If you’ve ever watched or envisioned those dreamy, slow-motion scenes of running through a field of tall wildflowers with your hair flowing freely in the breeze, you know that such carefree moments take you back to the simpler times of Little House on the Prairie and the freedom of childhood. Along with our many other regional wonders Idaho is full of lush meadows, prairies, and grasslands that seem to be straight out of this classic dream-sequence. One particular meadow, however, is something truly special: the Curlew National Grassland.

Tucked away just west of Malad and off of Highway 38 is a 47,000 acre stretch of Southern Idaho beauty that you've no doubt seen, but didn't realize was special.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
Truth be told, it may not look like much from a distance.
Michael & Sandy/Flickr
But it's truly a rich landscape out of your favorite childhood fantasies.
Matic Kozinc
Historically the Curlew Grassland was inhabited by the Bannock and Shoshone Indian Tribes before the settlement of the pioneers coming from Utah.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
In fact, in the late 1800s the Curlew Valley had a homesteading ranch every few hundred acres. When the drought of the late 20's hit, the land took a toll as over-farming and erosion damaged the natural terrain alongside one of Mother Nature's worst dry seasons.

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But when the Forest Service took control of the land in the mid 30s, the landscape was revitalized.
Idaho Travel Council/Idaho Fish and Game
Today, the Curlew National Grassland sits just a short drive from Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge, each providing a distinct habitat for native birds and wildlife.
USFWS - Pacific Region/Flickr
Long-billed Curlews, sparrows, hawks, Thrashers, and Sharp-Tailed Grouse abound in a wildlife scene that is perfect for photographers.
Dan Dzurisin/Flickr
But this meadowy, Southern Idaho haven is just as idyllic for visitors as well, and perfect for recreating those childhood fantasies. Free to visit, you can skip and run through these fields to your heart's content, enjoying the abundance of wildflowers in the spring, as well as the sights and sounds of Idaho in their most natural form.
It's also a beautiful place to experience one of Southern Idaho's refreshing summer storms.
David Mumm/Curlew National Grassland/Facebook
This little mountain valley between the Caribou Range on the east the and the rolling hills of the west makes for a relaxing playground with a view that never grows old!
Mike Jackson/Curlew National Grassland/Facebook

Southern Idaho is far too underrated for its rural beauty, but I happen to think it’s absolutely lovely! You can find the Curlew National Grassland off of ID-38 after the Holbrook intersection. While you’re here, be sure to take advantage of the peaceful camping spaces, check out the nearby Stone Reservoir, or explore the wonderful overlooked opportunities that make up the Idaho-Utah border.

For more hidden gems, check out these 10 Amazing State Secrets You Never Knew Existed.

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