Bonus: Activity #10, Snowmobiling in Island Park

Ok, so you're probably thinking this is not my normal thing for the blog and you're right. I took this opportunity to go snowmobiling with a friend out in Island Park over the weekend. Fortunately he had an extra snowmobile and gear that I was able to use. It certainly isn't a cheap hobby but man this was so much fun! It was my first time riding on a snowmobile and I was able to learn the ropes pretty quick.

We left on Friday evening after our classes for Island Park. Island Park is about an hour north of Rexburg off of Highway 20 and my buddy's cabin was a few miles into Island Park. I was very excited to arrive and get ready for the morning time. We actually spent some of our night working on homework so we wouldn't have to worry about it over the weekend. It was worth it to be bookworms that night for a full day of fun on Saturday.

In the morning, we got all of our things together and started putting on the gear. I don't think I have ever put on so many layers of clothing in my life (4) but it was needed to stay warm on the ride. The temperature was going to be an unusually "warm" 25 degrees for the day. It still felt like 0 degrees when riding around which is still dang cold to me.

Snowmobiles are really fast. Did you know that? I was surprised at the speed and went as fast as 65mph on the snow. Just make sure to not hit anything or you're toast. I was able to hit that speed on the main road we traveled for many miles to come to an area my buddy usually rides at. The trail was so much fun with lots of bumps and slopes to catch some air. Many times we were off the trail doing some exploring which was fun but made me get stuck a lot because I didn't have as powerful of a snowmobile.

We did get caught in a messy situation. Some really bad fog started to settle at higher points of the trail in the afternoon which brought the visibility down to like 50 feet. We ended up getting lost for about an hour which certainly had me stressed because we were riding in circles trying to get back to the main trail. Imagine being in a large open field with a couple of feet deep snow with no landmarks around and you can't see far ahead. It's easy to lose a sense of direction and luckily we had the compasses working on our iPhones to continue traveling in a certain direction. Once we were out of that, we continued playing around on huge hills and finding new places to ride.

We got back to the cabin at dusk having done a full day's worth of riding. It was a ton of fun but surprisingly exhausting from maneuvering the whole snowmobile on hills and turns. My body was feeling it on our ride home and this morning when I woke up.

If you have connections and haven't done snowmobiling before, you've gotta go for it! It turns a nasty snow day into an all out blast. I'm glad I was able to experience it for my last weekend in Idaho because I graduate this coming week.

Activity #9 Sheep Creek Mountains

I decided to go out again on Tuesday morning to do another day activity because I had no classes for school. I wanted to use my free day in Idaho before Thanksgiving in a way I thought productive. I went back out to Swan Valley because of the numerous amounts of trails that are available.

This time I went to Sheep Creek trail. The road to turn onto from Swan Valley highway is just a little before the huge reservoir on the right.  There is a noticeable brown sign on the right indicating the turn off from the highway just before the turn.

The trail head is about 2 miles back in. This area didn't have as much snow as last week but was certainly more wooded than the other area. When I arrived at the trail head, I was definitely in solitude and felt a little uneasy hiking alone this particular spot. If I had someone else with me then this would have been a great trail to check out. I got back in my car and drove back down the road a little bit. This is where I decided to climb a mountain off to the side that was very much in the open to reduce what I thought the chance of running into some dangerous wildlife.

I parked my car right after the intersection to continue on Forest Road 260. With the car parked on the right side of the road, I got out and started the climb up the mountain to the right. It felt cool to not be on a trail and do some free hiking. This was the interesting part. I thought a more open area would be a less of a chance to run into wildlife but I actually ran into a pack of 10 deer that were together about midway up which I took a video of.

The top of this particular point was beautiful to see and I sat at the top for a bit. I had full bars of signal for my phone which was amusing to me and very convenient to send pictures to friends and family. The way up was steep and I definitely had to consider my steps and be careful going up at some parts. I had to do the same coming down the mountain.

Overall I really liked this activity. It was different than I planned to do but that's what made it fun and adventurous. This was about a half days worth of an activity and I was back in Rexburg at about 12:30 PM. I left earlier in the morning around 8:30 AM.

Activity #8 Big Elk Creek Trail

Swan Valley has become a prime spot for great trails to check out. Through good research of the trails, I decided to check out Big Elk Creek trail. My roommates and I left at about 9:00 AM and got to the trail head for the hike at about 10:15 AM. The route is taking Swan Valley highway towards the Palisades reservoir which is about 45 miles down from the Ririe turnoff. The turn off to the trail is called Big Elk Creek road which is right before the big bend that loops around a part of the reservoir. It's pretty easy to spot on the left at the large downhill bend. The road is unpaved that follows a ridge and the trail head is about 2 miles back at the campgrounds.

We were the only ones there at this time of the day because I think many people figured there would be a lot of snow. Well, they were right because we did encounter fair amounts of snow along the trail. However, we didn't let that get in the way of our hike.

The trail overall was a pretty good one. It wasn't very strenuous for the parts we did and we went about 3.5 miles in and then turned back around. There are open canyons with nice views of the mountains and the creek is alongside the trail for most of the way. There are large rocks right along the path as good trail marks to know where you are at. Since we started early, most of the trail was in the shadow still from the sunlight which made a good 10 degree difference in temperature at least.

The snow became too much at about 3.5 miles and we felt like snowshoeing more than hiking at this time of the year. The snowfall from 5 days before made a big impact. We did notice lots of wildlife prints along the trail in the snow but we didn't encounter anything personally.

After our hike, we again went to Alpine for a bite to eat because it was only 5-10 minutes down the road. It has become a good place to relax after a good hike.

This time of the year is more difficult trying to hike shortly after snowfalls but it's still doable. I think this is a great trail to check out and will be even better without the snow.

Activity #7 Mesa Falls and Warm River Campgrounds

I heard a lot about Mesa Falls and how neat of an area it is to visit. I decided I would take a trip up that way to check it out for myself. I was a little concerned about some snow up there but I still decided to go.

I left Rexburg about 9:45 AM for Mesa Falls. The trip takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to travel to the Mesa Falls parking lot. Head north on 20 from Rexburg until you reach Ashton and take a right on Idaho 47. Stay on this road for about 15 miles and you'll be at Mesa Falls lower and upper parking lot. The signs are hard to miss which come after signs that say the road is no longer maintained to keep the snow plowed.

Unfortunately this time of the year, there was snow already on the road but was still drive able in my Mazda 3. However, the road going down to Upper Falls looked very packed with snow and I almost got my car stuck so I turned around. I was disappointed but I didn't want to risk getting stranded so I headed back. I was able to get pictures of the lower Mesa Falls from a distance but I wasn't able to make it to the upper Mesa Falls on the trail I planned to hike. I came up with a little back up plan.

I found a campground called Warm River campground about 4 miles heading back that was at the bottom of the bend of the road that crosses the river. I decided to check it out and turned left right before the bridge and followed the road all the way to the end. I entered into the campground and went to the very back where a trail head started. I got excited to see another trail so I started exploring it. From this trail head, Bear Gulch was about 4 miles down. I hiked only about 2 miles and headed back because of my toe injury. The trail wasn't named but it was pretty as it followed the Warm River. When I came back, I stopped at the campground for a bit and had my lunch and just relaxed. It was very nice and there were some people in the river doing fly fishing with success.

Overall this was thought to be a disappointment to not see the entire Mesa Falls but the Warm River campground made up for it. It's a nice place to have a picnic or do some fishing along the river because I saw some fish jumping for the short time I ate my lunch.

Activity #6 Craters of the Moon National Park

I left at 8:45 AM from Rexburg to arrive at 10:30 AM at the park entrance. Pretty open drive with nothing but a really small town between Idaho Falls and Arco. I encountered the weirdest and most dense fog cloud that looked like a lot of smoke but was just part of the weather patterns that morning. It lasted for a good 15 miles of the trip between Idaho Falls and Arco.

Arco looked like a neat visitor town of about 1000 people that live there. It reminded me of a cool stopping place along old historic Route 66. Apparently there is a well known "Atomic" burger in town at a restaurant called "Pickle's Place" that I decided to try when I come back through heading home.

I stopped at the visitor center coming into the park. I grabbed a map and a cave permit from the ranger and asked for suggestions on where to go. He told some spots and I marked them on the map. The places I went to were North Crater trail, Indian Caves, and Tree Molds Trail.

There is an $8 fee to enter the park per car. The roads are nicely paved which is very nice. I stopped along the way to take pictures of the nice landscape. I stopped at North Crater trail and parked my car in that little parking lot. I did the 1.8 mile hike to see the big craters which was really cool. Near the end before the spatter cones I stopped at the top of the trail by the big craters to eat my lunch. I loved looking out over the huge landscape and pondering while I ate. Once I got to the spatter cones I hiked back to the car which was another 1.8 miles back. It is more strenuous with some steep inclines and declines in the trail.

I then drove over to the cave trails to visit Indian tunnel and go through there. There are 4 caves you can do but Indian tunnel was the only one I could do without a flashlight. It was a really cool experience and I recommend going through the tunnel all the way. I went into the Beauty cave a little ways and found out quickly it was way too dark for my phone flashlight and I wanted to take someone with me for that one. I wasn't scared or anything…

I then headed over to do the Tree Molds trail with the time I had left. I took lots of pictures because the trail was a hit! I hiked the two miles and went a little further on unmarked trails. The view was spectacular as it looked out for miles and miles. The mountains were off to the right the entire time. The hike was much easier than the North crater trail and was a little bit longer at 2.0 miles one way. I took lots of panoramic pictures because I just couldn't help it.

When I was done with my adventures at the park, I stopped in Arco to eat at Pickle's Place, home of the "Atomic" burger. I love traveling the road and stopping in little towns to try their food and learn some history about the place.

A few things I found out about Arco. It's powered off of atomic power from the INL plant on the outside of town. There is a graduate hill where each graduating class puts their number up there.  The "Atomic" burger was okay but nothing over the top for me.

Overall this was a great day adventure. I highly recommend it to check out and enjoy the place. I want to go back and explore the remaining caves with another person and a strong flashlight.

Activity #5, Hiking Palisades Creek Trail

This has been my favorite hike to date. It has been absolutely incredible to travel to this place and see all the neat things along the way. I loved the scenery of the mountains through Swan Valley. Even more, I was taken back by the amazing views along this trail. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

I left at about 10:15 AM in the morning. The drive is about an hour long and I arrived at the trail head at about 11:15 AM. From Rexburg, travel to Ririe and then to highway 29. Palisades Creek road is about 40 miles down the highway towards Swan Valley.

I packed warm clothes just in case and I certainly used them. I brought a sandwich, carrots/cucumbers, protein Nature Valley bar, and a Clif bar to snack on during my trip. Also brought lots of water. Make sure your shoes are good support because there are many rocks on the trail.

The hike took me about 5 hours to do for a total distance of close to 14 miles. That included breaks to take pictures, a lunch break for about 15 minutes, and 20 minutes take in the view at the upper lakes. 

The trail head starts off of Palisades Creek road.  There is a gate where the sign is at to drive your car through and a parking lot on the other side. I parked my car just before the gate and walked the extra little way to the trail head.

In the shade, the trail was definitely cold at this time of the year. Make sure you have some warm clothes. Don't get freaked out by the bear sign. Be on the lookout for one but it is a very rare occasion. I didn't personally see any large wildlife from the trail.

This was one of my favorite trails to hike. It follows the creek for most of it which is a beautiful sight at many points along the way. The trail goes in between the mountains which provide some amazing shots to take with a camera. I took so many because it was incredible to see.

The lower palisades lake is about 5 miles in. The trail is not difficult but again do take some good shoes because you'll be stepping on lots of rocks. The lower lakes view is great and nearby are some campgrounds to take a rest. The upper lakes is another 2.5 miles after that which I went to. If you can make the trip, I would certainly recommend it because it is just amazing to see. This trail is more strenuous to do because of the rising switchbacks. Make sure you can get there and back before dawn because it took me just over 2 hours to get back to the car from the upper lakes at a quick walking pace.

I did this trail alone and I would recommend you bring someone if possible but it can be done alone if you feel comfortable. There is no cell service from the time you turn on to the road for the trail, so be aware. There is a notepad log that you should sign to let the rangers know when you entered and left the trail in case something were to happen.

I decided to make this trip even more fun personally after the hike and I traveled out to Alpine, Wyoming about 20 miles further down highway 29. The drive there is absolutely gorgeous as you travel along side the huge reservoir or water up against the mountains. When I arrived in Alpine, I celebrated to myself by eating at Yankee Doodles cafe... pure American! It's a fun little restaurant to try out and you'll love the history they have throughout that restaurant.

Overall this trail was my favorite so far. It was very refreshing and enlightening  to think and reflect along the trail. I certainly recommend it! Go out there and have fun!

Activity #4 Hiking at Harriman State Park

I've heard good things about this state park and decided to make use of an opportunity I had to go with the Outdoor Resource Center on campus. This could easily be done without the ORC but I just had the convenience of having transportation provided through them.

The things to bring are similar to any other hike. Bring good snacks, shoes, water, and a good camera. For the path I did today, it probably took around 3 hours to do.

I met up with the ORC at 9:00 AM to plan and gather the things we needed. By about 9:45 AM, we were on the road heading towards the park.

The drive is about 45 min. Go out on to highway 20 and head north towards Island Park. The drive there was very pretty with a clear blue sky looking out over the landscape. It was a little chilly in the morning this time of year so I'd recommend some warm pants and a coat to wear.

There are signs to direct you to Harriman State Park on the left from highway 20 about 40 miles north. The road is called Green Canyon Rd and when we pulled in, we took the first right and and stayed on the road past the lake on the left (Silver Lake) until we came to the trail head beginnings with restrooms and maps. 

I would rate this particular hike around Silver Lake as an easy one. It's a good trail to walk and talk with somebody while enjoying the great views of the lake and mountains. We took about 3 hours to go around Silver Lake that included a half hour lunch break and little stops along the way. We were also going at a very casual walk speed. Overall, it's a nice getaway spot to just relax and take it easy while hiking around. There are many other trails that would be a little more challenging that you could do if you decided. Enjoy!

Activity #3 Hiking "R" Mountain

If you're from the Rexburg area then you are very familiar with this activity because you see the big "R" on the mountain across the valley for most the year. I wanted to be a little bit more relaxed this time and it only took a couple of hours instead of a half-day or more. This is a good activity to do with someone else and talk along the way because the hike up the mountain is pretty short. Bring a lunch or snack and have a little picnic up there if you want as well because the view is great over the valley with many places to sit and eat.

The parking lot on the back side of the mountain is where I did this hike from. It is about a 15-20 minute car drive from Rexburg. All you need to do is take Main Street out past Highway 20 and keep going for about 8-10 miles until the turn comes at your left which is indicated by a noticeable sign that is kind of hard to miss.

As I mentioned earlier, the hike only took my friend and I only 30-40 minutes to get to the top at a little bit faster pace than casual walking. The walk down is a little bit quicker and make sure you watch your step going down some of the steeper parts.

Overall this is a quick, fun, and enjoyable activity to do on Saturday or any other day. If your really up for it like I did once, take the challenge running up it and then coming down. I had a blast coming down the mountain in my jog/run through all of the twists, curves, and hopping over rocks!

Photos:

Activity #2 Mountain Biking at Webster's Dam

I decided to mix up the activity this week and do some mountain biking. I signed up with the Outdoor Resource Center at BYU-Idaho for this event because it was only $10. The ORC provided the mountain bikes, helmets, and transportation.These are the things that are needed for the trip:

• Backpack
• 2-3 liters of water
• A snack lunch (sandwich and fruit)
• Camera

The drive out to Webster's Dam was about 20-25 minutes from BYU-Idaho campus. Once at the trail head, the group of people that came along was 10. I believe friends who can come along make the trip better to talk to and compete during downhills (just don't crash each other!). The trail that we biked was a total of about 10 or so miles if I recall correctly. I was too busy having fun!

One of the things we did was have a contest of biking down hill and seeing how far up the really steep hill we could get. This is what I'm talking about:

We stopped many times throughout the trip to allow everyone to catch up and take pictures if wanted. I personally loved a lot of the landscapes that I saw on the ride. This is a video of some of that view I had:

The thing about mountain biking that I love is finding jumps for the bike. Here is a little something I found with some guys to try and get a better jump. I could work on my landing a little bit...

Overall the trip was a great success. There are also some great downhill stretches on this trail where you can get going really fast and have the most fun. I think mountain biking is a great activity to get rejuvenated in your life no matter what is happening. When going out there, make sure to be safe!

Pictures of Mountain Biking at Webster's Dam

All the pictures from the mountain biking. Enjoy!

Activity #1 Hiking Jenny Lake and Cascade Canyon

That's right, I jump started this blog by going to one of my favorite places to hike...the Tetons! The scenery of these mountains is hard to beat (in my opinion) during the beginning of the fall season. This hiking trip consisted of going around Jenny Lake and into the Cascade Canyon about 7 miles total one way. If you're a beginner then going to the Hidden Falls is about 2.5 miles one way which is a good hike. If you're like me, then go the distance and enjoy the fantastic view!

Make sure you bring $25 to get into the Grand Teton National Park. Bring some friends if you'd like and split the cost!

The drive to this spot is about an hour and a half from Rexburg. You'll want to get to the spot around 10-11am to enjoy a full day. Going earlier wouldn't hurt either. There is a $25 fee to enter the Grand Tetons National Park but trust me, it is well worth it!

When you've entered the park, be sure to stop at the visitor center and a grab a map of the Jenny Lake hikes. You can also pick up some other cool things they have there if you want.

Go to Jenny Lake junction about 8 miles down the road and turn in there to park the car. The time I went the parking lot was almost full.

Get on the trail to head over to Cascade Canyon which will take you around Jenny Lake. There is a boat ride available to avoid the hike around but I loved taking pictures of the mountains and lake along the trail. It's simply beautiful! Here is an example:

Be sure to take many other pictures like these because it'll blow your away of how beautiful it is!

Once you get around the lake, you'll be able to go and see Hidden Falls. It's a pretty tall waterfall that comes down the mountain which I took a video of:

 After the waterfall, continue up the path to Inspiration Point. It's a little steep but not terrible. You'll be glad you went up with this view.

From this point you can head back if you're a beginner and not be disappointed because you got some great views. If you're adventurous life myself, then keep going! You're now at the point to go through Cascade Canyon.

As you're hiking along the canyon, be sure to take many pictures! It was gorgeous going through the canyon and have 12,000-13,000 ft. tall mountain peaks to each side of you. There is a chance that you'll be able to spot some moose or elk as some hikers told me. Take pictures of the river flowing through that eventually turns into Hidden Falls. About 2 miles in you'll be able to see water coming down the peaks of the mountain from melting snow. It's incredible!

You'll come to the fork of continuing to Solitude Lake or another trail after 4.5 miles hiking through the canyon. At this point it was getting late in the day and I needed to head back before dusk. Be sure to give yourself enough time to get back safely. I personally took about 3.5 hours going in (taking lots of pictures/videos and having a little lunch) and about 2.5 hours getting back to the car (not taking the boat across but hiking again around the lake).

Well there you have it for the first activity. It's a great outdoor place and activity to accomplish. Jackson is a great town to visit and grab a bite to eat afterwards and talk about your fun day experience.

More Jenny Lake and Cascade Canyon Pictures

These pictures will be in chronological order as I did the hike. I picked out what I thought was the best. Enjoy!