SOUTHEAST IDAHO SOUTHEAST WHERE THE TRAILBLAZINGTRAILBLAZING SPIRIT IS IN THE AIR | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 70 Minnetonka Cave As you explore southeast Idaho, it’s easy to imagine the people who ventured here before you—native tribes who lived all across these lands, fur trappers, pioneers heading west to start a new life, the men who built and rode the railroads. You’ll be able to connect with the past throughout the region and—even better— create your own new memories. Visit the Idaho Museum of Natural History to learn about Idaho’s indigenous people; experience the pioneer journey at The National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier; and see Register Rock, where pioneers inscribed their names as they passed through. If you’ve got kids in the car, take them to a rodeo in Preston, go water skiing at the dazzling Bear Lake, and camp out in Caribou National Forest. Soak in some of the West’s best hot springs, reel in cutthroat trout, and take in a performance at Idaho State University in Pocatello. Anywhere these Old West roads go, you’ll find new adventures waiting for you. For more southeast Idaho adventures, go to visitidaho.org/southeast Follow Visit Idaho on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media channels. visitidaho.org | 71 #VisitIdaho SOUTHEAST IDAHO SOUTHEAST ‹ DISCOVER NEW STREAMS OF CONSCIOUSNESS Lava Hot Springs AMERICAN FALLS FORT HALL RESERVATION In 1925, the entire town of American Until the 1860s, when the Fort Hall Falls was moved to make room for Reservation was established as their the American Falls Dam. There was permanent home, the Shoshone and one exception—the Oneida Milling Bannock tribes lived, fished, and grain elevator was too large and its hunted throughout the West. Visit foundation too deep to go anywhere, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Museum so you’ll see it still standing pictur- to learn their stories, and attend the esquely next to the waterfalls today. annual Shoshone-Bannock Festival Have a day of adventure at the dam’s in August to experience one of North reservoir, a popular spot to swim, boat, America’s most popular tribal gather- and reel in trout, crappie, and perch. ings. Enjoy traditional dancing, Indian There are several boat ramps north relay races, a rodeo, and arts and Pocatello Bench of the reservoir, and you can camp at crafts. See if luck’s on your side Willow Bay and Sportsman’s Park. For at the Fort Hall Casino, and stay the more water fun, rent a kayak or fish night at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel. the shores at the nearby Massacre Rocks State Park, named for a skirmish POCATELLO/CHUBBUCK between emigrants and members of During the days of the Oregon Trail, the Shoshone Tribe. This pretty park is Pocatello was called “Gate City” by home to a portion of the Oregon Trail many travelers who considered it and hiking trails, and provides a habitat the official start of the West. Today’s for blue herons, pelicans, and bald Pocatello continues to be a gateway to eagles. Take a drive south to see Red all kinds of adventure—and its charm Rock Pass, the spillway for the great and convenience make it a great place Bonneville Flood, the second largest to stay as you explore the region. Start flood event of all time. by strolling the beautiful Old Town district, an eclectic mix of eateries, antique stores, and shops set against a backdrop of high desert foothills. | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 72 Follow Visit Idaho on all your favorite social media channels. #VisitIdaho American Falls Browse work by local artists at the When the snow falls, ski or board 2,200 Pocatello Art Center on Main Street. feet of vertical terrain at Pebble Creek, On the Avenue of the Chiefs, open the or Nordic ski or snowmobile the area’s massive wooden doors of the Fort Hall vast public lands. Replica for a glimpse into what life was like in the original fort that became an LAVA HOT SPRINGS important stop along the Oregon Trail. Millions of years ago, the hot spot The Museum of Clean tells a different that’s now deep below Yellowstone story—that of vacuum cleaners, and National Park was beneath southeast cleaning devices and products of all Idaho. What that means, in non-tech- kinds. You’ll find much to explore at nical terms, is that you’re in the right Lava Zipline Adventure the Idaho State University campus, too, place for some serious soaking. The including the Idaho Museum of Natural largest area, Lava Hot Springs, was History. The museum’s exhibits focus once a sacred gathering place for the on Idaho’s geology, fossils, and flora Bannock and Shoshone tribes. Today, and fauna, and you can even see foot- people from all over the world seek prints from mammals that roamed the out the healing properties of the warm earth 200 million years ago. For some spring water, which is naturally filtered active kid time, spend an afternoon as it moves through five pools. During swimming and splashing at the Ross the summer, you can alternate between Park Aquatic Center or saying hi to the the hot springs and the city’s (cool) grizzlies, bison, and other animals at pool and water slides. Many soakers the Zoo Idaho. top off their day with an elegant dinner Idaho’s oldest symphony, the Idaho at the historic Greystone Manor, rated State Civic Symphony, performs highly by visitors on TripAdvisor. Luxury regularly from fall through spring and history await overnight travelers at the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens at the Harkness Hotel in nearby Performing Arts Center. The center McCammon; this beautifully restored hosts many other music, dance, and building, listed on the National Register theater performances as well, so check of Historic Places, perfectly blends the schedule while you’re in town. historic details and modern touches for Stop for craft beer, casual fare, and live a stay you’ll long remember. If you’re music at Portneuf Valley Brewing, or here in February, you’ll be amazed by make a reservation at one of two dinner the number of people brave enough to Soda Springs theaters: the Palace Playhouse and tube down the freezing Portneuf River Events Center and the Westside Players in just a costume, as part of Lava Hot Dinner Theater. Springs’ annual Fire and Ice Winter Fest. The festival also features fire The Pocatello area has more than performers, wine tastings, karaoke a thousand miles of trails for you contests, a chili cook-off, a casino to explore on foot, bike, horse, or night, and the exciting Running of the four-wheeler. Try the 52-mile City Bulls event. Creek Trail System on the west side of town and Caribou National Forest to the south. Spend a night under the stars at the nearby Scout Mountain Campground. Stephens Performing Arts Center REGIONAL INFO ‹ LARGEST CITY POCATELLO Population: 54,441 ‹ REGIONAL CLIMATE Summer Average High: 85° Winter Average High: 35° Annual Precipitation: 16" ‹ ELEVATION Highest: 9,957' (Meade Peak) Lowest: 4,354' (American Falls) Pocatello SOUTHEAST IDAHO SOUTHEAST REGIONAL MAP ‹ ENJOY OUR ROADSIDE DISTRACTIONS 20 15 Shelley 26 Blackfoot Snake River American Falls A Reservoir Wayan Pioneer Fort Hall Historic Blackfoot Byway 39 Reservoir Chubbuck Aberdeen Pocatello A 34 Soda Springs Massacre Rocks American 30 State Park Falls Oregon Trail– Grace Bear Lake Scenic Lava Hot Byway 86 Springs B 89 Montpelier Downey 91 36 Paris 37 34 Bear Lake Malad City 38 Preston Bear Lake Bear Lake State Park Franklin SCENIC DRIVES 15 ‹ Pioneer Historic Byway to Salt Lake City A 888-201-1063 ‹ Oregon Trail—Bear Lake Scenic Byway B 888-201-1063 For additional information, go to visitidaho.org/things-to-do/ state-parks-byways SKI AREAS A ‹ Pebble Creek Ski Area pebblecreekskiarea.com skiidaho.us | OFFICIAL IDAHO STATE TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVEL | OFFICIAL STATE IDAHO 74 ‹ EXPLORE IDAHO PARKS! Continue your tour de soak at Downata Tabernacle, built by early Mormon Hot Springs near Downey for nonstop settlers who carted the building’s red ‹ ENJOY OUR ROADSIDE DISTRACTIONS fun for everyone, with water slides, sandstone from 18 miles away. It’s a splash pad, hillside slides, and recognized as one of the true pioneer 15 volleyball and basketball courts. A little landmarks of the West and listed on the 20 further south near Preston, you can stay National Register of Historic Places. For overnight at Riverdale Resort (cabins, a natural wonder adventure, explore RVs, camping) and Maple Grove Hot the Minnetonka Cave, full of stalactites Shelley Springs (try a yurt or vintage trailer). and stalagmites, in St. Charles. Tours run mid-June to Labor Day; bring a Paris Tabernacle You’ll see a different type of water in jacket and be prepared to climb stairs. 26 Soda Springs, a town named for the Be sure to stop at the National Oregon/ area’s many carbonated springs. In Blackfoot California Trail Center in Montpelier 1937, entrepreneurs were digging for Snake to learn more about the pioneers who River warm water to create a hot springs pool endured the rugged trip west. American Falls A and instead unleashed a “sparkling Reservoir Wayan Pioneer water” geyser. City fathers capped the Fort Hall Historic BLACKFOOT Blackfoot Byway geyser, which has been featured in 39 Reservoir Blackfoot is a small city with a big Chubbuck Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and now a timer sends the geyser shooting 70 feet harvest. It’s literally the potato capital Aberdeen Pocatello of the world (at least in the russet A 34 into the air every hour on the hour.