Weekend Trip to Northern Idaho

Ah Idaho, I love you.

If you haven't heard: since COVID summer campsites have become incredibly difficult to come by. The youth group my husband leads has a long-held tradition of tent camping for their summer camp, but securing multiple sites in Washington state this year was impossible. Hence, Idaho.

Long story short, he was able to secure spots online at Dworshak State Park in Northern Idaho, but he'd never seen the place. Then, right after we returned from our Columbia River Gorge trip, our rental needed some work done on it, so we made the last minute decision to go check out the Park and surrounding area to give the construction workers some space.

I'll never claim to be a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of person...hah...so planning a two night adventure days before our departure in a new-to-me area was a bit of a mental hurdle. But, man did it pay off.

First, let's chat accommodations. We always prefer to stay somewhere privately owned, but, because this area of Idaho is so rural, it almost didn't happen. That is, until The High Country Inn in Ahsahka called me back.

Not gonna lie, the idea of taking our three boys (and massive puppy, Lou) to a bed and breakfast did not sound appealing. The High Country Inn, however, is more like a hybrid between a vacation rental and bed and breakfast. They have three cabins and two lodge rooms available for rent. We were able to reserve a three bedroom cabin on their property that allowed dogs and overlooked a forested valley. The property is beautifully nestled amongst evergreens, so dang quiet, and has a hot tub.

Jo, the owner, is the true gem of this place. She's sweet, spunky, and makes the best apple muffins I've ever had in my life. She made breakfast for all of her guests every morning and always had a homemade treat for our entire family to enjoy later in the day. Not to mention her husband was in the Air Force and she's from Texas (my dad was Air Force and I spent half my childhood in the heart of Texas).

I'd highly recommend The High Country Inn for a getaway!

DWORSHAK STATE PARK

Our first full day in Idaho we dedicated to exploring Dworshak State Park. After trusting Google instead of Jo for directions and driving up a mountainside cliff on a dirt road with no railings (never again Jo, I promise) we made it to the Reservoir.

Even with the seasonally lowered water level, it was gorgeous. And practically empty--we had the entire shoreline to ourselves for the entire afternoon! We dug in the mud, dashed for cover during sporadic thunderstorms, discovered a driftwood teepee, and observed loads of animal tracks. It was the adventure day we all needed.

If you ever find yourself looking for a road trip out east (or needing to vacate your home for a weekend) check out Dworshak--it's the perfect, quiet spot for adventure and reflection.