Description: The Physical map of Idaho State USA showing major geographical features such as rivers, lakes, mountain ranges, plateaus, plains topography and land formations.
Physical Map of IdahoPhysical Map of Idaho or geographical map of Idaho with mountains, Idaho rivers and lakes, elevation and relief, detailed map for students and travelers.Idaho stretches from the Nevada-Utah line to the Canadian border. On a physical map of Idaho, the land tells two fast stories. In the south, a broad arc of low ground called the Snake River Plain cuts from Twin Falls past Mountain Home to the Boise area, then bends toward Ontario and Weiser on the Oregon edge.
In the center and north, darker relief fills most counties, where mountain blocks and deep canyons dominate. The long panhandle holds big lakes such as Coeur d'Alene, Pend Oreille, and Priest Lake. The wide Snake River forms the lower Idaho-Oregon line, then swings north through Lewiston to join the Clearwater. East of Pocatello and Idaho Falls, the map shows a chain of towns along I-15 on higher ground near the foothills of Wyoming and Montana.
Capital and largest metro: Boise on the lower Boise River, along the west end of the Snake River Plain.
Physiographic idea: Mountain belts north and center, volcanic plain in the south, canyonlands on the west, and a lake-rich panhandle in the north.
Highest point: Mount Borah in Custer County.
Major rivers: Snake, Salmon, Clearwater, Payette, Boise, Weiser, Owyhee, Portneuf, Henrys Fork, Kootenai, Bear.
Key lakes and reservoirs: Coeur d'Alene, Pend Oreille, Priest, Payette Lake, Cascade Reservoir, Dworshak, American Falls, Palisades, Bear Lake, Lake Walcott.
Main travel corridors: I-84 across the Snake River Plain, I-86 to Pocatello, I-15 north to Montana, US-95 through the panhandle, US-12 along the Clearwater, ID-55 up the Payette.
Coasts and borders: No ocean coast; borders with Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Canada.
Best seasons: Late spring and early fall for mountains; winter for skiing; summer for lake and river trips.
Reminder: Printing or copying our maps from the site is not permitted.
From Burley and Rupert through Twin Falls, Jerome, and Shoshone to Mountain Home, Nampa, Meridian, and Boise, the plain reads as a broad, lighter band. It is flat to gently rolling with volcanic beds and fertile soil. The American Falls Reservoir near Pocatello and Blackfoot is a key blue anchor on the map. The plain gathers rivers from the north and east and sends them west to the Columbia.
Counties like Custer, Lemhi, Valley, and Idaho are mostly high country. Towns such as Challis, Salmon, Stanley, and McCall sit in valleys between ranges. Even when the exact range names are not printed at this scale, the pattern is clear: steep slopes, sharp river bends, and long forested ridges. This belt includes the Sawtooth, Salmon River, Lost River, and Bitterroot mountains, with Mount Borah (Idaho's highest point) rising in Custer County between Mackay and Challis.
The narrow north holds Lewiston–Clarkston at the junction of the Snake and Clearwater, then Moscow, Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, and Bonners Ferry. The Spokane River drains Lake Coeur d'Alene into Washington. Pend Oreille and Priest Lake sit near the Canadian border, with the Kootenai River curving near Bonners Ferry. Forest, water, and folded ridges define travel and settlement here.
Southwest counties like Owyhee show fewer large towns and several rugged canyons. The Owyhee River and its forks carve deep valleys on the way to the Snake. Volcanic buttes and sage flats fill the gaps between irrigated river bottoms.
The Snake River is the spine of southern Idaho. It enters from Wyoming near Soda Springs and Idaho Falls, swings through American Falls Reservoir, cuts the canyon at Twin Falls, then arcs toward Weiser and the Hells Canyon reach north of Ontario. Blue tributaries join from mountain counties: the Boise River through Boise, the Payette through Emmett and Cascade country, the Weiser River at Weiser, the Owyhee in the southwest, and the Portneuf River at Pocatello.
The Clearwater River flows from Orofino past Lewiston and joins the Snake. The Salmon River swings a great loop through Challis, Salmon, and Riggins, where the channel cuts tight bends between high ridges. The Payette River forks north of Emmett and passes Cascade on its way to the Snake. Each of these rivers marks a classic Idaho driving corridor: US-12 along the Clearwater, US-95 along the Salmon and Little Salmon, and ID-55 along the Payette.
East of Rexburg and St. Anthony lies Henry's Fork, a clear branch of the upper Snake. The Teton region and volcanic plateaus near Island Park supply a steady flow. Bear Lake in the southeast shares waters with Utah and flows by the Bear River into the Great Salt Lake basin rather than the Snake.
American Falls Reservoir near Pocatello is a large blue oval on the plain.
Lake Walcott near Minidoka and Rupert.
Palisades Reservoir east of Idaho Falls toward the Wyoming line.
Dworshak Reservoir north of Orofino on the North Fork Clearwater.
Lake Coeur d'Alene sits at Coeur d'Alene with the Spokane River outlet.
Lake Pend Oreille at Sandpoint and Priest Lake near Bonners Ferry.
Payette Lake at McCall and Cascade Reservoir near Cascade. These water bodies serve as simple anchors when scanning the geographical map of Idaho for routes and elevation changes.
Boise sits where the Boise River leaves the mountains and spreads on the Snake River Plain. Irrigated valleys and river terraces made early farming easy, so the metro grew here.
Nampa, Meridian, and Caldwell fill the lower Boise Valley near the Oregon line.
Twin Falls overlooks the deep Snake River Canyon, a landmark for bridges and waterfalls.
Idaho Falls and Rexburg lie close to the foothills, with access to high plateaus and Yellowstone gateways.
Pocatello sits on the Portneuf in a narrow gap at the plain's east edge.
Lewiston and Clarkston mark a navigable point on the Snake where the Clearwater arrives.
Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, and Bonners Ferry grew on lake and river edges shaped by glacial valleys and forested ridges.
Salmon, Challis, and Mackay lie in valley floors between rugged rock ranges with mining history and ranch lands.
McCall and Cascade anchor the Payette Lake district, popular for four-season recreation.
On an Idaho elevation map, the darkest relief bands run along the Montana line, within central counties, and across the Hells Canyon side of the Snake. The Snake River Plain is the lowest broad belt. When roads touch the Salmon, Clearwater, or lower Snake canyons, expect steep grades and winter ice. When routes cross the plain, expect wind and summer heat. Passes in Lemhi, Custer, and Boise counties climb fast and may hold snow into late spring.
I-84 links Ontario and the Boise metro to Mountain Home, Twin Falls, Jerome, Burley, Rupert, Minidoka, and into Utah.
I-86 splits near Heyburn toward Pocatello.
I-15 runs from Utah–Pocatello, Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, Rexburg–Montana.
US-95 runs the length of western and northern Idaho through Weiser, Council, Riggins, Grangeville, Lewiston, Moscow, Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, and Bonners Ferry.
US-12 crosses the Clearwater corridor through Orofino to Missoula.
ID-55 climbs from Boise to McCall along the Payette. This skeleton matches major river valleys, which keeps grades reasonable and makes winter travel safer.
Trace the Snake arc. Start at Soda Springs, follow the river through American Falls, the Twin Falls canyon, and west to Hells Canyon. Note how tributaries join from mountain counties.
Find divides. Mark where streams head west to the Snake versus south to the Great Salt Lake basin near Bear Lake.
Compare canyons. Contrast Hells Canyon and the Salmon River gorge on the north side with the shallow bends on the Snake River Plain.
Lake ladder. Identify Coeur d'Alene, Pend Oreille, Priest Lake, Dworshak, Payette Lake, Cascade Reservoir, American Falls, and Bear Lake, then link each to a river outlet.
County clues. Because your image uses county colors, practice finding county seats like Boise (Ada), Idaho Falls (Bonneville), Lewiston (Nez Perce), Coeur d'Alene (Kootenai), and Sandpoint (Bonner).
At Lewiston, the Clearwater meets the Snake. The confluence sits in a deep canyon that opens into rolling hills. Driving east along US-12, the river narrows into forested bends past Orofino and Kamiah, then climbs toward Montana. On the map, watch how the road hugs the blue line inside a tight canyon. This corridor is a classic case study of relief control on transport.
Between Lewiston and Moscow, the land rises to the Palouse. Round hills and loess soils host farms and small creeks that drain south to the Clearwater. Moscow and Pullman sit on gentle divides, making it easy to see where streamlines start to shorten.
The Spokane River leaves Lake Coeur d'Alene westward, while to the north, Lake Pend Oreille spreads at Sandpoint and narrows into the Pend Oreille River. US-95 and rail lines thread narrow gaps between water and slopes. Valley floors are flat and marshy near inlets, a good safety clue during spring runoff.
Near the Canadian border, the Kootenai River loops through a broad valley by Bonners Ferry. The map shows many small creeks feeding from both sides, a sign of a flat floodplain backed by steep walls. Priest Lake sits just west, connected to the Priest River.
Start at Challis and trace the Salmon River north to Salmon, then west to Riggins. The river makes a great arc around high blocks before it cuts into the Little Salmon valley. This loop is ideal for teaching how a river captures side valleys and how towns cluster on modest benches where canyons widen.
Stanley stands at a junction of clear headwaters feeding the Salmon. South and east, the Lost River Range rises between Mackay and Challis with Mount Borah. The map shows thin, straight roads and few towns, which is a fast signal for rugged ridges with limited passes.
From Cascade to McCall, lakes impound the Payette. Below Horseshoe Bend, the river drops toward Emmett and the lower Snake. This north–south slice helps students see how a mountain river loses slope step by step as it leaves the high country.
South and west of Mountain Home, the map shows wide spaces with very few towns. The Owyhee River and its forks carve deep, crooked canyons, then meet the Snake near the Oregon line. Gravel tracks and long gaps between settlements mean high-clearance travel planning and careful weather checks.
The Boise River flows out of the foothills past Lucky Peak country into the Nampa-Meridian-Caldwell plain. Irrigation canals and a grid of roads fill this valley. Use the river bend and I-84 to orient fast. The city sits at the break between the foothills and the plain, so a short drive yields significant changes in temperature, wind, and snow.
Pocatello is tucked in a narrow gap where the Portneuf River joins the Snake near American Falls Reservoir. Canyons funnel wind and winter storms here. The physical map shows bends and tight contour shadows around the city, a cue to expect steep grades.
Idaho Falls stands where irrigation spreads across the upper plain. North to Rexburg and St. Anthony, the Henrys Fork flows from volcanic plateaus toward the Snake. I-15 and US-20 give quick access to the high tablelands. When the map shows few crossroads, plan extra fuel and check the mountain weather.
At the Utah line, the blue oval of Bear Lake sits in a graben valley. Montpelier, Paris, and Bloomington occupy firm benches above the shore. Water here drains to the Bear River, not to the Snake, providing a notable watershed contrast to illustrate for students.
Rivers and ports loop: Boise – Emmett – Riggins – Lewiston – Moscow – Coeur d'Alene – Boise. Follow the Payette, Salmon, Clearwater, and Spokane corridors and compare canyon widths.
Plain to peak: Twin Falls – Shoshone – Ketchum – Stanley – Challis – Mackay – Arco. Watch the smooth plain give way to sharp, fault-block ranges.
Lakes ladder: McCall – Cascade – Payette River south, then north to Sandpoint and Priest Lake. Record inlet marshes and outlet channels.
Borderlands: Drive US-95 along the Idaho–Oregon line to see how the Weiser and Owyhee meet the Snake, then continue into Hells Canyon overlooks.
Canyon winds and winter ice along the Salmon, Clearwater, and Snake.
Wildfire season in the central and southwest ranges. Carry extra water and check closures.
High passes in Lemhi, Custer, and Boise counties can hold snow late.
Spring runoff raises lake levels and floods low benches near inlets.
Desert travel in Owyhee country demands fuel planning and weather checks.
The Snake River Plain, which runs from the Utah line through Twin Falls and Boise toward the Oregon border.
The Snake River, including the deep Hells Canyon reach.
In the panhandle-Lake Coeur d'Alene at Coeur d'Alene, Lake Pend Oreille at Sandpoint and Priest Lake near Bonners Ferry.
Boise is the capital and sits on the Boise River at the west end of the Snake River Plain.
American Falls Reservoir on the Snake River.
The Clearwater River, a key east–west corridor shown by US-12.
Look for tight river bends with few road crossings, such as along the Salmon, lower Clearwater and Hells Canyon on the Snake.
Near the Weiser and Emmett area west of Boise, after flowing past Cascade and McCall.
Cascade and McCall, with Cascade Reservoir and Payette Lake.
At Twin Falls, where the Snake River Canyon cuts through the plain.
I-84 connects Ontario and Boise with Mountain Home, Jerome, Twin Falls, Burley and the Utah line.
US-95 links Weiser, Riggins, Grangeville, Lewiston, Moscow, Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry.
North of Orofino on the North Fork Clearwater River.
The Salmon River, which loops west to Riggins and the Little Salmon valley.
North of Idaho Falls near Rexburg and St. Anthony, flowing from the Island Park plateau to the Snake.
Lewiston, paired with Clarkston across the river.
The map shows foothill shading north of the valley and a broad, lighter plain southward with the Boise River crossing it.
Custer, Lemhi, Valley and Idaho counties hold large mountain areas with few major roads.
On the southeast border with Utah near Montpelier. Its waters drain to the Bear River and the Great Salt Lake basin.
ID-55 runs through Horseshoe Bend to Cascade and McCall along the Payette River.
Near Bonners Ferry in the far north, looping through a broad valley before crossing into Canada.
I-15 and US-20 connect these eastern Idaho cities along the upper Snake River Plain.
Wide spaces with few town labels, long canyons on the Owyhee tributaries and sparse road nets in Owyhee County.
West of Boise near Parma and the Oregon line after passing Nampa and Caldwell.
Stanley, Challis, Salmon and McCall lie in valley floors with steep ridges on both sides.
Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington at the meeting of the Snake and Clearwater.
In the far north of the panhandle west of Bonners Ferry, connected to the Priest River.
East from Lewiston and Orofino along US-12 toward the Montana border and Missoula.
No. Printing or copying maps from the site is not permitted.
Follow the Snake River Plain for low routes, then track the Salmon, Clearwater and Payette canyons to see where grades tighten.
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