Summer might be nearing an end, but fall is still a great time to experience all that Idaho has to offer. From golfing some of the greatest courses in the Northwest to harvest festivals and activities sure to get you in the autumn mood, there’s something for everyone this fall in Idaho.

Idaho Golf Trail

The Idaho Golf Trail is continuing to receive national recognition as the highlight of Idaho’s golf community with six of its eight courses ranked by GolfDigest.com as the best public courses in Idaho for 2007-2008.

The Idaho Golf Trail brings together eight unique and challenging courses across the state to provide a great golf experience while traveling throughout Idaho. The trail is divided into two sections. In the northern Panhandle are Circling Raven Golf Course, Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course and StoneRidge Golf Course. Southern Idaho is home to Osprey Meadows at Tamarack Resort, Whitetail Golf Course, MeadowCreek Golf Course, Banbury Golf Course and Sun Valley Golf Course.

The courses selected for the Idaho Golf Trail are situated in or near resort-style settings to provide the ultimate luxury golf experience. Ranging from the Scottish-style layout at Banbury to the 60 white-sand bunkers at Circling Raven, the Idaho Golf Trail offers something for golfers of all skill levels.

Below are the courses and rankings given by GolfDigest.com which appeared in the May 2007 issue of Golf Digest magazine.

Best in State Rankings for Idaho: 2007-2008 (Golf Trail courses in bold)

1. The Club at Black Rock, Coeur d’Alene
2. Osprey Meadows at Tamarack Resort, Donnelly, which also ranked as Golf Digest's Best New Public Course $75 and Over and as one of the Top 10 New Courses by Golf Magazine
3. Headwaters Course, Victor
4. Circling Raven Golf Course, Worley
5. Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course, Coeur d’Alene
6. Whitetail Golf Course, McCall
7. Banbury Golf Course, Eagle
8. Sun Valley Golf Course, Sun Valley
9. Ridgecrest Golf Course, Nampa
10. Elkhorn Golf Course, Sun Valley (semi-private)

Fall Camping

With summer-like days, cool evenings and plenty of opportunities for pitching a tent and jumping in a lake, Idaho is a great place to experience a family camping trip, even late in the season. Below are a few great spots to check out this fall.

McCall
Set along the shores of Payette Lake, the mountain town of McCall offers plenty of camping opportunities for families. Ponderosa State Park offers tent and camper options, along with showers, restrooms and hiking trails nearby. The lake itself offers numerous activities including swimming, boating and fishing.

Idaho City
There are plenty of suitable camping spots in and around Idaho City, including many in the Boise National Forest. This old mining town is still alive and well with several restaurants and local attractions and activities including hiking, mountain biking and fishing. Or, for the more adventurous, take a day-trip to one of the local “ghost towns” of Placerville, Pioneerville, and Centerville

Stanley
Set against the backdrop of the majestic Sawtooth Mountains, Stanley is a campers paradise. Hundreds of sites are available, including several on popular Redfish Lake and Stanley Lake, and can be reserved at www.reserveusa.com. As the gateway to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA), the Sawtooth Wilderness, and the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the opportunities for outdoor adventure are endless. From rafting, hiking and biking, to fishing and ATV riding, there is something for everyone.

Coeur d’Alene
A beautiful spot set in northern Idaho, Coeur d’Alene is well-known for its lake of the same name as well as the world-class resort set along the shores. But if you’re in the mood to rough it a little, Coeur d’Alene has camping spots for every style. State parks and national forest land offer several options including structured campgrounds and off-the-beaten-path, truly roughing it camping spots. In town, you can rent paddle boats, go parasailing, take a ride around the lake on a ferry, swim or, just walk around town.

Fall Festivals & Harvest Time in Idaho

Fall in Idaho is a colorful bounty of harvest and celebration. It’s that time of year when the air is crisp, pumpkins are ripe, apple cider is flowing and Halloween spirit looms. It’s a great time to get out in nature and experience all that Idaho offers this time of year including harvest items and “spooktacular” fall events.

To download a PDF of this year’s activities statewide, click here.
To download a PDF of U-Pick-‘Em opportunities, click here.
To download a PDF of Idaho’s Farmer’s Market brochure, click here.

Fall is also a great time to experience a glass of classic Idaho wine. Take a trip out to one of the many wineries in the Snake River Valley, Idaho’s newest AVA (American Viticultural Area) located in and around the Nampa/Caldwell area. www.idahowines.org

Sawtooth Winery is an exceptional choice. Formerly known is Pintler Cellars, Sawtooth Winery was founded in 1987. The winery now produces consistently award-winning wines including: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Syrah and more.

Just a little farther west, Ste.Chapelle Winery in Caldwell is sure to please wine connoisseurs of all kinds. The winery is named for the beautiful La Sainte Chapelle, or Saints Chapel, built by King Louis IX during the 13th Century in Paris. The wine tasting room, following the airy feel of La Sainte Chapelle with its high, bright cathedral windows, has two-story windows, vaulted ceilings with wood beams and panels, and a stained glass window of grapevines.

Pumpkin Bread Recipe

3 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 cups pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup oil
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Add oil to sugar and blend, whip in eggs. Add sifted dry ingredients. Stir in pumpkin. Put in greased and floured bread pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Cool ten minutes in pan and remove. Can be made as muffins too, just reduce the baking time.