Courtesy: Access Idaho Click for larger image.

Idaho can be divided into three major land regions geographically; the Rocky Mountains, the Columbia Plateau and the Basin and Ridge Region.

Rocky Mountains: The Rocky Mountains area is the state's largest area and extends from the Idaho Panhandle (That's the narrow strip of Idaho that runs between Washington and Montana and borders Canada.) south and along the Wyoming border. The Rocky Mountains area is characterized by steep gorges, deep canyons and swift streams and rivers. Idaho has 50 mountain peaks that climb into the sky over 10,000 feet. Borah Peak, Idaho's highest point rises 12,662 feet above sea level.

The Bitterroot Mountain Range lies along the Montana border in the Idaho Panhandle. The Continental Divide passes through Idaho in the Bitterroots. Visit the Bitterroot National Forest.

The Coeur d'Alene Mountains in the northern Panhandle lie to the west of the Bitterroot Mountain Range. This triangular area of mountains stretches from Lake Pend Orielle in the north to Coeur d'Alene Lake in the south. The highest peak in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains is Grizzly Mountain at 5, 950 feet.

South of the Coeur d'Alene Mountains are the Clearwater Mountains and south of the Clearwater Mountains are the Salmon River Mountains. The Bighorn Crags, bare granite worn into sharp ridges and spires, are found in the Salmon River Mountains. This mountain range is almost completely circled by the Salmon River.

South of the Salmon River Mountains are the impressive Sawtooth Mountains; an extremely rugged series of granite peaks and beautiful meadows and alpine lakes. 33 mountains in this range exceed 10,000 feet above sea level.

The Seven Devils Mountains rise along Idaho's border with Oregon in the west. To the west of the Seven Devils Mountains, lies the Snake River and Hells Canyon. From the summits of the Seven Devils Mountains to the bed of the Snake River, the deepest gorge in North America is over 7,800 feet, deeper than the Grand Canyon.

In central Idaho, the Lost River Range extends 70 miles, northwest to southeast, from the Salmon River almost to Arco. It's bordered on the west by the Big Lost River Valley and the Salmon River and on the east by the Little Lost River and Pahsimeroi Valleys. The Lost River Range is a vast wilderness of snow-capped peaks and home to Borah Peak, Idaho's highest mountain as well as six other 12,000 foot peaks.

The Lemhi Range runs in a southeasterly direction about 100 miles from the Salmon River to the Snake River Plains. This chain of mountains is from 10 to 15 miles wide. The Lemhi Range is bordered on the west by Pahsimeroi and Little Lost River valleys and on the east by the Lemhi and Birch Creek Valleys. The highest point in the Lemhi Range is Diamond Peak at 12,197 above sea level.

Further south, the Blackfoot Mountains form a group of barren ridges that trend from northwest to southeast for more than 50 miles between Idaho Falls and Soda Springs. From the west, slopes of the Blackfoot Mountains climb roughly 2,400 feet above the Snake River. On the east, the slopes rise only 600 feet above Willow Creek and the Blackfoot River. Blackfoot Peak is the highest point in this range at 7, 404 feet. Wolverine Canyon, a scenic gorge, is on the western slope of the Blackfoot Mountains.

The Columbia Plateau Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey

Basin and Range Region: This land area lies in southeastern Idaho along. A part of the Rocky Mountain region lies to the east of the Basin and Range Region. This area is characterized by grassy plateaus and deep valleys in the mountainous sections.

( Idaho Close-up )

Average yearly precipitation for Idaho, from 1971 to 2000, is shown on this chart from Oregon State University.