Short answer
Good places to paint plein air in Idaho include Lake Coeur d'Alene Boardwalk and Marina, Coeur d'Alene Lake from Tubbs Hill, Sawtooth Mountains over Stanley Basin, Mores Creek and Idaho City, Harriman State Park and the Henrys Fork, Galena Summit Overlook, Bonner County Courthouse and Sandpoint Downtown and Niagara Springs on the Snake River. PleinScout lists 48 spots in Idaho, each with parking, shade, restrooms and when the light is best. Always check current hours, fees and rules before you go.
These are places painters set up in Idaho, grouped by subject. Each one notes the things that decide whether a session works: where to park, whether there's shade, a restroom nearby, and when the light is best. The full map, with directions and spots added by local painters, is in the free PleinScout app.
Coast, beaches and harbors
Lake Coeur d'Alene Boardwalk and Marina
A long floating boardwalk rings the marina with moored boats and resort towers. Lively harbor reflections and masts for waterfront painting.
Coeur d'Alene · Best light: golden hour · Parking: paid · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Boardwalk free to walk; nearby downtown and resort parking is paid. · Easy
Lakes, rivers and waterfalls
Mesa Falls
A powerful forested waterfall on the Henrys Fork with mist drifting through pines. Lush greens and rushing white water.
Ashton · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · Day-use parking fee at the Forest Service site. · Easy
Payette River along the Banks-Lowman Road
Brilliant green Payette River whitewater tumbling among granite slabs near the confluence at Banks. A favorite for moving-water studies.
Banks · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Free · Moderate
Boise River Greenbelt
A shaded riverside path threading cottonwood groves and footbridges through Boise. Easy, accessible river and woodland subjects.
Boise · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Lucky Peak and the Boise River Diversion
A blue reservoir cradled in golden foothills minutes from Boise. Easy access to water, beaches, and sage-hill backdrops.
Boise · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee. · Easy
Lake Cascade and West Mountains
A wide mountain reservoir below the forested West Mountains with open shorelines. Big skies and tranquil evening reflections.
Cascade · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee at developed access points. · Easy
Coeur d'Alene Lake from Tubbs Hill
A forested peninsula trail wrapping Lake Coeur d'Alene with rocky coves and panoramic water views. Shaded perches make pleasant summer painting.
Coeur d'Alene · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · Free · Moderate
Priest Lake and the Selkirk Mountains
A pristine, cedar-rimmed northern lake mirroring the jagged Selkirk Crest. Quiet, wild shoreline scenes far from crowds.
Coolin · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee at developed units. · Easy
Thousand Springs along the Snake River
Springs burst directly from dark basalt walls and cascade into the Snake River. A striking contrast of black rock, white water, and lush green.
Hagerman · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Idaho State Parks day-use fee at developed units. · Easy
Harriman State Park and the Henrys Fork
A storied ranch refuge where the Henrys Fork winds through wildlife-rich meadows toward distant peaks. Serene water, sky, and rustic structures.
Island Park · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee. · Easy
Henrys Lake and the Centennial Mountains
A high mountain lake ringed by the Centennial Range, famed for fly fishing. Wide open water, grassy banks, and mountain reflections.
Island Park · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee. · Easy
Snake River at Swan Falls Dam
A historic dam set deep in the Snake River Canyon amid rimrock cliffs and soaring raptors. Strong canyon geometry and reflective water.
Kuna · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Restrooms: yes · Free · Moderate
Kirkham Hot Springs on the Payette
Mineral hot-spring cascades steam over mossy terraces beside the green Payette River. Atmospheric steam and lush riverbank to capture.
Lowman · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Forest Service day-use parking fee. · Easy
Lake Coeur d'Alene Scenic Byway at Heyburn State Park
Idaho's oldest state park, where the St. Joe River threads through marshy lakes between tree-lined banks. Tranquil wetland and water scenes.
Plummer · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee. · Easy
Spokane River at Post Falls
The Spokane River tumbles over granite shelves and through a rugged gorge at Falls Park. Dramatic moving water framed by rock and pine.
Post Falls · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Salmon River near Riggins
The legendary Salmon River roars through a steep canyon with rafts, riffles, and golden grassy hillsides. Lively water and movement to paint.
Riggins · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Free · Moderate
Salmon River Scenic Byway near Salmon
The broad Salmon River meanders through ranchland framed by the Lemhi Range. Open valley vistas, cottonwoods, and frontier history.
Salmon · Best light: golden hour · Parking: street · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Lake Pend Oreille from Sandpoint
A huge mountain-ringed lake viewed from Sandpoint's City Beach. Big skies, distant peaks, and shimmering water for expansive compositions.
Sandpoint · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
St. Joe River Scenic Byway
A clear, secluded river curving through deep cedar forest along a quiet byway. Intimate woodland-river scenes with rich greens.
St. Maries · Best light: afternoon · Parking: street · Shade: lots · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Alturas Lake in the Sawtooth Valley
A long, tranquil Sawtooth Valley lake backed by jagged peaks and ringed with forest. Reflective, less-trafficked alpine painting.
Stanley · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Pettit Lake in the Sawtooths
A peaceful, less-crowded Sawtooth lake with peaks lined up at its far end. Excellent still-water reflections in soft morning light.
Stanley · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Redfish Lake and the Sawtooths
A jewel alpine lake backed by the Sawtooth crest with mirror-still reflections at dawn. One of Idaho's most painted scenes.
Stanley · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Day-use parking fee at the lake recreation area; lodge amenities extra. · Easy
Sawtooth Lake
A high alpine lake cradled in a granite cirque below Mount Regan, reached by a demanding hike. A reward for the fit plein air painter.
Stanley · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Challenging
Stanley Lake with McGown Peak
A serene Sawtooth lake perfectly composed beneath the pyramid of McGown Peak. One of the area's most photogenic, paintable reflections.
Stanley · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Forest Service day-use/recreation fee at the lake. · Easy
Perrine Coulee Falls
A graceful 200-foot ribbon falls dropping over a basalt ledge you can walk behind. Delicate veils of water against dark rock and ferns.
Twin Falls · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Shoshone Falls
The thundering 'Niagara of the West' drops over a dark basalt rim of the Snake River Canyon. Best painted at peak spring runoff.
Twin Falls · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Per-vehicle entry fee charged seasonally at the park gate. · Easy
Niagara Springs on the Snake River
Spring water pours in foaming sheets from a black canyon wall into vivid turquoise pools. A dramatic contrast hidden in the Snake River Canyon.
Wendell · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee. · Moderate
Mountains, canyons and overlooks
City of Rocks National Reserve
A maze of pale granite spires and domes rising from high desert, steeped in pioneer history. Striking warm rock against blue shadow.
Almo · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Moderate
Massacre Rocks on the Snake River
Rugged basalt formations stand above the Snake River along the old Oregon Trail. Warm rock, big sky, and sagebrush foreground.
American Falls · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee. · Easy
Craters of the Moon Lava Fields
An otherworldly sea of black lava and cinder cones from recent volcanism. Stark value contrasts and alien forms reward bold painting.
Arco · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Restrooms: yes · Per-vehicle entrance fee; America the Beautiful pass accepted. · Moderate
Lower Mesa Falls Overlook
A canyon-rim overlook framing the broad Lower Mesa Falls across a forested gorge. Atmospheric depth and layered greens.
Ashton · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · Forest Service scenic area day-use fee. · Easy
Mesa Falls Scenic Byway Aspen Country
A forested byway of aspen and conifer with the Tetons floating on the eastern horizon. Mixed woodland color and distant peaks.
Ashton · Best light: golden hour · Parking: street · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Boise Foothills at Camel's Back Park
Rolling golden foothills rise straight from a city park with sweeping views over Boise. Glowing sage slopes at sunset.
Boise · Best light: sunset · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Bruneau Dunes
Towering golden sand dunes mirrored in small desert lakes. Raking low light sculpts the ripples into pure value studies.
Bruneau · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Restrooms: yes · Idaho State Parks per-vehicle day-use fee. · Moderate
Lake Coeur d'Alene Scenic Byway at Mineral Ridge
A forested overlook above the southern arm of Lake Coeur d'Alene with wooded bays and ridges. Quiet, layered woodland-and-water views.
Coeur d'Alene · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · Free · Moderate
Galena Summit Overlook
A sweeping summit overlook taking in the Salmon River valley and the full Sawtooth skyline. One of the great panoramic vistas in the state.
Ketchum · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Hyndman Peak and the Pioneer Mountains
The dramatic Pioneer peaks, crowned by Hyndman, rise above golden aspens near Sun Valley. Bold alpine backdrops and fall color.
Ketchum · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Moderate
Borah Peak and the Lost River Range
Idaho's tallest summit rears up dramatically from the flat sage valley below. A monumental subject of light, snow, and scale.
Mackay · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Hells Canyon of the Snake River
The deepest gorge in North America, where the Snake River cuts mile-deep canyon walls. Vast scale and layered earth tones.
Riggins · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Free · Challenging
Sawtooth Mountains over Stanley Basin
The classic Idaho viewpoint where the serrated Sawtooth Range looms over Stanley's open basin. Endless compositions of peaks, river, and meadow.
Stanley · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Moderate
Sawtooth Valley and the Salmon River Headwaters
A wide sage-and-grass valley with the infant Salmon River curving beneath surrounding ranges. Sweeping foreground-to-mountain compositions.
Stanley · Best light: golden hour · Parking: street · Shade: none · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Bald Mountain and Sun Valley
America's first destination ski resort set beneath Bald Mountain. Rich material in alpine light, aspens, and storied lodge architecture.
Sun Valley · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Snake River Canyon at Perrine Bridge
A dramatic view down into the Snake River Canyon spanned by the 486-foot Perrine Bridge. The rim trail offers sweeping canyon compositions.
Twin Falls · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Towns, historic sites and gardens
Idaho State Capitol
Idaho's gleaming sandstone capitol with its classical dome anchors downtown Boise. Strong architectural geometry and tree-framed approaches.
Boise · Best light: morning · Parking: street · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Moderate
Old Idaho Penitentiary
A weathered 1870s sandstone prison complex backed by the Boise Foothills. Rich texture in old masonry, towers, and barred windows.
Boise · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Admission fee for interior; grounds and exterior viewable from outside. · Easy
Old Mission State Park (Cataldo Mission)
A stately 1850s mission church, Idaho's oldest building, crowning a green knoll. Classic architecture against open sky and river bottoms.
Cataldo · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · State park per-vehicle day-use fee. · Easy
Mores Creek and Idaho City
A preserved gold-rush town of false-front wooden storefronts and boardwalks in the pine country above Boise. Rich frontier-era texture and character.
Idaho City · Best light: afternoon · Parking: street · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Bonner County Courthouse and Sandpoint Downtown
Sandpoint's historic brick downtown and courthouse with mountains rising beyond the rooftops. Lively street-corner and architectural subjects.
Sandpoint · Best light: morning · Parking: street · Shade: some · Free · Moderate
Plein air and sketch groups in Idaho
Paint with other people. These groups meet outdoors in Idaho:
Run a group in Idaho? Get it listed free.
Find more spots in Idaho
Painters add new spots to PleinScout every week, with photos, parking and the light. Get the free app to see them on the map, or find a paint-out near you.
Hours, fees and rules change. Always check with the park or venue before you go.