Swan Valley Rodeo is held twice per summer
usually once on July and the other in September. It is
put on be Crystal Brothers Rodeo and hosted by Daryl Ricks
at his ranch in Irwin ID.
Yellowstone's South entrance is
only about a 1.75 hour drive from Star Valley and the west
enterance is about 2.5 hour drive. Either way you have a scenic
drive past the Grand Teton mountain range. I recomend going
in one way and coming out the other.
Established on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park
is the first and oldest national park in the world.
Preserved within Yellowstone are Old Faithful Geyser and some 10,000
hot springs and geysers, the majority of the planet's total. These geothermal
wonders are evidence of one of the world's largest active volcanoes;
its last eruption created a crater or caldera that spans almost half
of the park.
An outstanding mountain wildland with clean water and air, Yellowstone
is home of the grizzly bear and wolf, and free-ranging herds of bison
and elk. It is the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of
the largest intact temperate zone ecosystems remaining on the planet.
The human history of the park dates back 12,000 years. The events of
the last 130 years of park history are reflected in the historic structures
and sites associated with various periods of park administration and
visitor facilities development.
Grand Teton National Park is a Scenic 60 minutes
away. Established in 1929, Grand Teton National
Park emerged from a complicated and controversial series
of events. The park first consisted of the mountain range
and several glacial lakes. Later the valley floor was protected
as Jackson Hole National Monument. The two areas were combined
in 1950.
Today the park encompasses nearly 310,000 acres and protects the Teton
Range, Jackson Hole (mountain valley), a 50-mile portion of the Snake
River, seven morainal lakes, over 100 backcountry and alpine lakes, and
a wide range of wildlife and plant species.
The park is also rich in a cultural history that includes seven eras
of human history: early peoples (paleo-indians), Native Americans (modern
tribes), fur trappers, homesteaders, ranchers/farmers, conservationists,
and recreationalists. Climbing, hiking and backpacking, camping, fishing,
wildlife and bird watching, horseback riding, boating on Jackson and
Jenny Lakes, rafting on the Snake River, bicycling, and photography are
all common activities in the area.
About 4 million visitors enjoy the park each year, most visit between
Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day.
The South Fork of the Snake is
in southeastern Idaho close to the Wyoming border.
The South Fork begins as it flows out of 20 mile long
Palisades Reservoir
in the community of Swan Valley, forming a 64-mile
stretch of legendary tail-water fly-fishing, it has
been rated as the best wild trout fishery in the lower
48 states.The South
Fork is also
a beautiful river for flat water rafting, canoeing
and kayaking. If you float this river in a canoe know
what you are doing
as it is big water and its flat-water appearance
can fool you to its dangers.
The magnificent mountains of eastern Idaho
are well known for their diversity of big game animals.
Elk, mule deer, bear, antelope, moose, mountain lion, mountain
goat, and bighorn sheep can all be hunted here in the Yellowstone
ecosystem. Many Boon and Crocket records have been established
here. This region has a large selection of outfitters and
guides to fulfill the dreams of any sportsman.
Nowhere else in the United States, including Alaska,
can the casual visitor observe such a striking diversity of "charismatic
mega-fauna" (the large mammals) that abound in this region,
Bald eagles, golden eagles, black bear, the elusive cougar, the
wolverine, the pine marten and the gray wolf. Jackson Hole and
Yellowstone are home to that most formidable icon of wildness,
the grizzly bear. The region also hosts the largest herds of
elk in North America and is one of the few remaining areas in
the lower 48 states where the grizzly bear still roams in significant
numbers, and is home to the largest free-ranging herd of bison
in the lower 48 states.
Palisades Reservoir is a picturesque body of water
in eastern Idaho on U.S. Highway 26 near the Idaho & Wyoming
border and about 25 miles west of Jackson Hole Wyoming. The reservoir
is nestled between the Snake River Range and the Caribou Range
and is a beautiful setting where wildlife thrives in abundance.
The drive between Star Valley Wyoming and Swan Valley Idaho along
Palisades Lake is a treat for the visitor and a treasure for
the resident. Access to t Palisades Reservoir, for both shore
and boat anglers, is best on the northwest side, along U.S. route
26.
The Henry's Fork of the Snake River, located in
eastern Idaho, is one of the most famous trout streams in
all of the United States. It's legendary hatches and abundant
large wild rainbow trout make the Henry's Fork one of America's
top fly-fishing destinations. The river flows for approximately
150 miles and within its journey passes some of the more
classic dry fly water in the United States. Gentle flowing
meadowland, pocket water, and spring creek like sections
make up much of this legendary fishery made popular by Avril
Harriman the railroad man. The Henry's Fork of the Snake
is a spectacular river and fishery. Anglers come from all
over the world to this river to fish its diverse and productive
waters. More........
The South Fork of the Snake is in southeastern
Idaho close to the Wyoming border. The South Fork begins
as it flows out of 20 mile long Palisades Reservoir in the
community of Swan Valley, forming a 64-mile stretch of legendary
tail-water fly-fishing. The South Fork is also a beautiful
river for flat water rafting, canoeing and kayaking. If you
float this river in a canoe know what you are doing as it
is big water and its flat-water appearance can fool you to
its dangers. More.........
The source of the mighty Snake River is in Yellowstone National
Park, from there it flows past Flagg Ranch south through
the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway, and into
postcard perfect Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park.
Below Jackson Lake Dam, the river meanders through Grand
Teton National Park. Above the river to the west, the Grand
Teton mountains rise suddenly, with no foothills to soften
their dramatic rise to the sky. These are mountains the way
we always expect mountains to look, The snowcapped, Grand
Tetons are America's quintessential mountain range, rearing
up with sawtooth like exaggeration crowned by the 13,770-foot
Grand Teton. More.......
The Snake River as it leaves Grand Teton National Park is
equally as breathtaking as it is as it flows through the
Park but allows you to see the Grand Teton Mountain Range
from different angles and vantage points. This escarpment
of perpendicular granite is awesome no mater which angle
you view it from. There also good views of the Sleeping Indian
in the Gros Ventre Mountains to the east. More.......
Snake
River Canyon• Pritchard
Creek to Sheep Gulch - Jackson Hole to Alpine
River camp on the Snake River
A blue sky overhead hosts a few cumulous clouds, the towering
Snake River Range overwhelms you on the right but the majestic
Wyoming Range balances it on the left, an osprey plucks an
unsuspecting trout from its watery home with a quick swoop
from the sky and some handy work with it's talons. You can
count your blessings when you're floating down the mighty
Snake River that divides these two mountain ranges here in
the bottom of Wyoming's Snake River Canyon. The Snake River
is a gorgeous ribbon of blue, green and white that comes
alive and deposits itself in you face on a regular basis
in this imposing canyon where towering spruce, pine and fir
trees wear rags of moss and bald eagles perch watching the
parade of kayakers, fishermen and rafters float by. More...........
Yellowstone
River• Yellowstone
Park - Gardinger MT - Livingston MT - Big Timber MT
The Yellowstone River drainage
hosts exceptional scenery and some of the most diverse
wildlife on earth. You can see elk, bison, grizzlies,
moose, majestic mountains, canyons and waterfalls. And
is a world-renowned trout-fishing destination.
It begins in the Teton Wilderness in northwest
Wyoming’s rugged Absoraka Mountains 671 miles upstream
from the confluence with the Missouri, from here the
Yellowstone winds unencumbered by dams all the way to
South Dakota's rolling prairies,
The upper Yellowstone is pretty much as it
always has been, and is being managed by Yellowstone
Park and Montana Game and Fish for the welfare of the
fish and wildlife that live around it. This has preserved
one of the best trout rivers, outside of Alaska or Canada.
Winding through Yellowstone Park and into Montana to
the town of Big Timber, the famous trout water of the
Yellowstone flows for nearly 250 miles. More......
The Teton River begins its journey to the Columbia in the
upper reaches of postcard perfect Teton Valley. Much of this
mountain valley is pasture, grain and potato fields, and
open range bordered by the forested hills of the Big Hole
Mountains and the famous peaks of the Grand Teton Range.
The rugged peaks of the Tetons and the forested hillsides
of the Big Hole's stand in stark contrast to each other,
this diversity adds character to the Teton River Valley.
The upper Teton River is a meandering spring creek that is
a fly-fishing nirvana. Huge rainbow and cutthroat trout live
throughout the entire river. This is a dry fly paradise!
Mayfly hatches are prolific and often there will be four
or five different hatches at the same time. The Narrows (the
lower Teton) has all the adrenaline rush attributes of any
class IV and V whitewater river. The Teton River is a diverse
waterway providing the gamut from tubing to world class whitewater
and trout fishing. More......
The Gros Ventre River (pronounced 'grow-vont')
flows from it's headwaters in the Gros Ventre Wilderness
which forms much of the eastern boundary of Jackson
Hole and lies mostly to the south of the river. The
Gros Ventre is a swift medium-sized freestone river
providing plentiful pocketwater, runs and pools. There
are not many riffles on the Gros Venture. The River
contains expansive open terrain with exposed sedimentary
rock layers of many colors, cliff bands, dense forest,
and narrow canyons. In places the color scheme of this
beautiful river valley resembles the southwest. The
river alternates between a broad cottonwood-lined bottom
and narrow canyons. Views of the Grand Tetons Range
are spectacular. It is a beautiful, undeveloped region
with abundant wildlife. The Gros Ventre River is home
to the Snake River Fine-spotted Cutthroat Trout, and
whitefish. Brookies are in some of the tributaries of
the upper Gros Ventre drainage. Early season kayaking
is classic, the fishing is remarkable, and photographers
will have no shortage of subject matter. More......
Tucked in the southwest corner of Yellowstone
National Park, the Falls River basin is truly a fisherman's
and waterfall lover's paradise. The Fall River is aptly
named because of the many waterfalls along its tributaries.
This is the major river that drains the Cascade Corner,
of Yellowstone Park. The four major streams in the Fall
River drainage are the Belcher River, Boundary Creek,
Mountain Ash creek and of course the Fall River. They
begin on the Madison and Pitchstone plateaus and they
carve canyons across Yellowstone Park's southwest corner.
Some of Yellowstone's most beautiful waterfalls are
in this area. As the runoff of many creeks drop off
the Madison and Pitchstone Plateaus, many waterfalls
are formed. With nearly 80 inches of annual precipitation,
the Falls River drainage is one of the wettest portions
of Yellowstone National Park. The Falls River is a backpacking,
fisherman, and photographer's nirvana. More......
The Salt River is a small river that originates on the western
slope of the Salt River Mountain Range just south of the
town of Afton. It flows north through scenic Star Valley
Wyoming between the Salt River Range of Wyoming and the Caribou
Range of Idaho into Palisades Reservoir at its confluence
with the Snake River. On it's way it meanders through miles
of ranch land until it reaches on Idaho-Wyoming border. The
Salt River is home to Brown, Rainbow, Brook and Snake River
Fine Spotted Cutthroat and Trout. The Salt is a flat-water
river but does offer scenic canoe, kayak, rafting and tubing
floats. More......
Fisherman north of Ennis Montana on the Madison River.
The legendary trout waters of the Madison River originate at Madison Junction inYellowstone National Park where the Gibbon and Firehole come together to form the Madison. It was here inlate summer of 1870 in what is known as National Park Meadows that the Langford-Washburn-Doane expedition conceived making Yellowstone a national park.
It's logical to think that the river's origin in the high plateau region of Yellowstone Park, which is notoriously cold, would keep the river cold, however, the Madison and its upper tributaries run right through the most thermally active region in the United States, the water temperature on most sections of the river is remarkably warm for a high mountain river, often more than seventy degrees in the summer. Despite its high, mountain environment, which usually leads to low nutrient content, the Madison has an amazingly high nutrient level fostering great fishing. ................... More
Green River and Squaretop Mountain northeast of Pinedale Wyoming
The Green River a major tributary of the great Colorado River system, it is born from the glacier melt water high in the Wind River Mountains, it dumps from the glaciers into a pair of large scenic lakes in the northern region of the Winds and emerges suddenly as a fast-flowing, freestone river with a deep emerald color which appropriately gives the Green its name.
From Green River Lakes, it runs 730 miles to join the Colorado deep in Utah's Canyonlands National Park, passing through Flaming Gorge Canyon along the way. The Green River joins the Colorado River to form the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Beginning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest at Green River Lakes, one of the prettiest places on earth, the river makes a big bend and then turns south before entering private property. Unpaved National Forest roads skirt the river and afford many places along this 20-mile stretch to fish, watch wildlife, and enjoy the sound of tumbling water. --------> More
Headwaters of the Wind River in the Absoraka Mountains west of Dubois Wyoming.
The Wind River is the name for the upper reaches of the Bighorn River in Wyoming. As the story goes, a miscommunication between 19th century explorers led to the portion of the river that enters the Wind River Canyon to be named the Wind River, while the one that exits the canyon is called the Big Horn River. The Wind River begins its journey in the icy waters of Wind River Lake and Brooks Lake at the top of Togwotee Pass in the Absaroka Mountains. Glacier fed creeks pour into it from the glacier studded Wind River Range, Dunior, Horse Creek and the East Fork of the Wind River just east of Dubois all which drain the southern Absaroka Range join it before it hits the desert of the Wind River Indian Reservation. It flows southeastward, across the Shoshone Basin and the Wind River Indian Reservation and joins the Little Wind River near Riverton. It then veers northward then is temporarily tamed at the juncture of the Owl Creek Mountains, where the river is dammed to form Boysen Reservoir, the Wind River officially becomes the Bighorn River at the Wedding of the Waters, on the north side of the Wind River Canyon.
Fly-fisherman on the Greys River north of Alpine Wyoming
The Grey's River is located just east of the Idaho/Wyoming
border near Alpine, Wyoming. The river is about 55 miles
long and flows into Palisades Reservoir. The Grey's River
area is considered by many northwest Wyoming locals to be
a one of their favorite multiple use playgrounds, the river
offers great trout fishing, kayaking, rafting and canoeing
and there are many access points along the road to access
the river. The towering Salt River Range to the west and
the matching Wyoming Range to the east, both hosting several
peaks that reach above 11,000 feet in elevation, this results
in an awesome place to be. The surrounding mountains and
their many canyons offer OHVing, horseback riding, hiking,
and trophy elk and deer hunting with many Boon and Crocket
records to prove it. This mountain valley is alive with the
sweet smell of wildflowers, the green forest floor is shared
with yellow Balsamroot, red Indian Paintbrush Yellow Arrowleaf,
and purple Fireweed. More..........
