Island Park, IdahoIsland Park, IdahoAug 2, 2007. We are staying in Grizzly RV-Park in West Yellowstone, Montana just out the west gate of Yellowstone National Park. We stayed in a different site every night because we did not have reservations and at this time of year they are FULL. The only way we got to stay there for 4-nights was to move into cancellation sites. The rates range from around $37 to $47 depending on a variety of things but generally back in sites were cheaper than pull-thru sites. Then they charge $4 for wifi. I suppose the pull-thru sites are a bit larger so the BIG rigs would probably be forced into one of them. Grizzly is a nice park, the nicest campground in the area. Bottom line is if you are planning to visit WEST YELLOWSTONE during July thru Aug-15 you need a reservation as every campground in the area is FULL. After August 15 you can have your choice of campgrounds with no reservations.
Welcome to Idaho sign at the Continental Divide southwest of West Yellowstone, Montana
We are staying in a campground in West Yellowstone, Montana that is generally used by RV'ers visiting Yellowstone National Park. However, when in West Yellowstone, Montana there are a number of other things to see and do that, in our opinion, are on par with many of the sights in Yellowstone. One is a visit to the Earthquake Information Center about 20-miles northwest of West Yellowstone. Another would be a scenic drive north to Bozeman along the Gallatin River. That is one beautiful mountain river drive that is worth doing. And finally a scenic drive down into Idaho where there is a wide variety of things to see. We have made it a ritual to drop down into Idaho every time we visit West Yellowstone. Take this quick journey with us and you will see what is so special about this part of Idaho. About 11-miles out of West Yellowstone on US 20 you transition from Montana into Idaho when you cross over the Continental Divide at an elevation of 7,072 feet. From West Yellowstone you do not have much of a climb to get over the Continental Divide since West Yellowstone is around 6,600' elevation.
From the Continental Divide it is just a few miles down the mountain to the valley and the unique town of Island Park, Idaho.
I say unique because the City of Island Park has the world's longest main street at 33-miles long. Island Park, indeed the entire valley, is situated in a caldera of an extinct volcano with the rim still visible to the west. The region has become an all-season recreational destination. Summer offers anglers world-class streams and lakes as well as hundreds of miles of trails for 4-wheeling. During the fall sportsman find exceptional waterfowl and big game hunting. In winter snowmobilers enjoy thousands of acres of untracked powder and more than 500-miles of groomed trails. The other unique, and to me even more stark reality, is that it is almost impossible to tell there is a "city" along those 33-miles. Along that 33-miles there isn't a grouping of commercial buildings that could be classified as a "city" without stretching the imagination. Over most of the 33-miles of Main Street (US 20) buildings of any kind are about 5-miles apart. I suppose that is why Main Street is 33-miles long ----- it took 33-miles to put together enough buildings to form a "city". What you will see is a beautiful valley.
Nature Conservancy property in Island Park
Part of the valley is owned by the Nature Conservancy. That is the truly beautiful section to us. We always stop by the Nature Conservancy Information Center (watch for signs) along US 20 to not only look for wildlife from the deck of the Information Center but to walk through the information center and view the mounts and other information available. This time we didn't see antelope, as we normally do, but we did see two pair of sandhill crane with chicks. Sandhill crane use the field you see in this picture as a nesting area. The Nature Conservancy purchased these ranch lands from area ranchers years ago during some bad times for the ranching industry. At the time there was much bad blood between area ranchers and the Nature Conservancy. However, that has all changed and now area ranchers love the Nature Conservancy. The land is still used for grazing cattle but grazing is strictly controlled. Fences were constructed along the river to keep cattle out of the riparian area where cattle do so much damage. Critical wildlife habitat along the river is preserved. By keeping river access "cattle free" the trout fishery has exploded. Area ranchers move their cattle from pasture to pasture long before overgrazing causes damage to the grass.
Showy fleabane in Island Park, Idaho
These are showy fleabane. Our friend Suzie Kisner introduced us to this plant last summer when we visited them in the Tetons.
Showy fleabane
Another picture of fleabane daisy blooms.
Grand Teton viewed from Idaho instead of Wyoming
Along SR 47 south of Mesa Falls there is a nice pull out where you can see "Grand Teton" the tallest peak in the Teton Mountain Range. On a clear day Grand Teton would be clearly visible but not only is the area cloaked in smoke from several forest fires that thunderstorm is adding to the visibility problem. It is interesting to learn how the Three Tetons were named. These giant peaks were a famous early western landmark known to fur hunters and Mountain Men. As early as 1819, French-speaking trappers were calling them the Trois Tetons (the three breasts). More prosaic English-speaking Mountain Men named them the Pilot Knobs, but the more romantic French name stuck. Now you know --------- the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say. Keep in mind that this is the side from which they were seen by the men who named them (from the west looking east).
This is south of Island Park
SR 47 between Ashton and Island Park is an Idaho Scenic Byway and a good one. One thing that we always like when we are on SR-47 is the way we transition from thickly forested mountain scenery to open prairie with wheat fields stretching to the horizon.
Grain prairie south of Island Park and north of Ashton, Idaho
This is Idaho wheat at its finest. The coloring in these pictures is distorted because of the overcast day. Ordinarily these wheat fields are a beautiful golden color. Click here for more Idaho travellogsUntil next time remember how good life is.
More Idaho AdventuresSome of our Miscellaneous Subjects ** More 2007 Travel Adventures
Mike & Joyce Hendrix
Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures: Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects
We would love to hear from you......just put "info" in the place of "FAKE" in this address: FAKE@travellogs.us Until next time remember how good life is.
|
|
||
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
