15 Best Things to Do in Weiser (Idaho)

This historic city is at the confluence of the Weiser and Snake Rivers, right on the state line between Idaho and Oregon.

Here at the far western end of the Treasure Valley, Weiser is ensconced in fertile farmland, producing peaches, pears and apples but also raising livestock.

So in the summer you can head out into the countryside for U-Pick farms, or for camping and fishing trips to the many reservoirs that lie within a few miles.

The city itself has an interesting past, as a railroad town that grew up quickly in the late 19th century.

Downtown Weiser is littered with historic architecture, and there’s no shortage of elegant Queen Anne and Shingle style homes on the residential streets close by.

1. Snake River Heritage Center

There may not be a more imposing building in Weiser than Hooker Hall (1907) at the Intermountain Institute on the northwest side of town.

Crowned with a clock tower, Hooker Hall is the linchpin in a complex of nine buildings that made up this former school, all constructed in the early 20th century from cast concrete.

That main building rests among neatly tended lawns dotted with tall deciduous trees, and is the heart of the community, hosting plays and music recitals in its auditorium.

Hooker Hall is also the venue for the Snake River Heritage Center, covering various aspects of the region’s history, from famous personalities to mining, irrigation, agriculture and transport.

2. Weiser River National Recreation Trail

Where Route 95 crosses the namesake river in Weiser, you’ll find the trailhead for an 84-mile walking, cycling and riding route taking you all the way to the town of New Meadows at the upper end of the Meadows Valley.

Ready in 1998, the trail is on the railbed of a former Union Pacific line and is the longest of its kind in the state of Idaho.

Taking on bite-sized sections of between five and twenty miles, you’ll travel through unblemished riparian habitats, with breathtaking mountain views and interesting slices of railway heritage like trestle bridges.

The character of the trail changes gradually as you leave behind the lower canyon’s bare hills and lava cliffs for the dense pine forest of the upper canyon.

Wildlife is abundant all along the trail, from raptors to bear, deer, elk, wild turkey and great blue heron.

3. National Old-Time Fiddle Contest and Festival

During the third full week in June hundreds of musicians from all over the United States descend on Weiser for one of the nation’s great old-time music events.

The National Old-Time Fiddle Contest and Festival has such a prominent position in the fiddling community, that it is often referred to as simply “Weiser”.

The inaugural contest took place in 1953, and today, at the Weiser High School gymnasium, fiddlers compete against each other in eight different categories.

The contest is accompanied by a host of noncompetitive live performances, as well as a parade, carnival and fiddling workshops.

4. Historic Downtown Weiser

Weiser’s heyday came at the turn of the 20th century, when a railroad way station was set up in the city, making in an important cog in the region’s transportation network.

A lot of the buildings that went up during this period are still standing, and Weiser has more than 20 places listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A couple of these will appear elsewhere in this article, but on a little tour of the town, look out for the Knights of Pythias Lodge Hall (1904), the Star Theater (1917) and the Weiser Post Office (1932), as well as the historic brick frontages along Main Street, Idaho Street and Slate Street.

The residential areas close by are also packed with charming old houses, many in the Queen Anne style in fashion at the end of the 19th century.

5. Kelley Orchards

The fertile soils, long summer days and cool nights in this part of the Snake River Valley contribute to perfect conditions for growing fruit.

One of many fruit farms around Weiser, Kelley Orchards grows peaches, nectarines, apples, plums, apricots, cherries, grapes, tomatoes and all kinds of berries.

But where this family-run enterprise stands out is that you can visit throughout the season to pick your own produce.

The farm’s website will let you know exactly what fruits are ready and when, and visiting the orchards will be an educational experience as you learn about each fruit variety.

If you’re pressed for time, you can call in at the Barn Store for freshly picked fruit, but also jam, dried fruit and farm-fresh eggs.

6. Memorial Park

Weiser’s main spot for recreation is within walking distance of downtown and has facilities for all. In the southwest corner is Weiser’s outdoor swimming pool, open in the summer months.

At the north end sits Walter Johnson Field, a community stadium used primarily for baseball.

Walter Johnson (1887-1946), remembered as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, played for the long defunct semi-professional team, the Weiser Kids in 1906-07 when he was scouted by the Washington Senators.

Elsewhere in Memorial Park you’ll find two playgrounds, a sledding hill in winter and lots of tall trees offering shade for picnics in summer.

7. Weiser Classic Candy

This independent candy shop in downtown Weiser attracts people from far and wide and has become a destination in its own right.

Weiser Classic Candy specializes in hand-crafted sweet treats, from fudge to chocolate truffles, velvet mints, sea salt caramels ice cream and caramel corn. And the chocolate dipped bacon is something you didn’t know you needed in your life.

Weiser Classic Candy also operates as a deli, with an enticing menu of sandwiches (Reuben, French dip, Monte Cristo), as well as salads, soups and frozen treats to finish up.

8. Weiser Train Depot

There’s a beautiful piece of early 20th-century heritage by the tracks on the south side of downtown Weiser.

This is the Weiser Train Depot, constructed by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1907 and sharing design traits with the depots in Caldwell and Ontario, Oregon.

The depot is built from brick, with cast stone dressings, and has distinctive exaggerated eaves supported by elongated wooden corbels.

The building was carefully restored in the early 2010s and now serves as a venue for private and public events like the Weiser Farmers’ Market.

9. Rolling Hills Golf Course

In the green and undulating countryside north of Weiser, the city’s public golf course is everything you would want from a small town golf facility.

Naturally the staff are friendly and the service is great, though Rolling Hills shines most of all for the restaurant in the clubhouse, making dishes like beer batter prawns and grilled salmon with real flair.

The course itself, a nine-hole par 36, is well cared for and has a slope rating of 115. And although this is a relatively small operation there is a driving range if you want to rediscover your swing before your round.

10. Steck Park

Downriver from Weiser proper, Steck Park sits on the Idaho side of Hell’s Canyon, beside the Brownlee reservoir.

This body of water stretches for more than 50 miles along the Snake River and is a magnet for activities like boating, fishing and camping.

In fact the reservoir has some of the best fishing in Idaho, particularly for catfish, smallmouth bass and crappie.

Along with two boat ramps and a fish cleaning station, Steck Park has more than 40 campsites for RVs, spread across two campgrounds. The older of these is in a wonderful setting, shaded by mature trees.

11. Weiser Community Fishing Pond

Near the confluence of the Weiser and Snake Rivers there’s a place of real tranquillity so close to downtown Weiser.

More than just somewhere to fish, this pond is loved for its scenery too, with green, sheltered banks accessed via a walking path.

Close to the water are several fire pits, and there’s a little wooden dock on one side. The pond has largemouth bass and bluegill, but is also stocked with hundreds of rainbow trout, up to seven times a year.

12. Farewell Bend State Recreation Area

On the Oregon bank of the Brownlee reservoir is a picturesque stretch of waterfront for boating, fishing and other water activities.

Farewell Bend is also endowed with plenty of history. The name comes from the Oregon Trail, which would depart the Snake River at this point, having followed the valley for hundreds of miles to this point.

You can check out historic markers and interpretive displays recording this history, while the park’s day-use portion features picnic areas, a viewing platform, a dog park, horseshoe pits and facilities for sand volleyball and basketball.

13. Crane Creek Reservoir

For truly intrepid fishing enthusiasts, this reservoir is deep into Weiser’s sparsely populated backcountry. It will take about 45 minutes to get there, and the final portion of the drive will be along a gravel track.

Crane Creek Reservoir is used purely for irrigation, so the level may be low come late summer.

But earlier in the season this is one of the best places to fish in the area, with plentiful largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish and some of the largest black and white crappie you’ve ever seen.

There is a boat ramp here but apart from that, facilities are non-existent, so it pays to be ready to leave civilization behind for a few hours.

14. Vendome Events Center

Run by the Weiser Chamber of Commerce, this venue on the corner of Slate and Commercial Street downtown is an anchor for a slew of community events throughout the year.

These include charity auctions, benefits, craft fairs, banquets and much more. A landmark on the calendar for more than two decades is the annual Crab Feed in early April, accompanied by silent and live auctions.

During major events in Weiser like the Halloween Carnival and the Night Light Christmas Parade, there will usually be something going on in this building.