A Family Adventure to Pine and Featherville
Author: August Johnson
Never been on a Wandervan adventure but have always wanted to test it out? This just might be the ideal trip for you and your family! Let’s be honest, taking kids on road trips can be very stressful, full of anxiety, and a little daunting. Having kids ourselves, we at Wandervans understand the difficulties of traveling with little ones. We believe in picking the low hanging fruit when traveling with kids; shorter trips that are easy to access with minimal stress.
Wandervans makes the camping experience more convenient and less of a hassle, so that you can open the doors to nature and adventure for your children. With pandemic restrictions being lifted, you and your family will be ready to resume travel and adventure this summer. Camping provides an easy way for your children to reconnect with the outdoors, leave the electronics at home, and explore destinations with relaxed social distancing guidelines and mask regulations.
Now that you’ve made the decision to get back out there, let’s take you through some amazing options for fun kid’s activities while on your Wandervans adventure!
Day 1
Drive from Boise to Pine (95 miles for 1 hour and 45 minutes). Stop and pick blueberries at Deer Creek Berry Farm. These fresh, plump blueberries will be a nice addition for fresh pancakes the following morning or throughout the remainder of your trip!
See here, picking the low hanging fruit is pretty easy.
Once you are done picking berries, kick back and have lunch there on the farm. They have picnic tables, cool shade, a swing set, and peaceful views.
The blueberries will come in handy during your trip! There is something so fulfilling to children when they put in a little work and experience the fruits of their labor through eating something delicious. There are so few opportunities for our children to make that direct connection with nature. The simple task of picking berries and eating them the following day provides a unique learning experience that helps them better understand that fruit has to be grown and harvested and doesn’t always just show up magically via an Instacart delivery person.
If you leave Boise in the Morning, you will arrive at the berry farm before lunch. This offers an ideal time to give the kids a chance to stretch their legs and have a relaxing lunch at the farm. The serene views and gentle breeze blowing through the nearby trees can help lower mom and dad’s stress levels from the albeit short drive from Boise.
Next, you’ll drive through Pine to Elk Flats campground. If possible, get a campsite on the river. There is only one spot with a sandy beach, which is located in the group camping area near spot #2. See map image below for reference. If there are no group reservations, you can camp there and pay the standard day rate (rather than group rate). Even if you’re unable to find a campsite adjacent to this beachy area, you can always walk down and access the river using the trails within the campground.
Day 2
Head to Trinity hot springs for a morning soak. Be sure to make a reservation in advance and check what time they open. This facility has changing rooms and showers to conveniently get the kids ready for the water. They also offer yoga and spa services, but the amenities are pretty rustic so be sure to arrive with that in mind.
Trinity Hot Springs gets beneficial minerals, including high levels of naturally occurring silica and fluoride, on its journey through a crystal-lined granite batholith from 2.2 miles below the surface. It is the deepest known source of water on earth. The water at the surface is approximately 135 degrees and the Pool temperature varies seasonally and daily with outdoor temperature fluctuations. Temperatures are comfortable year around, ranging from 95-108°F degrees in the Summer and 90-95°F in the Winter.
Their unique set up contains smaller pools that regulate the temperature with cold water, making them more fun and accommodating for kids.
If Trinity Hot Springs isn’t available, check out Riverside hot springs over the bridge just north of Elk Creek Campground. Look for people along the river from the bridge and pull off to the parking area along the side of the road which then provides a short walk down to the river.
These hot pools are not deep, making it perfect for kids and providing a way to get cleaned up for the day. We spotted a family of otters playing and fishing underneath the bridge along the opposite side of the River, so be sure to keep an eye out for the wildlife.
Note: You will get spotty internet in Pine and Featherville. There is a little market and restaurant in Featherville so be sure to get what you need before heading to Baumgartner Campground.
After you soak, you may try to rally the troops for 9 holes up the river at Elk Valley Ranch Golf course. This little gem of a course is ideal for beginning golfers and kids. The pool may be open so bring swimsuits for a quick dip after your round. This is also an ideal time for Mom and Dad to grab a cold beverage from the bar and take a few minutes to relax.
Day 3
Drive to Featherville and make an internet pit stop at the market and cafe to be sure to get what you need before heading north. Travel 11 miles to Baumgartner Campground and be prepared for a slow drive as the road is very bumpy. This amazing campground has paved roads, bathrooms, and well maintained grounds. Baumgartner Campground is situated alongside the South Fork Boise River which offers excellent fishing, hiking and off-road vehicle riding opportunities.
Consider taking the kids scooters or bikes for the paved roads and paths. This is a great activity to help burn off some energy before bed.
This campground boasts some unique features with a large swimming hole at the east end of the property, just follow the paved walking path down to the river.
In addition, this campground has an inground hot tub/pool for swimming and soaking. The pool is pretty hot, so younger children may not last too long there.
One of the more random things we’ve seen in the Wilderness, a roadside pay phone between Featherville and Baumgartner that actually works! If you need to make any calls due to lack of cell service (there won’t be any cell service past Featherville) stop and make a call, but don’t forget to bring some quarters. This may also be a fun opportunity for the kids to operate a pay phone and make a quick call to grandma and grandpa.
Overall, this trip offers some magical experiences for you and your family to enjoy within a short drive from the Treasure Valley. This casual 3-day journey focuses on the good ol’ Idaho basics with plenty of swimming, fresh berries, hot springs, golfing, hiking, and beautiful scenery. For the time and effort, this is one of the easiest campervan trips a family with young kids can take and provides an amazing array of experiences that your kids are sure to love.
If you’re feeling adventurous and yearning for a longer trip, consider traveling northeast to Fairfield and then onto Ketchum for a night. Then head up over the pass to Stanley in the Sawtooth Recreation area, and back down Highway 20 to Lowman on the way to Boise. This can easily add two or more fun filled days to your trip. Please check out our recommended activities in the Stanley area via this recent blog post.