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One of the best things about living in Idaho is the easy access to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, the PNW is known for our amazing forests, high mountains, and the phenomenal coastline; and it’s all available within driving distance. Road trips are awesome because they’re so customizable- if you don’t want to hit a certain spot, you can just drive on past it. But sometimes people don’t know where to start, so we’ve compiled a beginners list of places to hit in the PNW, starting in Boise. Tallying at about 36 hours driving time, you get a taste of each fantastic aspect of the PNW.
Start In Boise
This is assuming you start in Boise- the home base and where you’ll end up at the end of your trip. The cool part about road trips is that you can start at any one of the spots, but since it’s a semi- circular design, you’ll still hit any of the destinations you choose. If this isn’t your starting point, but a destination along the way, we highly encourage you to explore our amazing city.
Mt Hood National Forest
Only about 60 miles from Portland, Mt Hood is a must see. Whether you just go to sight see, or take the opportunity to hike, Mt Hood National Forest extends south from the phenomenal Columbia River Gorge. It’s honestly two attractions in one. The national attractions is one of the most visited National Forest in the US, and it’s easy to see why! There are over 150 developed recreation sites to choose from, so make sure this is a part of your trip.
Portland
Portland is a must see in the PNW. The beauty, culture, and stunning imagery of the city guarantees an amazing leg of your trip. There’s so much to see and do in Portland that it’s definitely too much to write here, so visit www.travelportland.com to plan our your trip.
Oregon Coast- Seaside Oregon
The Oregon coast is a must see part of your leg in Oregon. There are amazing towns up and down the coast, but for the purpose of this itinerary, we chose Seaside, Oregon. However, we highly recommend any of the Oregon coastal towns. Seaside is amazing because it’s so varied in activities. And everything is walkable. Go to www.seasideor.com to plan out your visit.
Greater Seattle Area
Seattle is like Portland in that there is so much to do there, that we couldn’t possibly write it all here. Suffice to say, Seattle and the surrounding areas hold some of the most amazing sightseeing opportunities, arts & culture events, food, all while being encircled by unmatched natural beauty. Go to www.visitseattle.org to learn more about the city.
Mt Rainier National Forest
Mt. Rainier is an icon in the Washington landscape. The park boasts amazing camping, hiking, and climbing for all levels and ages. An active volcano, Mt Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous US, spawning five major rivers.
Ceour d’Alene
A stopover in Idaho, Coeur d’Alene is a fan- favorite of most Idahoans. The weather makes most outdoor sports feasible at some point through the year. From the lake, to the amusement park, to the stunning outdoor beauty around the city, CDA is a must see on any trip through the panhandle of Idaho.
Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park is arguably the most well known National Park in the US, and we all know why. There are 12 park campgrounds to choose from, so an overnight stay (or two) wouldn’t be remiss. You can explore the thermal basins, hike nearly 1000 miles of trails, fish and boat, or ski and snowshoe in the winter.
Sawtooth National Forest
At the heart of Idaho is the Sawtooth National Forest, and is considered a working/producing forest. There are a number of places to visit from the heart of the forest, including Sun Valley, Twin Falls and Redfish Lake. There’s a whopping 81 campgrounds in the forest that houses trails, fishing, ski areas, and space for whitewater boating.
Back home to Boise
You could always continue your road trip and head west to McCall, or back north to explore Montana. But if you choose to head back to your starting point, it’s back to Boise you go!
Idaho is growing quickly, and while we’re always happy to make new friends and spread the love of our amazing state, it can cause crowding- issues in our favorite spots. Idahoans are known for our love of the outdoors and most of us try to be outside as much as possible, especially during the summer. We’ve put together a list of our favorite bodies of water in Idaho, both well-known and not.
Spring Shores: We’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention our second home- Spring Shores Marina at Lucky Peak Reservoir. If you’re in Boise, it’s one of the closest bodies of water to get to, and an amazing example of the state parks in Idaho. It’s also worth mentioning that Redline runs the marina at Spring Shores, complete with watercraft rentals, a full menu, and other necessities for a day on the lake.
McCall & Cascade: McCall and Payette Lake are probably one of the most well- known places for Idahoans to spend their free time, and it’s easy to see why. McCall has outdoor recreational options for all year-round. Summer is definitely a fan favorite, as the lake offers so many fun options for the whole family. If Payette Lake is too crowded for your liking, Lake Cascade offers an alternative that’s close by.
Black Canyon: Black Canyon Park is a great choice for a family day in some water. On the shore, there’s plenty of trees and picnic tables for your off-water activities. This is a great option for days you don’t want to travel too far, but still want to be in the water. There’s also a campground not too far away for anyone interested in camping out for a night or two.
Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Anderson Ranch is a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts who want all the options of recreation in one spot. Located roughly 20 miles from Mountain Home, Anderson Ranch offers space for hiking, boating, waterskiing, fishing, and camping, all within the confines of the reservoir. It’s an amazing space to take the family for a fun-filled outdoor adventure.
Warm Lake: Another option not too far from Boise is Warm Lake. It’s a popular destination, but doesn’t get the same notoriety as Cascade or Payette Lake. This 640 acre lake is the largest natural lake in Boise National Forest and is very popular for camping, fishing, and hunting, with two lodges close by and campgrounds available for camping options.
Deadwood Reservoir: One more option close to Cascade is Deadwood reservoir. Only about 25 miles southeast of Cascade, the 3,000 acre reservoir is created by the Deadwood Dam. It’s used for camping, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, and other outdoor recreational activities.
Coeur d'Alene: Last but certainly not least, we have Hayden Lake and Lake Coeur d’Alene. Both options are amazingly beautiful and perfect for a fun trip. If you’re already in the northern part of Idaho, CDA isn’t a too-far option; but from Boise, it’s quite the trek. The surrounding areas sport amazing camping areas for long term trips, with other phenomenal outdoor activities.
We keep saying it, and it’ll eventually be here: summer! Summer is a fan favorite for so many reasons and a lot of those have to do with getting in the water. But with so much fun comes an aspect of danger. Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury-related death, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths. And drowning isn’t even the only danger of the water. Here are some top tips for keeping yourself and your family safe on the water this year.
ALWAYS Wear A Life Jacket
Children 12 and under are required to wear a lifejacket; 13 and older are highly encouraged. There should also always be as many lifejackets as there are people on the boat so everyone can be safe
Know The Hazards of the Water
There can be rocks or other naturally occurring hazards in the water- especially in the spring with run off coming down off the mountains
Know Your Limits
Don’t head for big water until you have plenty of experience and be honest with yourself! If you don’t feel comfortable in a given set of conditions, return to shore. You should also always be aware that some watercraft may not be suitable for your water geography.
Impairment= Accidents
Don’t use watercraft if you shouldn’t be driving an automobile; BUI laws are a real thing and apply to all vessels.
Carry the Essentials in Every Watercraft Vessel
Communications; comfort- pack extra, dry clothes in a dry bag; safety- flags, lifejackets, etc.
Prepare for the Worst Case Scenario
Be aware how weather is changing and how that affects the water and plan accordingly
Know the Danger of Cold Water Immersion
The average water temperature of Idaho’s water is 52o F, even in the summer. Know the stages of cold water immersion; cold shock, swim failure, hypothermia, and post immersion collapse
Know Your Laws
Boating laws and federal requirements for boats vary from state to state, so make sure you’re aware and comfortable with all the laws of your state and comply with them.
It’s always a good idea to do your own research for every extracurricular you participate in, and water sports are no different. As always, be aware of your surroundings, protect yourself, and be prepared to have the best water experience every time.
Summer is finally here and you know what that means! Summer equipment roundup: water edition!
Water sports season is our busiest season, and for good reason! With the warm weather, outdoor activities are easy, fun, and enough for the whole family to enjoy. We’ve piled the best summer equipment Redline utilizes over the summer.
Machines:
Wake Boats: Wake boats are by far the most popular piece of water equipment Redline has. The ability to tow boards and tubes, along with their high capacity make them ideal watercraft for the family. Redline runs three different types of wake boats in our fleet, typically. At the moment, we have Axis T22 and A22, which hold 15 people; a line of MB’s, which hold 14 people; and a Mastercraft, which seats 11 people.
Pontoon Boats: Pontoons are amazing because they’re a relaxational boat, while also creating a wake big enough to pull a towable. Redline’s pontoon boats hold anywhere from 10-14 people- depending on the size of the human- with brands like Sunchaser, Sweetwater, and Veranda.
Jet Ski’s: Redline currently carries two types of jet ski’s: Sea- Doo and Kawasaki Ultra’s. Both brands are 1-3 person, sit down- type jet ski’s that offer a fun time for everyone!
Equipment:
Redline uses a number of brands for our towables and other equipment. We carry wake boards, wakesurf boards, knee boards, water skis, tubes, life- jackets, and paddle boards. For boards, Redline carries Hyperlite, an amazing board company with more than 27 years of wake experience. Hyperlite is also a Redline vendor, so if our members see something online that we don’t have in store, our team can order it to be delivered.
As always, Western Power Sports comes in at an amazing price for Redline members as well, offering an array of equipment, from Fly branded life vests to boards and tubes. WPS is a brand we know and trust very much, so we always recommend checking out their apparel, accessories, and even parts for your watercraft.
It’s finally May! That means the Spring Shores Marina is going to open this month and that summer is finally on the way!
Spring Shores is a customer-favorite location, as we have equipment in the water waiting for members, and that it’s a short drive from anywhere in Boise. This is the third summ
er that Redline has run Spring Shores, and every year it gets bigger and better as we make improvements.
This summer, Redline will be having a number of events to bring awareness to the Spring Shores Marina store. We have started renovating our kitchen, brought in more seating, and revamped our menu to suit every customer’s needs.
The Marina will officiallybe opening the weekend of May 17-21, with Friday open 9 am- 9 pm; Saturday and Sunday open 12 pm- 9pm. Regular hours – 9 am – 9pm every day- start after Memorial Day.
Keep an eye out for further scheduled events at the Marina. We want to see all our friends and family taking advantage of this awesome state park that we love!
We’ve got new UTV’s! Redline has updated our UTV’s to the 2019 Kawasaki Teryx’s! These awesome machines are just as amazing and reliable as the 2018 versions that we still have in our fleet, but with some updated features. These four seated, 4WD UTV’s offer updated comfort, with high backed, fully bolstered seating for even the rough spots you find yourself in.
The 2019’s still have the same camo print, for those of you that use them to hunt; along with the same 800cc engines for ultimate power and drive. The Teryx is known for its power and versatility, and this 2019 update is ready to tackle the toughest of your off-roading obstacles.
WIth all these new features, along with the ones that established the great reputation of the Kawasaki Teryx, make us at Redline so excited for what this summer and fall will bring for our trail adventures. This machine truly is the ultimate off- road adventure partner.
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