Idaho State Parks and Recreation

What Idaho State Parks and Recreation does

Idaho State Parks and Recreation is a state government agency operating under the authority of the Idaho Park & Recreation Board, part of the State of Idaho. The agency manages over 30 state parks and recreation areas spanning diverse Idaho geographies—from the sand dunes at Bruneau Dunes to mountain lakes at Priest Lake, plus hundreds of miles of trails including the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and Ashton to Tetonia Trail. Its headquarters are located at 5657 Warm Springs Ave, Boise, ID, with operations directed by Susan Buxton and communications led by Will Armbruster. The Board Chairman role was vacated by Brian Beckley's resignation effective December 31, 2025.

The agency monetizes access through a diversified fee structure: daily Motor Vehicle Entry Fees ($7 standard, $14 premium parks), the $10 Idaho State Parks Passport for residents (integrated into ITD vehicle registration), the $80 MVEF Annual Pass for out-of-state visitors, camping and overnight accommodation rentals (cabins, yurts, RV and tent sites), specialized activity fees (observatory programs at $5 per person/$20 per family), Park N' Ski passes for winter recreation, and permits/registrations for ATVs, UTVs, motorbikes, and boats. Digital infrastructure includes the getoutside.idaho.gov online reservation platform, the Park N' Ski interactive map, and the Passport system synchronized with Idaho Transportation Department vehicle registration.

The agency serves four primary customer segments: Idaho residents (day-use and annual Passport holders), out-of-state visitors (tourism and vacation use), families and youth groups (Junior Ranger program, family movie nights, observatory programs), and outdoor enthusiasts (ATV riders, snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, boaters, cyclists). Distribution is multi-channel: physical park entrances, the self-serve online platform, county DMV offices, ITD's online vehicle registration portal, and mail-in renewals. The agency operates a network of partnerships with Friends of Idaho State Parks (nonprofit), Nordic ski clubs, county sheriff offices (Boat Idaho boating safety), and educational institutions for astronomy programming. Revenue is supplemented by state legislative appropriations, with historic funding increases secured during the COVID-19 visitation surge.

Name

Idaho State Parks and Recreation

Legal name

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation

Website

https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Idaho State Parks and Recreation is a state government agency managing 30+ Idaho state parks, serving residents and visitors through entry fees, the $10 Passport program, camping reservations, and activity-based programming across diverse outdoor recreation assets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Parks and Recreation

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

National/State Park Campgrounds & Public Campgrounds (THAMAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Campground & Overnight Facilities Operations (Campsites, Cabins, Backcountry Huts) (THAAAGAE), Permitting, Reservations & Visitor Information Services (Passes, Booking, Visitor Centers) (THAAAGAD), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

Keywords

• State park management
• Public outdoor recreation
• Camping reservations
• Park entry permits
• Recreation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Motor Vehicle Entry Fees (MVEF): Daily entry fees charged at park entrances. Standard rate is $7 per vehicle, with premium parks charged at $14 per day. Annual MVEF passes available for $80 for out-of-state visitors.
2. Idaho State Parks Passport: $10 annual passport for Idaho residents, sold through ITD vehicle registration system (online, mail, or DMV offices). Provides unlimited day-use access to all state parks.
3. Camping and Overnight Accommodations: Revenue from RV sites, tent camping, cabins, and yurt rentals at various rates across state parks. Includes group reservation facilities like Kokanee Cove at Ponderosa State Park.
4. Activity and Program Fees: Fees for observatory programs ($5 per person or $20 per family), boat safety classes, and special programs. Winter getaway discounts offered as promotional pricing.
5. Park N' Ski Passes: Passes for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing areas managed by the Recreation Bureau and partner organizations.
6. Permits and Registrations: Fees for ATV, UTV, and motorbike registrations, as well as boating permits and special use permits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation operates a system of 30+ state parks and recreation areas across Idaho, providing day-use access, camping (RV, tent, cabins, yurts), and outdoor recreation such as hiking, boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing. It sells the $10 Idaho State Parks Passport for residents and the $80 MVEF annual pass for out-of-state visitors, and runs educational and safety programs including Junior Ranger, the Observatory Program at Bruneau Dunes, Boat Idaho safe boating classes, and the Park N' Ski cross-country skiing program. Reservations and permits are transacted through the getoutside.idaho.gov online platform and at park entrances.

Product overview

Idaho State Parks and Recreation operates a system of 30+ state parks as a unified platform for outdoor recreation. The core offering includes access to parks for camping, hiking, boating, and wildlife viewing. Additional products include the Idaho State Parks Passport ($10 annual sticker for Idaho residents) and MVEF Annual Pass ($80 for out-of-state visitors) for park access; overnight accommodations such as cabins, yurts, and RV/campground sites at select parks; the Park N' Ski cross-country skiing program; the Junior Ranger educational program; the Observatory Program at Bruneau Dunes featuring astronomy activities; and the Boat Idaho safe boating education program. Reservations and permits are managed through the getoutside.idaho.gov platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Idaho Park & Recreation Board: Governing board overseeing the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
• Idaho Recreation & Tourism Initiative
• Outdoor Recreation Fund Advisory Council (ORFAC)
• Park N' Ski
• Idaho State Parks Passport
• Idaho Parks Passport

Products and services

• Idaho State Parks System A system of 30+ state parks and recreation areas across Idaho offering outdoor recreation including camping, hiking, boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing for individual visitors, families, and tourists.
• Idaho State Parks Passport A $10 annual sticker for Idaho residents providing unlimited day-use access to all Idaho State Parks and covering boat launch fees. Purchased online, by mail, or at county DMV offices through the ITD vehicle registration system.
• Motor Vehicle Entry Fee (MVEF) Annual Pass An $80 annual pass for out-of-state visitors waiving daily motor vehicle entrance fees at Idaho State Parks, available at parks and through the online reservation platform.
• Cabins and Yurts Overnight lodging accommodations available at select Idaho state parks including Ponderosa State Park, Harriman State Park, Bruneau Dunes State Park, and the Idaho City Yurts, booked through getoutside.idaho.gov.
• Campground and RV Sites Camping facilities (RV sites and tent sites) at multiple Idaho state parks including Bear Lake, Bruneau Dunes, and Hells Gate State Park, reserved through the getoutside.idaho.gov platform.
• Park N' Ski Program Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing program with multiple Park N' Ski areas across Idaho (including Idaho City, Fourth of July Pass, and Palouse Divide), managed by the Recreation Bureau and partner organizations such as the Panhandle Nordic Club and Palouse Divide Nordic Ski Club.
• Junior Ranger Program Educational program for children teaching outdoor skills, fire safety, and environmental stewardship at various Idaho state parks, in partnership with the Nez Perce National Historical Park and Idaho Fish and Game.
• Observatory Program at Bruneau Dunes Astronomy program featuring planetarium shows, presentations, and telescope viewing at Bruneau Dunes State Park, with admission priced at $5 per person or $20 per family.
• Boat Idaho Program Free safe boating education program covering state and county boating laws, safe boating practices, safety equipment requirements, navigation, and boating etiquette, offered in partnership with county sheriff's offices such as the Bonner County Sheriff's Marine Division.
• ATV, UTV, and Motorbike Registrations and Permits Registration and permitting services for ATVs, UTVs, and motorbikes, plus boating permits and special use permits, enabling legal off-highway vehicle and boat recreation on Idaho state lands and waters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of miles of trails accessible through passport program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Idaho Transportation Department (ITD)coreTechnology or IntegrationIDPR partners with ITD to integrate the Idaho State Parks Passport into the vehicle registration system. Passports are sold online through ITD's DMV portal, at county DMV offices, or by mail using ITD-issued registration renewal cards. This integration allows seamless passport purchase during annual vehicle registration.
• Friends of Idaho State ParkscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe official nonprofit partner of Idaho State Parks, supporting fundraising and advocacy efforts. The organization maintains its own Facebook page and works to enhance park experiences for visitors through additional resources and programs.
• Panhandle Nordic ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization managing Fourth of July Pass Park N' Ski area. Hosts free ski day celebrations with poker hand events and supports trail maintenance and grooming. Proceeds from events support ongoing trail operations.
• Palouse Divide Nordic Ski ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization managing Palouse Divide Park N' Ski area. Provides free ski lessons, gear rental, and access to groomed trails during free ski day events and throughout the winter season.
• Bonner County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with IDPR to host FREE Boat Idaho safe boating classes at their Marine Division location in Sandpoint. Classes cover state and county boating laws, safety practices, equipment requirements, and Bonner County-specific waterway information.
• Magic Valley Astronomical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization participating in star parties at Castle Rocks State Park, providing telescopes and expertise for night sky viewing events in Idaho's dark sky locations.
• College of Southern Idaho - Centennial ObservatoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner contributing to star party events at Castle Rocks State Park, supporting astronomical observation programs and educational content.
• Nez Perce National Historical ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner collaborating on Jr. Ranger Program activities at Castle Rocks State Park, providing cultural and historical educational content related to Nez Perce heritage.
• Idaho Fish and GameminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner collaborating on Jr. Ranger Program activities, providing wildlife education and conservation programming at various state park locations.
• America's State ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization of state parks that IDPR participates in, including the First Day Hikes initiative (over 1,000 events nationwide) and America's 250th anniversary celebrations (semiquincentennial).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ReserveAmerica: Established private campground reservation platform serving multiple state park systems. Comparable technology/product layer that competes with IDPR's self-built getoutside.idaho.gov booking platform.

Emerging players

• Hipcamp: Private marketplace for camping, glamping, and RV stays on public and private lands. Represents the emerging private-sector model competing for the same campers who book through IDPR's reservation system.
• Recreation.gov: Federal reservation platform that competes with IDPR's getoutside.idaho.gov by aggregating federal and some state-park inventory. Adjacent technology competitor in the outdoor recreation booking space.

Direct peers

• Oregon State Parks: Neighboring state agency managing a Pacific Northwest park portfolio with day-use fees, yurts, cabins, and online reservations. Strong geographic and operational analog.
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife: State agency managing Colorado's park system plus wildlife programs with annual passes, camping fees, and educational programming. Highly comparable mix of lodging, permits, and outdoor recreation services.
• California State Parks: Largest U.S. state park system, operating a comparable portfolio of developed campgrounds, cabins, and day-use parks funded through a mix of state appropriations and user fees. Closest functional analog to IDPR's operating model at scale.
• Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: Montana's state parks and recreation agency running a similar campground/day-use portfolio and biennial licensing pass. Comparable in size and rural geography to IDPR.
• Washington State Parks: State agency operating Washington parks with Discover Pass (annual pass similar to Idaho Passport), camping, and interpretive programs. Directly comparable product mix and pricing structure.
• Utah Division of State Parks: Operates Utah's state park system with similar camping/lodging inventory, annual passes, and reservation-based booking. Directly comparable in scope and revenue model to IDPR.
• Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources: Wyoming's smaller state park portfolio with day-use and camping fees, comparable in scale to IDPR's 30+ park footprint and rural/Intermountain West visitor mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Idparksandrec
• YouTubeyoutube.com/IdahoParksRec
• Facebookfacebook.com/idahostateparksandrecreation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idaho-state-parks-and-recreation
• Instagraminstagram.com/idparksandrec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Idaho State Parks and Recreation