Snowmobile Etiquette

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Snowmobiling is the most popular winter activity in the Island Park caldera. There are many recreation areas for snowmobilers and plenty of powder to push through.

Proper snowmobile trail etiquette is vital to ensure a safe and fun experience for everyone on the trail. Some basic guidelines to follow include the points below.

  • Respect other users: Snowmobile trails may also be used by skiers, snowshoers, and hikers. Be mindful of others and share the trail.

  • Stay on marked trails: Avoid creating new trails, as this can cause damage to the environment and make it more difficult for others to navigate the area.

  • Control your speed: Snowmobiling can be a fast-paced activity. It's common sense to be mindful of your speed and adjust it based on the conditions of the trail and other users.

  • Avoid creating excessive noise: Snowmobile engines can be loud. Be mindful of your speed and throttle control to minimize noise and disturbance in areas where people might be living.

  • Keep your distance from wildlife: Always keep a safe distance between yourself and animals. While some predators like bears are in hibernation, other animals might become aware of your presence and make it known that you are trespassing on their territory. Stay 25 yards (75 feet) away from animals like elk, deer, moose, and buffalo, and 100 yards (300 feet) away from predators like bears, wolves, and coyotes.

  • Do not litter: Always carry out what you carry in and dispose of any trash.

  • Follow signs and warnings: Pay attention to signs and warnings, such as those indicating danger, closed trails, or areas where snowmobiling is not allowed, such as wildlife preserves or private property.

  • Know and follow local laws and regulations: Different areas may have different rules and regulations regarding snowmobiling. Familiarize yourself with them before heading out on the trail.

This last point is especially important. East Idaho is known worldwide for its abundance of elk, deer, and other wildlife that come down out of the mountains to winter in areas with more food. The Bureau of Land Management annually closes public access to areas where wildlife are known to find shelter. You can find updates on the most recent restrictions on the BLM Advisories and Closures web page.

If you follow these guidelines, you’re sure to have a great time in Island Park. Make sure to take lots of pictures to help you remember to come back next year! For more snowmobile tips and safety for the area check out our Tips and Safety for Island Park sledding post.

As always, if you need a place for your crew, book directly with us to avoid those pesky fees from the other booking platforms. Book your visit here.

How do you take your Hot Chocolate? We have some fun suggestions...

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Hot cocoa and snowy days go together like peanut butter and jelly! We have some ideas on what to add to make it even better! ⁣

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☕ Cinnamon and Cayenne for a kick ⁣

☕Orange zest for a little brightness⁣

☕White chocolate or Nutella rim for more flavor with each sip⁣

☕Caramel for decadence⁣

☕Peppermint for holiday magic⁣

☕Maple syrup for a breakfast surprise

Island Park Souvenirs and Gifts

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Love Island Park, Idaho? Want to show the world? We have the gear for that! ⁣

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Check out our Visit Island Park, Idaho Shop online! ⁣

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https://visit-island-park-idaho.square.site/s/shop

Snowed in? Close To Yellowstone?

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Snowed in? We have some ideas on what to do when it's just too snowy to go outdoors.

Which one is your favorite snowed-in activity? ⁣

❄️Board games⁣

❄️Get crafty⁣

❄️Bake cookies⁣

❄️Do yoga⁣

❄️Build a fort⁣

❄️Have a movie marathon⁣

❄️Make a pretend campfire indoors⁣

❄️Throw a dance party⁣

❄️Have a pajama party⁣

❄️Play charades⁣

❄️Read a book alone or out loud together

Snowshoeing... Close To Yellowstone. Island Park, Idaho

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Snowshoeing has some great health benefits:⁣

❄️Exceptional cardiovascular workout – burn up to 1,000 calories per hour!⁣

❄️Low-impact muscle building.⁣

❄️Endurance building.⁣

❄️Balance strengthening and agility.⁣

❄️Improves your sense of well-being by connecting to nature⁣

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And Island Park, Idaho, has some fantastic and beautiful places to snowshoe. Check out these 3 trails for some beautiful scenery!⁣

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Ranch Loop- Harriman State Park⁣

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Moose Snow Loop at Caribou-Targhee National Forest⁣

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Harriman Hounds Winter Trail at  Harriman State Park

What's the big deal about Island Park, Idaho Close to Yellowstone?

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What's the big deal about Island Park, Idaho? Only everything! But here are 10 reasons we think you should visit!⁣

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1. The wildlife⁣

2. Access to the outdoors⁣

3. Views of the stars and low light pollution⁣

4. Peace and quiet- no city noises⁣

5. White water, waterfalls, rivers, and lakes⁣

6. Wildflowers⁣

7. Scenic drives⁣

8. Fishing⁣

9. Cozy cabins⁣

10. Friendly locals

Where are the wildlife in Yellowstone in the winter?

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Did you know that winter is considered the prime time to spot wildlife in the Yellowstone area because wildlife is easily spotted against the white snow background?⁣

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This means the average visitor to Yellowstone during the winter potentially won’t even need to leave the vicinity of their tour to see a wild wolf and other critters!⁣

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Although the bears hibernate, bison, elk, mule deer, moose, wolves, coyotes, and so many more roam the park.

Be sure to contact our friends for tours. Tied to Nature at https://tiedtonature.com

Are you the planner in the group? Start Planning now...

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Spring may feel like an eternity away but now is the perfect time to start planning your excursions and adventures for 2023!⁣

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Want some local tips and ideas? Search our blog at https://visitislandparkidaho.com/blog!

Book your cabins close to Yellowstone here at www.VisitIslandParkIdaho.com and pick the perfect cabin for you and your friends and family.

World Pear Day

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Pears are used in all sorts of recipes including pies, cakes, breads, salads, jams, quesadillas, pancakes, and cocktails. Some put pears on their pizza and eat them on sandwiches. Others pickle their pears. What are some ways you enjoy pears?

Pear cobbler is one the the best holiday desserts if you ask me. My favorite is to use asian pears for the cobbler. Speaking of recipes, here is a five star pear cobbler recipe here: Pear Cobbler.

According to this website there are some pretty cool facts about pears. See them below:

  • There are 3,000 varieties of pears around the world

  • A medium pear contains 100 calories

  • Producers handpick all pears in the United States.

  • Because of its soft, butter-like texture, pears used to be called butter fruit

  • Pears are rich in dietary fibers, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, copper, and potassium

  • Pears are considered one of the healthiest foods and can reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer

  • Some of the most popular kinds of pears include Bartlett, Anjou, Asian, and Comice, which is also called the Christmas Pear

  • China considers pears the symbol of immortality.

Island Park: Where is the island and is it a park?

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Island Park, Idaho, is one of the best getaway destinations in the Mountain West. After all, that’s why you’re here, right? But what do you know of Island Park? Let’s dive in to what the park is and how it came to be. 

How Island Park Was Made

Island Park is actually a lot like Hawaii in the sense that both were formed by volcanic activity. Millions of years ago, hot magma under the earth pushed up skyscraping volcanoes out of the ground. These volcanoes regularly erupted until the hot magma was no longer underneath them. Many of the tall buttes southwest of Island park were formed in this way. However, massive eruptions in the Island Park area created circular valleys called a calderas. These calderas, some of the largest in the entire world, are what now form the mountainous walls of Island Park and Yellowstone National Park. 

Who First Lived in Island Park?

Island Park was traversed by Blackfeet, Bannock, Shoshone and Sheepeater Native Americans for thousands of years. However, none of these tribes held any permanent settlements in Island Park, as the area receives a lot of snow in the winter, making year-round living difficult. Native Americans would continue to pass through Island Park up until the late 1800s. 

Between 1810 and 1840, the Island Park area was dominated by mountain men looking for beaver furs, of which they obtained hundreds of thousands in the areas. Following the decline in the fur trade, ranching and tourism became the main use of Island Park. Even today, ranching cattle and recreational tourism are still the central means of occupation for Island Park residents, especially near Henry’s Lake. 

One of the largest cattle ranches in Island Park was that of the Herriman family, owned by Edwin Herriman, president of the Union Pacific railroad. He was one of many industrial barons from the East Coast that gained a fondness for the Yellowstone and Island Park areas of the Mountain West. Like other generous landowners who would come to build summer homes and businesses in Island Park, the Herriman family eventually gifted much of their land for recreational use. 

Another businessman-turned-philanthropist was A. S. Trude, a lawyer from Illinois who came through the area after touring Yellowstone National Park. It was Trude who helped establish the first conservation efforts within Island Park. Before he died, he gave his land to the Federal Government. The land was flooded according to his wishes, creating the beautiful Island Park Reservoir. 

In the century since Island Park was settled, millions have come to love the land. Visitors like yourself return many times, year after year, to enjoy the natural, wild beauty of the park. If this is your first Island Park experience, we hope that it won’t be your last. 

Looking for a place to stay? Check out our cabins available here or keep reading this blog for more things to do in Island Park, Idaho and the greater area as well.

It's Wolfenoot Day! ... What's that?

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Back in 2018 the creator of Wolfenoot Day decided it was a day to honor kindness to all things including the wolves. The people around jumped all in and it is now official. So celebrate today by being kind to all things human and animal - especially kind to dogs as they are relatives of the wolf.

For more information check out Wolfednoot Day.

We like to go the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone to see Wolves up close and personal. Check them out while you are here. Ohhhh! And if you buy entrance, it is good for the next day too! Perfect as you are entering or exiting YNP the following day, you can stop into the center for free with the prior days’ pass! - Awesome!

Ready to plan your vacation close to Yellowstone?

Book now at www.VisitIslandParkIdaho.com with no booking fees.

Winter in Yellowstone... what?

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Many people think of Yellowstone vacations as a summertime activity, but winter in Yellowstone is one of the best times to visit! ⁣

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Wintertime in Yellowstone is a wonderland of snowy woods, icicles, geyser rain, frozen waterfalls, and animals! Animals move to lower elevations in winter to roam around so you can get a better view of elk, mule deer, moose, wolves, and coyotes. The contrast between the dark fur of the animals and the white snow makes it easy to spot these majestic creatures. ⁣

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In winter, only the road between the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, to the park’s northeast entrance near Silver Gate and into Cooke City, Montana, remains open to visitors’ vehicles. You can also take advantage of Yellowstone’s snow to explore the park with skis and snowshoes.

Grocery Close To Yellowstone

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From family dinners to midnight snacks, before you head to your cabin, you'll want to stock up! ⁣

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While Island Park has some groceries available at convenience stations, you'll want to stock up on your essentials and more specific groceries at stops along the way. Here's our list of major grocery stories on your way to Island Park, Idaho. ⁣

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Don't want to worry about shopping for groceries? No problem! There is now a service that will pick up your groceries for you and deliver them to your cabin here in Island Park. All you have to do is order and pay online at one of the three options, and then they will pick them up and have them at the cabin for you. They even put away the cold stuff. ⁣

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Swipe through to see all of your grocery options!

Yellowstone’s Magical Fall season

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There is nothing like the views of the Yellowstone area during the fall. The golden aspens, yellow grasses, and red shrubs provide a beautiful display of colors for your visit. The cooler weather makes it the perfect time to enjoy biking and hiking. Wildlife is also abundant in fall, with bears planning for hibernation and elk in mating season or "rut" in full swing. ⁣

Some of the most colorful spots are Mammoth Hot Springs, the Lamar Valley, Blacktail Plateau Drive, and Lewis River near the falls and in the Lewis River Canyon.