In August, I am planning to visit my boyfriend, who is currently studying away on his PhD at Washington State University in Pullman. Considering, neither of us are from that area, we would like to stay at a guest ranch and do some horseback riding, fishing, hiking, etc. I have some horseback riding experience (although more English hunter jump seat style) and he has no experience. Does anyone have any recommendations or any other ';must sees?';
Guest Ranch Stay
there are many guest ranches in the area of Stanley...beautiful place. Just google it. Here is an old post of the nice round trip drive from Boise to Ketchum and back...
there is a great circle trip that you can take. leaving boise, you go north on highway 95, to Banks. Drive the payette river, watch the early kayakers, and drive the road through Loman, stop at the kirkham hot springs on the way. the road takes you to stanley, usually the coldest spot in the nation!!! all dirt roads, the greatest bakery and lunch spot (i cook for a living and love this place) the stanley bakery...just ask. Get a sandwich to go and head south to Redfish Lake in highway 75. Sit on the porch of the lodge, look out to the wonderful lake, the Sawtooth Mountains in the background. If you want a more secluced lake, save the sandwich (that will be hard!!) and go to the next lake on the drive to Sun valley, Petit Lake. Stop there for the seclulded lake effect. Then you will go up the hill to the Galena lookout...what a view of the Sawtooths. When you go down the hill, look for the small stream that will form on the right hand side, going down. Later when you are in Ketchum, that is the Big Wood River, huge by then. Galena Lodge is a great spot to stop, at the bottom of Galena Summit. It has great history and inside, if it is open, the pictures of the old lodge are on the walls. In the summer we bike up here and in the winter it is used for x country skiing. Head on down to Ketchum, visit my wonderful town, and go south 18 miles to what we call the ';blinking light';. Then turn right on highway 20 and return to Boise. This should take all day, but worth getting up early to do. enjoy
Guest Ranch Stay
Assume from your post you are interested in the area around Pullman/Moscow? The Stanley area is a real long full days drive each way from Pullman. If you are more interested in the more locale area, I can help. First, there are no ';guest ranches'; in the area. This is not ranching country, this is big river, wilderness country. There are many outfitters offering anything from day trips to prolonged back country trips. Fishing and hiking are everywhere, how much hiking, over night or day trips, rugged country or gentle? Would you be interested in renting a US Forest Service Fire Look out. Incredable views, hiking right from the look outs, fishing in streams and lakes with in short walking distances? Wall tent camps? Clearwater county offers numerous cabins for rent, some remote, some not so remote. Lets narrow down how far you want to drive to get to some place and what you want to do. How primative or easy. Rivers, lakes, high mountains, horse back riding, ATVs, river rafting, or? Give me a little more info and I will steer you right. I have lived and worked in the Clearwater country for 25 years, I can find what ever you want!! Everything in Idaho is a must see.
There is a guest ranch located north of the Pullman area near Harrison, Idaho, about a 2 hour drive from Pullman. It is called Red Horse Mountain Ranch (www.redhorsemountain.com). It has been reviewed here on Trip Advisor. The Harrison area is located adjacent to Lake Coeur d%26#39; Alene (www.coeurdalene.org), the Coeur d%26#39; Alene National Forest (www.fs.fed.us/ipnf), and the Trail of the Coeur d%26#39; Alenes Bike Path (www.friendsofcdatrails.org/CdA_Trail/) which all offer a variety of scenic areas and recreational activities.
Idahoraghorn, thank you for your offer of help. The boy and I would love to explore what the area has to offer. Obviously, it would be easier to travel to something that%26#39;s closer to Pullman, but we are not reluctant to drive a few hours for a single great destination. We definitely want to take advantage of the location and explore! Neither of us have much of our own equipment (fishing, horses, mountain bikes, rafting, etc.), but we would love to try those activities if equipment can be provided. We are the types to prefer horses or bikes to ATVs and rafting to jet boats. I grew up hiking, so although I would be more than happy to do some more, I also recognize that we could probably find some trails a little closer to Pullman than, say I could find white water rafting spots... Also, as poor student/ military folk, we are always looking for an affordable option. We are interested in day and/ or overnight trips (no longer than 3 days). Since we don鈥檛 own tents/ back packs, it would be easiest to stay in a central location (log cabin or otherwise). So, idahoraghorn, given all this more info, can you lend me your wisdom?
fs.fed.us/r1/鈥abins_lookouts.htm Look on this site for US Forest service rentals. I know most of them so feel free to ask me about them or contact the forest service. I will send you some more info on different cabins etc this eve. Feel free to e-mail me direct if it is easier for you
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