Idaho Earthquakes – Current Quake Map

Idaho is earthquake country, even if it doesn’t always get the same attention as California, Alaska, or the Pacific Northwest coast. Earthquakes can happen near Stanley, Challis, Mackay, Salmon, Boise, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Rexburg, Soda Springs, Sun Valley, and the Yellowstone edge of eastern Idaho.

This page tracks the latest available Idaho earthquake activity using USGS-based earthquake data. The map, recent earthquake list, statistics, and significant quake information update when the page loads or refreshes. For nearby activity, you can also compare Idaho with the Yellowstone, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah earthquakes pages.

Current Idaho Earthquake Map

The interactive map shows M1.5+ earthquakes in Idaho and nearby relevant zones. Each marker represents an earthquake location. Click one to see its magnitude, location, time, and depth. Use the time filter buttons to view earthquakes from the last hour, 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days.

Why Idaho Gets Earthquakes

Idaho’s earthquake story starts with the landscape. The state has tall mountain ranges, deep valleys, volcanic plains, active faults, and a long record of crustal stretching, especially across southern and central Idaho where Basin and Range extension helps shape the land. Those features are not just scenery. They are signs of the tectonic forces that have shaped Idaho over time.

The most active parts of Idaho are generally in the central and eastern parts of the state, especially around the Lost River Range, Sawtooth Range, Salmon-Challis area, Yellowstone region, and southeastern Idaho. Much of this activity sits within or near the northern Intermountain Seismic Belt, a broad earthquake-prone zone that runs through parts of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and nearby areas.

Idaho Geological Survey describes Idaho as “earthquake country” and notes that some of the largest earthquakes recorded in the Intermountain West have occurred in or near Idaho, including the 1983 M6.9 Borah Peak earthquake and the 1959 M7.3 Hebgen Lake earthquake. The 2020 M6.5 Stanley earthquake is listed by Idaho Geological Survey as the second largest recorded earthquake to occur within Idaho. Source: Idaho Geological Survey: Earthquakes

Borah Peak and the Lost River Fault

If there is one earthquake every Idaho page needs to explain clearly, it is the 1983 Borah Peak earthquake. This was not just a strong Idaho earthquake. It was the state’s largest recorded earthquake and one of the most important modern earthquakes in the Intermountain West.

The earthquake struck near Borah Peak in the Lost River Range on October 28, 1983. The USGS and Idaho Geological Survey identify it as a M6.9 event connected with the Lost River fault. It caused damage in the Challis-Mackay area, killed two people, and left visible surface rupture along the base of the mountains.

That earthquake is still important today because it shows what Idaho faults can do. The Lost River fault did not just create shaking; it moved the ground. In places, the valley dropped and the mountain side rose, leaving a fault scarp that can still be seen in the landscape.

Stanley, the Sawtooth Range, and the 2020 M6.5 Earthquake

Idaho’s most important recent earthquake was the 2020 Stanley earthquake. It struck in central Idaho, northwest of Stanley and northeast of Boise, in the Challis National Forest area. USGS reported the earthquake as M6.5 and said it was widely felt, with thousands of “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted after the event.

This earthquake matters for two reasons. First, it was the largest earthquake within Idaho since the 1983 Borah Peak earthquake. Second, it happened in a part of central Idaho where the faulting was not as obvious from the surface as Borah Peak. That made the event especially useful for scientists studying hidden or poorly mapped faults in the Sawtooth and Salmon-Challis region.

The Stanley earthquake also reminded people in Boise, the Wood River Valley, the Sawtooths, and central Idaho that a strong earthquake does not need to happen directly under a city to be noticed. Shaking can travel far across Idaho’s mountain valleys, and aftershocks can continue long after the main event.

Key Idaho Earthquake Areas to Watch

Idaho earthquake activity is not spread evenly. Some areas are known for large historical earthquakes, while others matter because they sit close to towns, highways, reservoirs, public lands, or the Yellowstone region.

• Lost River Range and Borah Peak: This is Idaho’s most important historical earthquake area, discussed above. Nearby communities include Challis, Mackay, Arco, and smaller towns around the Salmon-Challis region.
• Stanley and the Sawtooth Range: The Stanley-Sawtooth area became a major focus after the 2020 M6.5 earthquake. Earthquakes here can affect Stanley, Redfish Lake, the Sawtooth Valley, the Salmon River headwaters, and nearby recreation areas. The Sawtooth fault is also an important mapped structure near the base of the Sawtooth Mountains, although the 2020 earthquake itself was not simply a repeat of the known Sawtooth fault story.
• Salmon, Challis, and central Idaho: Central Idaho has a mix of rugged mountain faults, remote valleys, and small towns. Earthquakes may not always cause major building damage because some epicentres are remote, but the region has produced Idaho’s largest recorded events and long aftershock sequences.
• Eastern Idaho and the Yellowstone edge: Eastern Idaho sits close to the Yellowstone region, Island Park, Henrys Lake, Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and the Wyoming-Montana border area. Earthquakes and seismic swarms here may appear connected to Idaho, Yellowstone, Montana, or Wyoming depending on the exact location. For this reason, it is useful to compare this page with the Yellowstone earthquakes page.
• Southeastern Idaho and Soda Springs: Southeastern Idaho has its own earthquake history, including activity near Soda Springs and the Idaho-Utah-Wyoming corner. This area sits within the broader Intermountain Seismic Belt and can produce earthquake sequences that are felt in nearby towns and valleys.
• Boise and southwest Idaho: Boise is not Idaho’s most active earthquake area, but people there can still feel larger central Idaho earthquakes. The 2020 Stanley earthquake was reported across a wide area, including places far from the epicentre. The bigger concern for Boise is not frequent local shaking, but how a stronger regional earthquake could affect buildings, roads, slopes, utilities, and emergency response.
• Northern Idaho and the Panhandle: Northern Idaho is generally quieter than central and eastern Idaho, but it can still feel earthquakes from Montana, Washington, British Columbia, or nearby regional faults. Communities such as Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, Lewiston, and Moscow should still treat earthquake preparedness as part of wider regional hazard planning.

The Diverse Seismic Settings of Idaho

Idaho is not just one big earthquake zone. The state has several different fault areas that act independently. The forces stretching the ground near Borah Peak are different from the shifting faults near Stanley, and both are completely different from the activity along the Yellowstone border.

Some Idaho earthquakes happen on normal faults, where the crust is being stretched and one side of a fault drops relative to the other. This is important in places like the Lost River fault and other Basin-and-Range-style mountain fronts. Other events, including the 2020 Stanley earthquake, involve strike-slip movement, where blocks of crust slide sideways past each other. Some earthquake clusters may also be influenced by fluids, volcanic history, or complex buried faults.

That is why one earthquake on the map may not tell the whole story. Location, depth, fault type, aftershocks, and nearby geology all matter. A small cluster near Yellowstone is different from a central Idaho aftershock sequence, and both are different from a moderate quake near a growing city or highway corridor.

Why Idaho Earthquakes Can Be Felt Over Large Areas

Idaho has mountains, hard bedrock that transmits seismic waves efficiently, and sediment-filled basins (like the Boise river valley) that can actually amplify the shaking. That mix can make earthquake reports feel uneven. One person may feel a sharp jolt near the epicentre, while someone much farther away may notice a slow rolling motion, swaying lights, or rattling windows.

The 2020 Stanley earthquake is a good example. USGS reported that it struck during the evening, about 72 miles northeast of Boise, and was widely felt. That does not mean every Idaho earthquake will be felt statewide, but larger central Idaho earthquakes can easily be noticed far beyond the mountain valley where they start.

Earthquake Hazards in Idaho

In Idaho, the earthquake hazard is not only about shaking. The state has steep slopes, mountain highways, historic downtowns, reservoirs, dams, rivers, mines, campgrounds, and long rural travel routes. A damaging earthquake in the wrong place could affect more than just buildings.

• Ground shaking: Strong shaking can damage homes, schools, older, unreinforced brick buildings, bridges, roads, water systems, utilities, and public buildings.
• Surface rupture: Some Idaho faults can break the ground surface during a large earthquake, as the 1983 Borah Peak earthquake showed.
• Rockfalls and landslides: Idaho’s steep mountain roads, canyon walls, trails, and recreation areas can be vulnerable during stronger shaking. This matters in places like the Sawtooths, Salmon-Challis area, Lost River Range, and Yellowstone edge.
• Liquefaction and soft ground: Loose, water-saturated sediment in valleys, river corridors, lake margins, or areas with shallow groundwater can behave differently during shaking than solid bedrock.
• Aftershocks: A strong Idaho earthquake can be followed by many aftershocks. USGS warned after the 2020 Stanley earthquake that smaller aftershocks were likely, including some large enough to be felt near the epicentre.
• Rural access problems: In remote Idaho, one damaged road, bridge, or mountain pass can create long detours. That makes emergency supplies and vehicle preparedness especially important outside larger cities.
• Dam and reservoir concerns: Idaho has reservoirs, irrigation systems, and water infrastructure in mountain and valley settings. After strong shaking, officials may need to inspect dams, canals, bridges, and water systems before reopening or clearing them.

Historic and Recent Idaho Earthquakes

Idaho’s earthquake history includes both damaging historical events and more recent earthquakes that changed how people think about the state’s seismic risk.

• 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake: This earthquake happened just outside Idaho in southwestern Montana, but it matters for eastern Idaho because it struck near the Yellowstone and Idaho-Montana-Wyoming region. Idaho Geological Survey lists it as one of the largest earthquakes recorded in or near Idaho.
• 1983 Borah Peak earthquake, M6.9: Idaho’s largest recorded earthquake struck near Borah Peak and the Lost River fault. It caused serious damage in the Challis-Mackay area, killed two people, produced surface rupture, and remains the defining earthquake in Idaho’s modern seismic history.
• 2017 Soda Springs earthquake sequence: Southeastern Idaho had a notable earthquake sequence near Soda Springs in 2017, including felt earthquakes around Caribou County and the Idaho-Utah-Wyoming region. This helped show that Idaho earthquake activity is not limited to central Idaho.
• 2020 Stanley earthquake, M6.5: The 2020 Stanley earthquake struck in central Idaho and was the largest earthquake in Idaho since Borah Peak. USGS reported it occurred about 72 miles northeast of Boise and originated at a depth of about 6.2 miles. The event was widely felt and followed by aftershocks.
• 2025 Stanley-Challis earthquake, M4.2: The earthquake struck between Stanley and Challis in January 2025 and was felt as far away as Boise. No damage was reported, but the event was a reminder that the area remains seismically active more than four years after the 2020 M6.5 earthquake
• Ongoing small Idaho earthquakes: Small earthquakes continue to occur across central Idaho, eastern Idaho, the Yellowstone edge, and nearby mountain regions. Most are too small to cause damage, but they help scientists track active faults and changing stress in the crust.

Idaho Earthquake Safety

Earthquake safety in Idaho depends on where you are. Boise preparedness looks different from Stanley, Challis, Mackay, Idaho Falls, or a campsite near Redfish Lake. Still, the basics are the same: know what to do during shaking, secure heavy items before an earthquake happens, and be ready for aftershocks.

Idaho Earthquake Safety Checklist

• Know “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” for earthquake shaking.
• Secure tall furniture, shelves, mirrors, TVs, water heaters, appliances, and heavy objects that could fall.
• Keep emergency water, food, medication, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, warm clothing, and copies of important documents.
• If you are indoors, stay indoors, drop, cover, and hold on. Do not run outside while glass, signs, bricks, or power lines may be falling.
• If you are outside, move away from buildings, cliffs, slopes, rockfall areas, trees, bridges, power lines, and anything that could fall.
• If you are driving, pull over when safe, avoid bridges and steep slopes if possible, and stay inside the vehicle until shaking stops.
• If you are hiking, camping, fishing, skiing, or hunting, watch for rockfalls, landslides, falling trees, damaged trails, and aftershocks.
• In rural Idaho, keep extra fuel, water, blankets, food, and emergency supplies in your vehicle because damaged roads or long detours can happen after a strong earthquake.
• After shaking stops, check for injuries, gas smells, damaged utilities, fires, unstable buildings, cracked roads, broken glass, and aftershocks.
• Follow official local emergency instructions after a noticeable earthquake, especially if there are reports of road damage, rockfalls, utility problems, building damage, or aftershocks.

How Idaho Earthquakes Are Monitored

Idaho earthquakes are monitored by state, regional, and national seismic networks. These networks help locate earthquakes, estimate magnitudes, collect felt reports, and improve understanding of Idaho’s active faults.

• Idaho Geological Survey: Studies Idaho earthquakes and faults, maintains and monitors a regional network of seismometers, and maps active faults that can produce earthquakes.
• USGS Earthquake Hazards Program: Provides national earthquake data, reviewed event pages, ShakeMaps, Did You Feel It? reports, and earthquake science resources.
• Great ShakeOut: Provides public earthquake safety guidance, including the Drop, Cover, and Hold On message used in earthquake preparedness education.

🗺️ Related Maps

View broader region: United States Earthquakes

View nearby states and regions: Yellowstone | Montana | Wyoming | Utah

View western U.S. maps: Washington | Oregon | Nevada | California

You can also view the latest available worldwide earthquake list.