During the times of the COVID-19 outbreak it is important to practice social distancing and know when to stay home. Please be safe during these times and follow all recommendations from the World Heath Organization — wash hands, carry hand sanitizer, do not use trails if you have symptoms, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and stay at least 6 feet away from others. Some really great ways to distance yourself from the rest of society is by reconnecting with nature.
Before the adventure, be sure to utilize curb-side pickup to get some food! Milner’s Gate has really great food, and conveniently has a window on the patio so you don’t even to go inside! Call 208-293-8250 to place your order. Growlers are also available to-go. Head out of town to one of our three suggested places for seclusion; Hagerman Fossil Beds, South Hills of Twin Falls, or Lake Walcott.
Hagerman Fossil Beds
The Hagerman Fossil Beds roll into the distance next to the Snake River. They spread for miles and miles, showcasing gorgeous views of the river, mountains, and windmills! The southern section of the beds is where the Oregon Trail is located. There is a large pull-off parking space that looks over the Snake River. From here, and across the road, you can walk along the trail to view the wide open spaces of Hagerman’s back yard. These fossil bed are special as they contained the largest concentration of Hagerman horse fossils in North America! Enjoy a peaceful stroll in this history filled location.
Hungry after that adventure? Go to Hagerman and grab some food at the Snake River Grill! They are allowing 50% occupancy for the dining room to assure your safety. If you are really enjoying Hagerman, take a night to unwind by staying at Billingsley Creek Lodge. Here you will enjoy a warm cabin next to an aqua blue river!
South Hills
The South Hills offer hundreds of miles of hikes, waterfalls, and cool rock formations! This gives you options to continue driving if a hike looks over crowded. The first option to hike at is Walstrom Hallow. This hike conveniently runs 9 miles long! There are two entrance points with clear signage at each parking lot. All along the drive up the mountain you will see yellow flowers in bloom!
Two other options are Ross Falls and Phantom Falls. Both are waterfalls against colorful cliffs! Bright green moss decorates the canyon walls at each of these hikes, as well as bright orange colored cliffs. Ross Falls is a 1 mile round-trip hike and Phantom Falls is about 3 miles round-trip.
The Oakley side of the South Hills offer very oddly shaped rock parks! Teepee Rocks is located about 5 miles west of Oakley Reservoir on trapper creek road. This can be accessed in the spring, and is a really nice place to enjoy nature alone. The road is not paved and can be bumpy, but it is worth the drive. Seclude yourself in nature at Teepee Rocks.
Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge
12 miles north of Rupert lies a gorgeous and preserved area of land. This is the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge which has over 80 miles of land surrounding Lake Walcott. Watch birds fly peacefully around the lake and fish jumping from time to time. Here you can hunt, fish, or hike. The Minidoka Dam is nearby. This earth fill dam is 86 feet high and nearly a mile in length! No one is ever too crowded here.
Lake Walcott offers 65 acres to explore, and over 5 miles of paved trails! The park is located on the western shore of Lake Walcott. There are many picnic tables set up around the park, as well as docks to sit on. They also have one of the best disc golf courses in the country. Enjoy the view of the Albion Mountains in the distance. Rupert is a great town to stop by to get food on the way home. E-Street Deli is offering curb-side pickup to assure you stay safe and germ-free! Call 208-436-3355 to place your order. We recommend trying one of their hand crafted soups. They have family size dinners you can ‘take and bake’ as well.
Pin it for Later!
