About Island Park: Island Park is both a city and an area. The City of Island Park is a 33 mile long city (longest main street we know of) and as narrow as 500 feet in some places. It was incorporated in the 40's for licensing purposes and includes most of the businesses in the area. The city limits follow the main highway to Yellowstone Park and divert occasionally to pick up a business which is not along the highway. The City of Island Park is surrounded by Targhee National Forest. Links for Island Park: Island Park News Contact Information: Island Park Chamber of Commerce PO Box 83 Island Park ID 83429 Phone: (208) 558-7755 Directions: Take I15 North to Idaho Falls Take Highway 20 North to Island Park To Do: Visit Mesa Falls Lower Mesa Falls is 18 miles north of Ashton on State Scenic Hwy 47; Upper Mesa Falls another 1.5 miles. Mesa Falls Page Upper and Lower Mesa Falls on the Henry's Fork of the Snake River are the two best reasons to drive Idaho Highway 47, the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. This long shortcut between Ashton and Island Park is dirt-over-pavement for part of its length, skirting the sheer edge of the Snake River gorge through lodgepole forest. Improvements in that road should give it a new, 24 foot-wide roadbed for its entire length and new pavement, hopefully by fall of 1999. Before completion of the project, of course, you may run into road crews. Camping and canyon-rim hiking are available along the byway. Be sure to stop and view Lower Mesa Falls, 65 feet high, and the upper falls, which are more than 100. As you view the lower falls from Grandview Campground, the almost-visible Upper Mesa Falls kicks mist into the air like distant smoke. At Upper Mesa Falls, stop by Big Falls Inn, a historic old roadhouse built around 1907. Acquired by the Forest Service in 1986, the old building is being renovated at this writing. Project participants, which include the Forest Service and Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, hope to stage a grand opening in July 1999. The building will feature interpretive displays that focus on local history, forest history and the state of Idaho. Books will be available for sale, and staff will answer questions and lead short hikes. The upper falls also has a paved loop trail and viewing area that takes you right to the smooth, glassy lip of the cascade and into the mist rising from the narrow canyon. The falls' big voice rises from the canyon like a physical force. You could almost imagine that the force that destroyed the bridge spanning the river here at the turn of the century was the river's roar (really it was a winter flood). Visit Big Springs On Big Springs Rd It's a river's birthplace. One hundred and twenty million gallons of pure water a day -- enough to meet the water needs of a million people -- surge out of the ground here. A short distance from the glassy pool is a bridge. Toss bread crumbs into the water from it, and you'll see that constant flow (at a year-round temperature of 52 degrees) and the clean gravel bottom make for perfect trout habitat. Big Springs' trout get BIG. Leave your fishing pole in the car, though: No fishing is allowed until below the outlet to Henry's Lake, several miles away. Take the short walking trail around the pond to reach Johnny Sack's cabin. Johnny was a German immigrant who built his cozy cabin and its furnishings by hand out of local trees. He also built a water wheel turned by spring water tumbling out of the hillside. The wheel provided electricity and brought water uphill to the cabin. Johnny's old place is now a visitor center and an attraction in its own right. Your other Big Springs alternative is to rent a boat from Mack's Inn and float the gentle Henry's Fork's 5-mile-long National Water Trail. Visit Harriman State Park Railroad Ranch On U.S. Hwy. 20 near Island Park Harriman State Park contains 15,000 acres of prime habitat for moose, bear, deer, trumpeter swans and more. The Henry's Fork of the Snake, a world-class fly-fishing river, runs through the park. An additional 10,000 acres of neighboring national forest lands are managed as a wildlife refuge, so game is plentiful. Railroad Ranch is the park's main tourist attraction. Railroad Ranch was born in 1902 as a working ranch whose main objective was not profit, but recreation for the ranch's owners, who were mostly railroad management from the Union Pacific. In 1977, the Harriman family deeded the ranch and its property to the state of Idaho. Most of the buildings still stand, and the ranch still hosts an active cattle operation. You can take a self-guided tour of the ranch any time; just pick up one of the detailed brochures from the visitor center. They'll describe the 28 buildings and building sites and explain their purposes. Guided tours are also available. Park entrance fees are $3 per vehicle.