Idaho Travel Council | Page 37

f e a t u r e d a tt r a ct i o n s southeast American Falls Reservoir This reservoir is a major facility on the Minidoka Project — a water storage reservoir for irrigation, power and flood control. The reservoir also supports boating, canoeing, swimming, wildlife viewing, picnicking, water skiing and wind surfing. This is a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon with the family or wet a line from shore. There are three boat ramps at the southwest end of the reservoir, one north of the dam. USBR - American Falls Reservoir 230 Collins Road Boise, ID 83702 (208) 383-2211 Bear Lake State Park The Bear River is the longest river in North America that does not drain into an ocean. It starts and ends in Utah and drains into the Great Salt Lake. Bear Lake State Park is located in a high mountain valley in the extreme southeast corner of Idaho. At 5,900 feet elevation, the park offers a wide variety of both summer and winter recreation opportunities. Bear Lake itself is 20 miles long and 8 miles wide with half of the lake in Idaho and half in Utah. The lake is a water sports Mecca attracting boaters, water skiers, and beach lovers from all over the country. Bear Lake State Park 5637 East Shore Rd. St. Charles, ID 83272 (208) 847-1045 Blackfoot Idaho Potato Expo The Idaho Potato Museum offers dozens of fun and educational exhibits featuring the world’s most popular vegetable and Idaho’s most famous product. The museum features old farming equipment, several educational exhibits including 1,600-year-old vessels made in Peru and a video presentation about the development of the potato industry. You can also view the world’s largest potato chip and the Spud Cellar Gift Shop offers almost any potato gift imaginable including potato fudge, t-shirts and potato lotion. Idaho Potato Museum 130 N.W. Main St. Blackfoot, ID 83221 (208) 785-2517 Chesterfield Town site Chesterfield, a Mormon pioneer town founded in 1880 along the Old Oregon Trail in southeast Idaho; offers a unique trip back in time and a chance to experience the rural agricultural life of a community whose deep faith helped them endure the hardships of life on the frontier. Now unoccupied, 27 structures overlooking the beautiful Portneuf www.IDAHOTravelCouncil.com Valley near Bancroft are being restored by descendants of the early settlers and volunteers. The meeting house is now a museum and tours of the town site are available. This is a special experience for youth groups, school groups, family reunions, and family groups. Chesterfield is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Chesterfield Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 2 Bancroft, ID 83217 (208) 648-7124 Crystal Ice Caves, American Falls At these ancient ice caves you can descend beneath the earth’s surface into a dormant volcano through three different lava flows into the main cavern. Moisture collecting inside the cave form huge ice formations that seem to grow from the cavern floor. The cave is part of the Great Rift Natural Landmark. BLM Idaho Falls District 1405 Hollipark Drive Idaho Falls, ID 83401 (208) 524-7500 Curlew National Grassland The Curlew National Grassland comprises 47,000 acres of public land and it was know historically as the Curlew Grassland. It was inhabited by the Bannock and Shoshone tribes before the settlement of the Mormon pioneers in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Back then, the Curlew Valley had a ranch on every 160 acres. When drought years of the late 20’s and early 30’s came, the land wouldn’t support these homesteads and then were abandoned. Caribou-Targhee NF 1405 Hollipark Dr. Idaho Falls, ID 83401 (208) 524-7500 Fort Hall Replica Fort Hall is a replica of the historic facility that served pioneer travelers along the Oregon Trail. Enter the massive wooden gates and wander through the Company Hall, Frontier Room, Indian Room, Factor’s Quarter, Blacksmith and Carpenter’s Room. A covered wagon and tepee enhance the outdoor exhibit. You can also view the video “Fort Hall, Gateway to the Northwest” and visit the gift shop. Fort Hall Replica Commission 911 N. 7th, Pocatello, ID 83205 (208) 234-1795 Continued on 54 35 region 4: southeast Pioneer Country