Places to ride in South East Idaho

[christopher]

Explore Eastern Idaho's backcountry like few people ever have. With dozens of intricate trail systems, you'll have easy access to hundreds of miles of remote pathways virtually untouched by human hands. And with our long snowmobile season, you'll have time to explore many of them.


Don't have your own equipment? No problem. There are plenty of outfitters that will be able to provide you with everything you need for your very own backcountry snowmobiling adventure.


If you've ever ridden a snowmobile, you know the pleasure that comes from a morning spent charging through a fresh blanket of snow. Combine that with Eastern Idaho's rare beauty and bountiful snowfall, and you have a snowmobiler's dream.

 

[christopher]

Big Springs
http://www.yellowstoneteton.org/Big-Springs

More than 300 miles of groomed trails set a course for snowmobilers of all abilities to tour spectacular mountain terrain. Warming huts provide winter enthusiasts with a cozy place to rest and plenty of parking is available for all to enjoy this scenic area.


It's a river's birthplace. One hundred and twenty million gallons of pure water a day -- enough to meet the water needs of a million people -- surge out of the ground here. A short distance from the glassy pool is a bridge. Toss bread crumbs into the water from it, and you'll see that constant flow (at a year-round temperature of 52 degrees) and the clean gravel bottom make for perfect trout habitat. Big Springs' trout get BIG. Leave your fishing pole in the car, though: No fishing is allowed until below the outlet to Henry's Lake, several miles away.


Take the short walking trail around the pond to reach Johnny Sack's cabin. Johnny was a German immigrant who built his cozy cabin and its furnishings by hand out of local trees. He also built a water wheel turned by spring water tumbling out of the hillside. The wheel provided electricity and brought water uphill to the cabin. Johnny's old place is now a visitor center and an attraction in its own right.

 

[christopher]

Bone Area

http://www.yellowstoneteton.org/Bone-Area

The area south east of Idaho Falls is commonly known as the Bone area. While Bone, Idaho is small, the area is not. There are miles and miles of groomed trails traversing rolling hills. The area extents from Blackfoot on the west to Palisades Reservoir on the East and to Soda Springs on the South.


To get to the parking lots just south of Bone, Idaho, you can take either Lincoln Road or First Street. Just keep heading East. Eventually the road turn south and intersect leading to Bone. There are several other parking areas that provide access to the area including Wolverine on the West, Fall Creek, Palisades Dam, and Alpine, Wyoming to the East.

 

[christopher]

Grays Lake

http://www.yellowstoneteton.org/Grays-Lake

If sledders chose to bypass Brockman Road at Keenan City and continue Southwest, a good groomed trail leads to Grays Lake between the Herman trail head and the other Brockman Road junction. Another trail head 1.7 miles up the road forks off to Cranes Flat Road and Southwest for 12.1 miles to the Paradise Road trail head and a 5 mile loop around Blackfoot Reservoir.



At the Paradise Road trail head, sledders can access Blackfoot Reservoir Road, and 17.9 miles later, along a good groomed trail, eventually find themselves at the Bone Store. Heading North along Blackfoot Reservoir Road from the reservoir for 11.8 miles brings riders to the trail head at the intersection of Cellars Creek Road where a left turn and a westerly heading for 18.8 miles puts a sled in the Wolverine parking lot.


Taking the other fork in the road at Cranes Flat Road trail head puts sledders on Long Valley Road for 14.6 miles of a good groomed trail. At the Horse Creek trail head, riders have a variety of choices that range from continuing West toward Wolverine; heading Northwest to the Bone Store, or bearing Northeast past Pine Mountain and King Creek for 7.1 miles to a quaint warming hut at the Grays trail head, approximately 15 miles Northwest of Grays Lake.


At the hut, working Northwest leads to Dan Creek Road and on to Kepps Crossing Road where a right turn at that intersection heads sleds back to Fall Creek Road.

 

[christopher]

Mccoy Creek

http://www.yellowstoneteton.org/Mccoy-Creek

Upon reaching McCoy Creek Road, sledders can bear to the left and continue along the reservoir and down to the Alpine, WY parking lot (11.4 miles) or head West up McCoy Creek Road for 9.1 miles to the trail head at Keenan City.


Along the way to Keenan City, riders will pass the Bald Mountain and Caribou Basing Guard Stations and Old Baldy Peak to the South. There is a warming hut between Caribou Basing Guard Station and Keenan City.


The junction at Keenan City provides an opportunity to head Northwest on Brockman Road for 8.8 miles to the trail head that leads to Mann Road and Sawmill Canyon Road. Dan Creek Road, King Creek, Castle Rock and Lava Creek are just a few points of interest and trails that can be accessed at that intersection, all of which are on good groomed trails.


The final 10.3 miles of Dan Creek Road that leads to Fall Creek Road as well as the 6.6 miles of Skyline Ridge Road that intersects at the Lava Creek trail head, and also leads to Fall Creek Road, both are fair groomed trails.

 

[christopher]

Palisades Dam Trail Head

http://www.yellowstoneteton.org/Palisades-Dam-Trail-Head

Departing from Palisades Dam trail head allows sledders to head across the dam and then Northwest along the Snake River Road or to venture Southeast along Bear Creek Road and down to Alpine, WY or up McCoy Creek Road and on to Blackfoot Reservoir, Wolverine or a variety of other destinations.


Regardless of point of departure or destination, remember that trails can change status in a matter of minutes, so local inquiry for the latest conditions is very important. For trail information, call 208-538-7285.


Also, make sure friends and family are aware of your sledding destination and expected time of return, and while snowmobiling, observe all safety precautions, and, lastly, always snowmobile with another person.


Be safe and happy sledding in the winter wonderland of Swan Valley!!

 

[christopher]

Sawtell Snowmobile Loop

http://www.yellowstoneteton.org/Sawtell-Snowmobile-Loop

The Sawtell Loop trail is a great trail for those new to snowmobiling and to Island Park. The trail is an easy ride with some wonderful views of Sawtell Peak to the West and Two Top to the East. The trail winds along the foot hills beneath Sawtell Peak, through stands of pine trees and meadows. There are regular opportunities see the peaks.


On top of Sawtell Peak is a large radar installation located in a large dome that is usually visible. There is a road to the top that is accessible in the summer.

 

[christopher]

Skyline Ridge Road

http://www.yellowstoneteton.org/Skyline-Ridge-Road

Traveling Southeast at the hut works sledders back to the Lava Creek and Sawmill Canyon Road intersection, and a 2.7 mile ride down Lava Creek intersects with Skyline Ridge Road and 6.6 miles of a fair groomed trail that again leads to the trail head of Kepps Crossing Road and Fall Creek Road where a right turn puts sledders 13.8 miles from the Fall Creek parking lot.
For snowmobilers who want to forego the ride along the Snake River Road and climb westerly along Fall Creek Road, the first 13.8 miles are a good groomed trail.


The trail head at that point permits a left turn onto a fair groomed trail on Skyline Ridge Road for 6.6 miles to the good groomed trail at Lava Creek trail head or bearing to the right (northwesterly) on Kepps Crossing Road for 15.4 miles on a fair groomed trail.


The Dan Creek Road trail head is 6.3 miles from the Skyline Ridge Road trail head, and sledders need to realize that all of Dan Creek Road and Kepps Crossing Road and the first 6.6 miles of Skyline Ridge Road from this western access only are fair groomed trails.

 

[christopher]

Snake River Road

http://www.yellowstoneteton.org/Snake-River-Road

For those sledders who want to enjoy the scenic river route, the Snake River Road trail spans 10.3 miles and eventually crosses Calamity Point to the Palisades Dam trail head. This trail always is well groomed, although conditions can change in a matter of minutes, so local inquiries of trail conditions are recommended.


From Calamity Point, riders can continue in a Southeast direction past the Calamity Guard Station and onto Bear Creek Road, which is a fair groomed trail. The 15.4-mile trail from Calamity Point to McCoy Creek Road, however, changes from a fair groomed trail to a “run at your own risk”� trail at the intersection of Bear Creek Road and Jensen Creek Road. This segment that runs through Jensen Meadow and along Jensen Creek until it intersects McCoy Creek Road is to the West of Poker Peak and the Palisades Reservoir.

 

[christopher]

Two Top Mountain And Meadow Creek Loop

http://www.yellowstoneteton.org/Two-Top-Mountain-And-Meadow-Creek-Loop

Two Top Mountain is one of the most popular destination spots for snowmobilers coming to Island Park. There is good reason for this reputation. First, it is easily accessible from Island Park Village, the cabin at Henry's Lake, and from West Yellowstone. Second, the trail is well groomed and suitable for even the novice snowmobiler. The exception is the very last part of the trail at the top that is step and a bit rough because of the large snow drifts across the mountain. Yet, the trail is usually well packed so it is not too difficult to negotiate. Third, the winds sculpt the snow in and around the few but hardy trees. Very little imagination is required to conjure up an army of goblins.



Finally, the panoramas from the top is incredible. To the south are the Tetons. To the West are Island park, Sawtell peak, and the Centennial mountains. To the North is Henry's Lake and Lions Head. To the East is West Yellowstone and the Park.


A great place to start your journey to Two Top is from Island Park Village. Island Park Village is located on Highway 20, north of Ashton, Last Chance, Ponds Lodge, and Mack's Inn and south of Henry's lake and West Yellowstone, Montana. Here you will find all the services you need including fuel, machine and equipment rentals, convenience store, and overnight accommodations. These facilities are open all year round.

 

[ARMYSLEDER]

You forgot Rexburg bench/Kelley Canyon/Redbutte area. Are those areas going to be groomed this year still?

IF anyone wants to go ride bone the Mccoy creek is a fun ride and has lots of mixed terrian. Its one of my favorites. Caribou Basin area has alot of challenging areas to climb and play. Theres a few hills that I believe havent been climbed yet on a stock sled.