Idaho's Water Access HomesThe sun is just peaking over the horizon. The early morning air is crisp. It’s quiet, the only sound is crickets, bugs, and birds singing to the morning. The water is up past your knees, but your waders keep you dry, and you get ready for that first cast of the day. This is your ideal morning. Fishing in the river, just you and nature, and that catch of a lifetime. You don’t have to just enjoy fishing, though. Hit the lake on a boat, go for swim, or have a blast with whitewater sports.
Idaho is full of outdoor activities, and plenty of water related ones. When you’re looking for Idaho real estate, you want awesome water access. You love the outdoors, and you love being around water. Idaho boasts some world famous fishing spots, but fishing isn’t all that Idaho has to offer. If you love water, you’ll find plenty of chances for you to enjoy getting wet in Idaho. Many real estate options have easy water access nearby.
When you buy real estate in Idaho, you’ll notice shops all around that are stocked full of fishing gear. There are even gas stations and convenience stores that sell lures and live bait. It’s pretty clear that fishing is huge in Idaho, and with world famous destinations like Henry’s Fork and the South Fork of the Snake River, it’s easy to see why.
Henry’s Fork is a spring-fed river. It meanders for miles, and features some of the best trout fishing in Idaho. It’s a diverse river, flowing from the Island Park Caldera to grasslands, cutting through Box Canyon, and slithering through farmland before meeting up with the Snake River. Henry’s Fork features excellent fishing, because it provides plenty of spawning points for the trout, and it’s popular because it’s not heavily regulated by Fish and Game.
Every single mile of the South Fork could be called the best trout fishing in the world. It travels over 60 miles in its journey to meet up with Henry’s Fork. It’s divided into three sections, with the upper starting at the Palisades Dam. The next section is the canyon, and once you float into the canyon, you’re in it for the next 15 miles. The lower section is great for brown trout, and offers great spots to fish.
For water access closer to Boise, there are several options, and they are far more accessible. Lake Cascade is large reservoir that covers about 30,000 acres. It’s 70 miles north of Treasure Valley at its namesake town. It has easy access, and provides plenty of fun water activities. There are boat ramps and beaches, so you can take the lake, do some swimming, or just lounge on the beach. And you can fish right from the shore.
South of Mountain Home is the C.J. Strike Reservoir. It covers about 7,500 acres, and you can head out on a boat, or relax on the shore. It’s popular for its variety of fish, and you can also camp out along the shoreline. Enjoy the water, and relax.
You can up the excitement level, and ease of access by staying right in Boise. In fact, if you have your heart set on Boise real estate, you’ve got something special in store. You need to check out the Boise River Park. It’s a recent addition to the river, and features artificial waves that create white water. Practice kayaking in white water, or just enjoy the river.
The park also offers a unique experience you most likely won’t find anywhere else in Idaho. You can surf the river. The current created by the whitewater, and the other systems to adjust the water level, create conditions that allow you to surf the river.
Whitewater sports and river surfing aren’t all that’s offered at the Boise River Park. There’s also an area where you can enjoy stand up paddle boarding. You still use a surfboard, but you just stand up and use a paddle instead. This lets you enjoy the calmer parts of the river, and take part in fun exercises on the water. If fishing is still on your mind, you can do that here as well. The park is a great addition to Boise, and it makes the city a perfect place to buy a home and check out real estate. You love the water, and it’s right here. It’s a match made in heaven.
Water access is important to you, and you are looking at homes for sale that provide the water access you’re looking for. Fortunately for you, Idaho real estate is practically swimming with water. Rivers and lakes cut all across Idaho, and most cities have rivers flowing right through them, or at least close by. If it has to do with water, Idaho has it.
You can even check out the many hot pools around Idaho, like Lava Hot Springs or the Springs Resort. For a two-hour drive or less, there are around 10 different hot springs near Boise. Of course, you don’t have to leave Boise. There are plenty of swimming pools within the city, and you can always check out the Barber Pool. It’s a conservation area, and a perfect example of the blend of nature that Idaho offers. 
It all comes down to choice. Would you rather check out real estate in a bigger city, like Boise? There’s plenty of water access and activities in an around the city, so you won’t be missing out simply because you live in the capitol of Idaho. Or do you want to check out real estate around smaller cities and towns? The fact of the matter is no matter where you decide to live, there’s water everywhere in Idaho. It’s easy enough to take a weekend and head out to a lake for camping, swimming, boating, and fishing.
So, what kind of real estate do you want? All you have to do is decide if you want to live in a big city like Boise, a smaller town like Island Park, or somewhere in between. No matter where you end up, you’ll be happy living in Idaho, because living in Idaho is a lifestyle built around the outdoors and easy access to water.
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Listing information last updated on March 29th, 2023 at 5:22pm MDT.
