Hotel, schmotel - car camping is the way to go

Coming down from the misty Oregon mountains and continuing inland towards Idaho, the first signs of high desert plains began to appear with horizon spanning rolling hills of sagebrush. For the early Oregon trail travellers, trying to reach the West coast going the opposite way, the contrast between sagebrush track plains and deep canyon dense forest would have been harsh, if not deadly in winter.

Luckily for me it's summer here and for once Sat Nav Lady behaved, finding me a great route down Willow Creek Road (I say road, think track). With only John Mayer for company the 2 hour or so back country drive across the Mahlheur hills was a spell binding introduction to high desert plains to come.

After overnighting in a motel in the clean sprawl of Boise, I spent the following day mooching around the desert plains South of the Interstate. Not much to report; big, empty, massive irrigated farmlands under huge skies. As I headed back North to begin my journey into the various national forests of Boise, Challis and Sawtooth, I was treated to a classic blazing Idaho sunset over Lucky Peak Lake:

Sunrise confirmed my spidey sense for fabulous overnight car-camping spots was in full effect as I'd parked up in the middle of Lucky Peak State Park on the Arrowrock Reservoir. My morning constitutional was a 3 hour scramble up into the hills above resulting in spectacular views (see if you can see the car in some of the shots in the slideshow). I stuck around most of the day and swam in the warm waters of the lake. You have to go a long way and spend a lot of money to get a better overnight spot.

More photos from Day 1 in Idaho