State guide
When to catch Idahothrough the year
We follow 4 places in Idaho for spring migration, wildflowers, winter wildlife and fall foliage: fall at Lemhi Pass, winter at Deer Flat Refuge, spring at Camas Refuge and Deer Flat Refuge and summer at Craters of the Moon. Each timing below is the place's own source, in its words; none is a forecast.
When are you going?
Fall in Idaho
- SEASON · FALL FOLIAGELemhi PassBy late September, and Agency Creek in OctoberIdaho
“by late September, and Agency Creek in October” · Bureau of Land Management ↗
Also good in fall
- Camas RefugeElk rut and bugling, about mid-September
- Deer Flat RefugeWintering ducks on Lake Lowell (peak in mid-December)
- Lemhi PassAspen and cottonwood color
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Next peak here after fall
Remind me →Winter in Idaho
- SEASON · WINTER WILDLIFEDeer Flat RefugeOctober through JanuaryIdaho
“October through January” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Also good in winter
- Camas RefugeBald eagles flying in to their night roost at headquarters, late November through March
- Deer Flat RefugeWintering ducks on Lake Lowell (peak in mid-December)
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Next peak here after winter
Remind me →Spring in Idaho
- SEASON · SPRING MIGRATIONCamas RefugeMarch through mid-MayIdaho
“March through mid-May” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Also good in spring
- Camas RefugeWaterfowl and shorebird migration peak, March through mid-May
- Craters of the MoonWildflowers
- Deer Flat RefugeWildflowers and returning songbirds
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Next peak here after spring
Remind me →Summer in Idaho
Also good in summer
- Camas RefugeSongbirds heading north to breed: peak time late May through mid-June
- Craters of the MoonWildflowers
- Deer Flat RefugeShorebirds on the east-end mudflats, when water conditions are right
- Lemhi PassByway usually free of snow
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Places in Idaho
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Planning a Idaho trip
Towns to stay in
- Boise City, IDDeer Flat Refuge · 23 mi
- Idaho Falls, IDCamas Refuge · 35 mi
- Pocatello, IDCraters of the Moon · 68 mi
- Coeur d'Alene, IDTurnbull Refuge · 42 mi
- Twin Falls, IDCraters of the Moon · 76 mi
- Rexburg, IDCamas Refuge · 26 mi
- Lewiston, IDTurnbull Refuge · 77 mi
Nearest place we follow, straight-line miles.
Current park alerts (NPS)
- Craters of the Moon: Navigation ↗
Browse by season and event
- Spring migration · 1 place hereSpring migration, everywhere →
- Wildflowers · 2 places hereWildflowers, everywhere →
- Winter wildlife · 1 place hereWinter wildlife, everywhere →
- Fall foliage · 1 place hereFall foliage, everywhere →
Questions people ask
When is the refuge open at Camas Refuge?
Every day from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, but the refuge's hours list says it is closed on all federal holidays. The headquarters office keeps weekday hours (Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and may be empty when staff are out in the field.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Camas NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Can I walk or drive off the roads at Camas Refuge?
No. Apart from hunting in the hunting unit, everything happens from the refuge road system, with no off-road travel, and nothing natural may be taken away, shed antlers included.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Camas NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Camas NWR: Rules and Policies ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When is peak bloom at Craters of the Moon?
In June: the park's wildflower page says early to mid-June, its visit page mid- to late June. The season runs from wild onion in late April to the last yellow rabbitbrush in September.Sources: National Park Service, Craters of the Moon wildflowers ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Craters of the Moon basic information ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When is the Loop Road open at Craters of the Moon?
Usually from mid-April to mid-November, though snowstorms in April and May can close it for a while.Source: National Park Service, Craters of the Moon basic information ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When are the wildflowers best at Deer Flat Refuge?
April to May, when a variety of wildflowers bloom and migrating songbirds return. Wildflowers are less common in summer.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When is the weather mildest at Deer Flat Refuge?
September–October and April–May are usually neither too hot nor too cold. In summer the trails can be very hot with little shade.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Nearby state guides: Wyoming · Montana · Oregon · Utah
Idaho in pictures
How we know
- Sep 29Park ServiceSeasons of wildlife: waterbird migration peak March to mid-May, songbirds late May to mid-June, snow geese, eagle night roost, elk rutSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Camas NWR: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServicePeak bloom early to mid-June; flowers from late April to SeptemberSource (opens National Park Service, Craters of the Moon wildflowers in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServiceWildflower peak mid- to late June; Loop Road open mid-April to mid-NovemberSource (opens National Park Service, Craters of the Moon basic information in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceApril to May for migrating songbirds and wildflowers; trails, swimming season, fall color in OctoberSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge: Visit Us in a new tab)
- Sep 28Park ServiceDuck numbers peak in mid-December on Lake Lowell; goose peak in mid-November; dawn and dusk feeding flightsSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServiceColor by late September in aspens and cottonwoods; Agency Creek in October; road usually snow-free June through OctoberSource (opens Bureau of Land Management, Lewis and Clark Backcountry Byway and Adventure Road guide in a new tab)
- National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.