Don’t Miss These Idaho Stops on Your Way to Yellowstone National Park

Traveling Gingerbread Note: We made a few detours on our relocation from Jackson Hole Lodge in Wyoming to River Lodge in Island Park, Idaho. Lodging was significantly cheaper in Island Park than Western Yellowstone or Jackson Hole and it’s only about 30 minutes to Yellowstone National Park.

Idaho Potato Museum

• The Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot was once a railroad station for the Oregon Short Rail Railroad. Now, the building holds a cafe, giftshop, and museum. Learn how the potato became a staple in North America and the history of cultivating and harvesting through interactive exhibits and murals. The museum also holds the world’s largest potato crisp. $6 per adult to enter the museum. The Potato Station Cafe offers potato cupcakes, potato salad, potato rolls, potato ice cream, a baked potato bar, French fries, and chocolate covered potato chips.

St. Anthony Sand Dunes

• Just outside of St. Anthony are 10,600 acres of quartz sand with dunes reaching 400 feet. Idaho Dunes RV Park is located at the base of the dunes providing RV and camping sites in addition to trailer, AV, and UTV rentals.

Upper Mesa Falls

• 1 hour north of St. Anthony Sand Dunes are Lower and Upper Mesa Falls. A 2.5 mile round trip trail starting at Upper Mesa Falls, pictured above, leads to a much better view of Lower Mesa Falls than the overlook view pictured below. It’s $5 per car to park at Upper Mesa Falls.

Hell’s Half Acre Trail

• The Blackfoot Rest Area along Route 15 provides a .75 mile trail through lava fields caused by molten rock being forced 30-50 miles to the Earth’s surface. 

Traveling Gingerbread Note: For more lava sightseeing visit Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. A 7 mile Scenic Loop is located in the North area of the Park. The 750,000 acres of lava is so large it can be seen from space. 

Idaho Brewing Company

• Idaho Brewing Company, next door to the Mini Bazaar, has 8 year round beers with rotating seasonals, a large tasting room, and outdoor patio with live music. We recommend Wolf’s Oatmeal Stout, a stout with hints of molasses, chocolate, and coffee, and What a Pear, a fruit lager brewed with pear juice having chardonnay characteristics. Flights aren’t available but all drafts are available in half pints. 

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August 2020