McCroskey State Park

McCroskey State Park is a wilderness area of roughly 5,300 acres situated along a mountain ridge and dominated by dense cedar forests mixed with ponderosa pines. The landscape includes views of the Palouse prairie below and transitions between different forest types.

A conservationist named Virgil McCroskey donated the land in 1955 after personally maintaining it for 15 years. The state then assumed responsibility for managing the area.

The park bears the name of Mary McCroskey, a pioneer woman whose family settled in the region and shaped the land. Visitors can still see how the landscape reflects both early settlement and later conservation efforts.

The park features roughly 50 kilometers of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, with nine developed campsites scattered throughout. A 29-kilometer scenic drive provides access through changing forest types and accommodates different fitness levels.

A 29-kilometer scenic drive called Skyline Drive winds through shifting forest transitions, moving from cedar groves into ponderosa stands. This route lets visitors experience the region's different ecosystems without strenuous effort.

Location: Idaho

Inception: 1955

Website: http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/mccroskey

GPS coordinates: 47.06500,-116.95100

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:07