do and see. Maybe get a hotel room or an air B&B an hour away then drive in.  It really is kind of a long drive just for scenery.  

But I will say it is VERY dry and can get quite hot down in the canyon.  Make sure you have good footwear, plenty of gas in your car and bring sunscreen and water!!!

Looking or more information on Hells Canyon?

HERE

SCOTLAND....Im coming for you!!

 

This is the year of Over the Hill.  The big one.  FIVE-OH.  THE BIG 5-0.  (Not me, Im still the trophy wife.  Of course, I am talking about Dear Hubby. He is the one dipping his big toe into the old pool.)

A few years ago I asked him "If you could travel anywhere for your 50th birthday, what would you say?   Dont worry about cost, or what you think I would like, this is YOUR trip.  Where would you like to go for the big 5-0?"

He thought about it for a little bit, had a few ideas but ultimately decided that he wanted to go on a tour of Scotland.  

SO I did what every good trip planner does- I went on Amazon and bought Rick Steves Scotland book and Map!    

I read blogs. 

I bought a notebook to keep all my ideas, scribbles and notes in.

 I have been  following every Scottish hasthag on Instagram, reading every Scottish itinerary, getting ideas from  friends and family who have been to Scotland etc etc etc. 

I have a notebook full of ideas and lists, revised and revised again itineraries. 

I spent months looking for airline tickets (daily!!), and figuring out multiple itineraries, based on which airport we will be flying into.   

We fly out of a home airport that isnt a major hub, so tickets can tend to be pricey, which is why when I found a great price, I jumped!

Now that tickets are booked, it is time to really get to the nitty gritty, and the heart of it all...THE ITINERARY!

 I started with a rough itinerary. The major cities we were seeing, and the 3 areas we were using as our "home base".  I mapped out every day with one of the cities we will be sleeping in.  I have  lists of our "MUST DO/ABSOLUTELY CANNOT MISS", a list of our "WOULD REALLY LIKE TO DO/TRY HARD TO GET TO IT",  and a "WOULD BE NICE,/BUT WONT HURT MY FEELINGS IF WE DONT GET TO IT".  

 

So now that I have a starting point, and I know where we will be sleeping every night, I start filling in our days with MUST DO's, then add  WOULD REALLY LIKE TO's, and then  WONT HURT MY FEELINGS.  That way once we get done with a MUST, and we have the time and energy, we can choose  something from our alternate lists.

To bus and Train, or to rent a car?? That is the question.

Although the bus and train system in Scotland is reputed to be wonderful,  we have decided to rent a car to make sure we can hit all those wonderful little towns that tend to be off the beaten path. 

With all the things that I wanted to be able to do, I didnt want to be beholden to a bus or train schedule, and I had read that in some of those smaller off the beaten trail towns, the busses may only run once or twice a day, leaving us a LOT of waiting time.  Plus with a car you have the freedom to go and see more.  And as it turns out,  10 days with a car is cheaper than buying 2 Scotland rail passes! 

I have already booked the tickets, I have booked the car, and I have gone in and booked the hotel rooms in our 3 major home base of operations (with the intention of looking around more and re-booking if needed). Really, the hardest part is done, now it is just finalizing our various lists and figuring out what we can realistically see and do.

I continue to look at blogs and recommendations, scour trip advisor  and have broken out the hiking boots to get them broken in and ready for an adventure.

Now we wait....impatiently.