Outdoor Getaways

By

Dave Langston

    The “Cabin fever blues” are just about gone as spring fast approaches. With that in mind, many of us are looking forward to getting away from it all. A trip to the mountains, rivers or lakes is in order. But where should I go? With so many to choose from where can I take my family that won’t break the bank? Here are a few places that you can go and spend a day or an entire weekend that won’t leave you short for next months mortgage payment.

    Craters of the Moon national monument and preserve near Carey, Idaho is a great one-day getaway for most of us. You can drive the 7-mile loop or spend the day hiking the many trail systems. Here are a few of the trails you will encounter as outlined by the National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior on their website.

North Crater to Spatter Cones: This trail is especially interesting for its variety. The trail traverses North Crater and drops into the crater mouth, the vent for the North Crater flow. Notice that the northwest flank of North Crater is missing. An eruption tore the wall apart, and a series of flows rafted the fragments away. The trail continues to the rim of Big Craters before descending to the Spatter Cones. If you have two vehicles, leave one at the Spatter Cones parking lot to avoid hiking back on the same trail.

Devils Orchard: This paved trail explores an area of cinder beds scattered with pieces of the North Crater wall. Exhibits along the trail describe the difficult challenge the National Park Service faces in trying to protect this fragile volcanic environment. This trail is wheelchair accessible.

The Caves Trail: On a summer day, the cool, dark lava tubes along the Caves Trail offer a radical change from the brilliant light and blistering heat on the surface. Indian Tunnel, one-half mile from the parking lot, is the largest cave and the easiest to visit. Skylights permit enough daylight to enter so that you do not need a flashlight. The other caves are pitch black, with uneven floors and low ceilings. Be sure you have a good flashlight for every person in your group, and that everyone is physically capable before exploring these caves. A hat and long pants may help protect your head and legs from the sharp rock.

    Other trails are available for hikers to enjoy. Go to Www.NPS.gov for more information on the park and other parks in Idaho. Also camping is available for a small fee. The cost to explore all these trails and caves? How about $8.00 per vehicle, now that is a price anyone can afford.

    You deserve a hot soak after a long winter and Downata Hot springs near Downey, Idaho is the place to go. Here you can sit back and let the kids run wild shooting through the “black hole” water slide while you are soaking in the 106 degree hot tubs. Camping is also available. Enjoy staying in a yurt, tepee or wall tent or just hook up the RV to one of the many campsites available. Seven different pavilions are also available for family gatherings or reunions. A poolside restaurant is open to dine while watching the kids have the time of their lives in the full size heated pool.

     If you are looking for outdoor fun with beaches for the kids I suggest a trip to Twin Lakes near Preston, Idaho. With plenty of room to roam you can enjoy riding your ATV along the waters edge, spend a day on the boat or enjoy lying in the sun.

    The reservoir also offers excellent fishing and is a family fishery. This means there are no size limits, a perfect place to introduce kids to fishing. Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, perch and trout all call this water home. Take a boat ride out to the island and have a picnic or boat in your tent and spend the night under a full moon.

    A small fee is required to spend the night but it is well worth the cost. Your camp host keeps the area clean from garbage and keeps the noise to a minimum as the sun goes down.

    There are many opportunities in southeast Idaho for an affordable getaway these are just a few. Do some exploring this year, get out the map and take a drive. Why go out of state when you can enjoy Idaho’s great outdoors!

a