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Be forewarned... this area will capture the heart of any fortunate soul who happens to spend any time here. "The Heartland" is a region filled with majestic mountains, numerous lakes, rushing mountain streams, high country valleys, dramatic canyons and secluded mountain glens. Wildlife abounds, including deer, elk, moose, bear and an array of smaller creatures, and there are lakes and waterways teeming with fish. Best of all is the year-round appeal of the region. With four distinct seasons, each with its own special qualities and recreational activities, the Heartland provides residents and visitors with the opportunity for an active, engaging lifestyle. The people who choose to make the Heartland their home reflect a character many of us admire, of people who are willing to give up the trappings of the big city for a life that most of us only dream about.
The key to the Heartland's appeal is that, with all of its attractions and recreational opportunities, the region is also bounded by vast domains of designated wilderness. At any time of year it is possible to enjoy the amenities offered in any of the communities for a part of the day and then, within a brief span of time, to find oneself in the splendid isolation of pristine forests and towering mountains relatively untouched by human habitation. This is more challenging during the winter season, but the grand sense of solitude that one can achieve is even more complete.
Surrounded by scenic mountain terrain on all sides, getting to the Heartland provides a dramatic preview of what it holds in store. Approaching from the Boise Metropolitan Area in the south takes you, for much of the way, north along the Payette River as it flows through forested mountains. Once you divert from the course of the river you quickly enter the southern end of Long Valley, a large high-country valley dotted with ranches and surrounded by more of the mountains which encompass the entire region.