27 – Minidoka National Historic Site
Minidoka National Historic Site, located in south-central Idaho, preserves the history of the Minidoka War Relocation Center, where over 13,000 Japanese Americans were unjustly incarcerated during World War II. Established in 2001, the site serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of civil liberties in times of conflict. Visitors can explore remnants of the camp, including historic structures, and learn about the experiences of those who were confined there through exhibits and educational programs. The site stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and underscores the importance of safeguarding constitutional rights for all.
More Information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minidoka_National_Historic_Site
Coordinates: 42.678647, -114.244074
Elevation: 3970 ft
Difficulty: 1
What to Expect: No info
Check In
Please read before attempting challenge site or checking in:
Use the form below to check in. Check in’s must include a photo of you or your bike, at the challenge site, with the 2025 bandanna. To check in, all participants must be registered IAMC Challenge Members. Be sure to leave a description about the ride, and share any road conditions as snow, water, or obstacles. Please provide any other information that might help future visitors navigate to this site safely. Replying or commenting on another persons Check In is encouraged, but take care not to create your own Check In on accident.
The stated ride difficulty is just an estimate. By rating the ride difficulty in your experience according to this scale you can help future riders stay safe. You, and you alone are responsible for the safety of your ride. While we do our best to accurately convey the challenge level for each site, it is up to you to make sure you have the skills needed to reach each destination. If you feel the trail exceeds your skill level please turn around immediately.
NOTE: We have been having some issues uploading images. We are working on this. If you are having trouble, try resizing your images to less than 1280×1280 pixels and keep files sizes down to a minimum. If the problem persists, please reach out on the Forums under “Website Tips and Questions.” This should just be a temporary issue as we get the tech figured out. Thank you.
Idaho PBS has some good documentaries on the history of this site. Reflected on how fear can grip a society.
It’s important we remember our history- the good and the bad. I never realized this was here.
The ride out was an easy 1.
Managed to ride through the canyon in the morning, not too hot yet.
Unintentionally left my 2025 bandana at home.
This site was very sobering.
We decided to add this site on our way home from our vacation trip. We took the time to go through the museum and learn more about this historical site.
This is another place I have never been. Very interesting! I may need to come back when the visitor center is open.
This is where I was able to join Alecs three day ride. Thanks for letting me tag along. Go through the names and as I you may recognize some.
I got this site on Alec’s 3 day 1300 mile ride, this was my first time at the new visitor center unfortunately it was not open. It’s starting to get warm.
Only open Fri-Sun, but was a welcome respite from the heat.
Very interesting place. Hard to believe they had that many people here.
Just read the signboards since the place is closed.
Next up for the day, was Minidoka. I’ve been here once before. The sign on the door says “closed for the season.”
This was one I didnt know was here. Neat to read about the history of the site
Lots of history here.
The site is a lot bigger than I imagined.
A lot of information on the use of the site.
Just down the dirt track from Wilson Butte Cave, and much closer to civilization, is this place which was closed. A bummer for me because I wanted to learn more about the place and……get the sticker!!
Sadly this is only open seasonally, but you can schedule tours. The site is large and it is crazy they housed so many people here, with so little remaining less than 100 years later. Would love to go when the building is open, the displays inside looked clean and well put together.