Daytrip: Swan Valley

August 11, 2007

Swan Valley is a great day trip from Idaho Falls since it is not too far and has an abundance of outdoor options and terrific scenery. It is one of those don't-blink towns and is located along the banks of the south fork of the Snake River. Much of the year you will see anglers in hip boots trying their luck along the stretch of river leading into town. This section of the river is actually renown throughout the country for its world-class fly fishing. The Big Hole Mountains that lead to the Tetons are located north of the valley and the Caribou Mountain are to the south.

A couple of our favorite activities include mountain biking the abundant singletrack off Fall Creek Road or hiking up to the Palisades Lakes, neither of which we did this summer. Tony and I did do a 50 mile back roads mountain bike to Swan Valley a few weeks prior to meet up with David and the kids. David had taken the kids and dogs on an epic 5 hr. hike up Baldy Mt. I think that perhaps our 50 mile ride was easier than what those kids did.

This day we arrived with boats to try out Owen's mad, new kayak skills. We put in at Fall Creek boat ramp and paddle the short distance to the Conant boat ramp just of few miles west, as a sort of test run before heading up to Palisdades Dam to do the longer run. Good thing. It was a learning experience. We learn just how swiftly the Snake runs, how quickly one can go from vertical to horizontal in said, swift river and how doing a planned wet exit in a calm lake differs from doing it quite unexpectedly in a running river. All turned out well but Owen was rattled. We ended the day at Ririe Reservoir. That was fun too.