Sport & Outdoor
Outdoor AdventureSoutheast Idaho High Country
FreeTourism region between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone with hot springs, rivers and hundreds of miles of trails.
Photo: Seacheese234, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
SightseeingHistory BuffRainy-Day Pick
Old Idaho Penitentiary
2445 Old Penitentiary Rd · Boise, ID
Why you should go…
The Old Idaho Penitentiary held inmates from 1872 until 1973, more than 13,000 over 101 years, behind a 17-foot sandstone wall cut from nearby ridges by the convicts. You can walk the prison yard and cell houses on a self-guided tour, including the solitary block called Siberia and a maximum-security cell house with a built-in gallows. The site also houses the J. Curtis Earl Memorial Exhibit of historic arms and military memorabilia.
- #historic prison
- #state historic site
- #museum
- #self-guided tour
Good to know
General sightseeing guidance
Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.
The forecast is part of the ticket
Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.
Golden hour sells out first
Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.
Dress a layer warmer
It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.
Timed entry is common
Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.
What's around here?
The closest stops to Old Idaho Penitentiary, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.
1.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor
- SightseeingHistory Buff
Idaho State Capitol
FreeWalk through a sandstone statehouse with a 208-foot dome, carved marble interiors and self-guided tour booklets.
2.2 mi awayMore like this
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Idaho State Snowmobile Association
FreeA statewide nonprofit that promotes and supports Idaho's groomed snowmobile trail network.
2.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor
- SightseeingHistory Buff
Boise Museums
FreeAlliance of art, history, and nature museums across the Boise, Idaho area.
2.3 mi awayMore like this
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Boise River Greenbelt
FreeWalk, run or bike a tree-lined riverside path that links Boise's parks along both banks of the Boise River.
2.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor
- AttractionsFamily Favorite
World Center for Birds of Prey
Under $25Meet live eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and vultures and see California condors at The Peregrine Fund's hilltop headquarters.
7.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions
