It's About the (RV) Journey....: State Parks and National Forests...

Idaho state parks are well worth the visit. There are two located fairly close to our campground. A few miles down the road is Harriman State Park of Idaho. Yes, its the same Harriman as in New York State!

start of the trail

ducks floating in Henry's Fork River

The park, which is also a wildlife refuge, is nicely set up, with many different hiking trails...some along the lake, river and/or through the meadow. There are also hikes along the ridge line of the mountain there, however those trails aren't open for a few weeks due to bear activity. Of course, that is the one hike Tom is itching to do...the ridge line. He loves that kind of a hike.

Harriman State Park of Idaho was originally the "Railroad Ranch", as some very wealthy railroad executives owned the land. It was a cattle ranch, as well as a vacation retreat for the wealthy, such as the the Harriman and Guggenheim families. There are several "cottages" that we were able to tour; some of the other buildings are now rented out for vacationers. The ranger told us it was busier in the winter than the summer months, due to cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

In 1977, the Harriman family donated the land to the Idaho Park system, with the stipulation that professional park management program be initiated. For more information, click here.

Henry's Fork also cuts through the meadows of the park, and there are many anglers fishing away. It is a world famous fly fishing stream. There are also many families that enjoy the picnic areas there, and seem to spend the whole day barbecuing and enjoying the outdoors.

part of the Henry's Fork River...anglers in the water

The first time we went to Harriman, we walked along the shore and snapped some pics of the elusive trumpeter swans. They say they are hard to find, however we have been having no trouble spotting them. I've read that 2/3's of the trumpeter swans in the US winter in Harriman. We spotted two trumpeter swans across the lake. There was another in the reeds...possibly there was a nest there. There is so much wildlife and activity that we just can't see.

two trumpeter swans near the reeds

Trumpeter swan

Henry's Lake State Park is another popular park right near our campground. In fact, you can walk to the lake through the fields behind the campground itself. For more information, click here. We stopped for a bit on the way home and observed some more wildlife. A bunch of ducks (and a couple of trumpeters) were in a cove just out of reach of any human intruder. Henry's Lake is a very popular state park, with camping and boating-a fisherman's paradise! Lots of activity. There is a trail that goes up the hill a bit, and the cove and some meadow area can easily be observed for wildlife activity. We had heard there was a moose and her baby hanging out in the meadow, and we wanted to see if we could spot it.

another trumpeter

walking the trail above the meadow

view of the lake in the background

Tom-with binoculars at the ready

i really don't see any moose out there

shy swan in the cove

hello

view across the meadow

the cove...filled with ducks

bluebird..

got my bugspray and my binoculars...all set!

some type of crane?

One morning, we went to the Coffee Pot Rapids Trail, in the Targhee National Forest, not too far from our campground. This is a 2.5 mile gorgeous hike along the Henry's Fork of the Snake River. There is also a small campground right there. What a beautiful trail...it meanders through a forest, but alongside the river. Eventually, the gentle river turns to rapids!