State Treasures

It is no secret why Eastern Idaho is highly ranked on any seasoned traveler’s bucket list. Its scenic mountains, geothermal wonders, world-renowned waterways, and endless adventures are unparalleled. Whether to see flowing waterfalls or prized state parks and vast public lands, make plans to explore off the beaten path.

MUST SEE!

Throughout this guide, note the variety of state and national treasures dotting the six-county region. The list is long, but these favorites are a great place to start. The bucket list doesn’t stop at the national parks.

HENRY’S LAKE STATE PARK (PAGE 31)

An angler’s paradise, Henry’s Lake, one of Idaho’s picturesque high-elevation lakes located north of Island Park, is a great place to drop a line in clear, still waters full of trout. Native Yellowstone cutthroat trout, rainbows, and brown trout reach champion-level sizes in this famous lake. Settle in for a fishing trip of a lifetime or just camp and enjoy the scenery at one of the lakefront campsites along the 6,000-acre lake’s shoreline.

MESA FALLS (PAGE 33)

Just outside of Ashton, gaze at the ten-foot-story tall thunderous clouds of gushing water flowing from the Upper and Lower Mesa Falls. Enjoy a one-mile hike to the Lower Mesa Falls that begins from the visitor center’s upper parking lot. Peruse the local flora and fauna as you meander to the scenic overlook.

HARRIMAN STATE PARK (PAGE 32)

This wildlife reserve located outside of Island Park is made up of 11,000 acres of natural wonders in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and is home to an abundance of elk, moose, sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, and the occasional black or grizzly bear. At the turn of the century, Union Pacific Railroad investors owned the land, which served as a cattle ranch for the Harriman and Guggenheim families. In 1977, the park became the recreational treasure it is today, welcoming visitors to enjoy its endless cross-country ski trails in the winter and scenic hiking trails in the summer, as well as fishing, camping, and horseback riding.

ST. ANTHONY SAND DUNES (PAGE 27)

The 41,000-acres St. Anthony Sand Dunes consist of rolling hills of white sand, with some 10,000 acres open to recreationists. The area is never the same twice, as the winds shift and form new rolling dunes some 400-feet tall. Quartz sand found along ancient rivers and lakeshores was deposited here by the prevailing winds. The dunes stretch about 35 miles in length and from one to five miles in width.