This is a sponsored post for the trekaroo Influencer Network. Our trip was not sponsored and all opinions are my own.
Some moments are irreplaceable.
A few of our best happened a few years ago near Henrys Lake State Park in Idaho. My extended family jumped at the chance to spend the long Independence Day weekend at a friend's cabin overlooking Henrys Lake near Island Park. Together with my parents, three sisters and their young families, we road tripped from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Was it easy to share one cabin, however spacious, among four families. No!
Was there drama? Oh yeah.
Those are not the memories we keep. Here is what we remember.
Henrys Lake
The best thing about our cabin was the glorious view of Henrys Lake. I took SO MANY PICTURES of the lake at every time of day because it was beautifully framed by snow-capped mountains and the changing colors of the sky and clouds. Our family photo in front of Henrys Lake graced our Christmas card that year. One night, a powerful thunderstorm provided first-rate entertainment as it swept across the lake.
My brother-in-law brought an ATV and spent a few hours exploring nearby trails. Henrys Lake State Park is an excellent destination for fishing, camping and other outdoor fun. It is considered to be one of the best trout fisheries in the West. Now that my children are older, we would definitely check out the Junior Ranger program if we have the opportunity to return.
Yellowstone National Park
We spent two full days exploring the wonders of Yellowstone National Park, which is only about 20 minutes drive from Henrys Lake through West Yellowstone, Montana. On our first evening, most of us left the cabin at twilight to see Old Faithful. Day turned to night as we waited for the famous geyser, and despite the holiday weekend, crowds were light. The kids had a blast playing on the boardwalk and celebrated when the geyser began to shoot toward the sky.
There is no better place in the world to spot wildlife than at Yellowstone National Park. We spotted bison, elk, bald eagles, coyote and even a black bear!
The geothermal wonders and waterfalls we found all over the park were marvelous! Because our children were so small and our time was limited, we didn't do any hiking. There were many beautiful things to see right off the main roads.
Canoeing
We had access to canoes at the cabin, so we spent a few hours paddling down the Henrys Fork of the Snake River. We put in near Mack's Inn, where rentals and guided float trips are readily available. The company was good, the scenery was beautiful and the snacks were plentiful. I can't think of a nicer way to spend a morning.
Big Springs
Big Springs is one of the largest natural springs in the world, dumping 120 million gallons of water into the Henrys Fork of the Snake River every day. My kids couldn't have cared less. They enjoyed playing on the bridge and spotting big rainbow trout in the crystal clear waters underneath. It was the perfect outing for a laid back Sunday afternoon.
Big Springs and the historic Johnny Sack Cabin are located in Island Park, just a few miles from Henrys Lake.
Since that trip our babies have grown into big kids and teens. Through the twists and turns of life, we remain close. Our children are not just cousins. They are the best of friends.
Relationships like these have not been built brick by brick. They were made trip by trip.
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Idaho is home to thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails, lakes for swimming and fishing, mountains and dunes to climb, 18 ski areas for winter and summer fun and more whitewater than any other state in the lower 48. Our state parks are in the center of it all, offering a variety of terrain, activities, camping options and scenic beauty. So take a break and come out to play. Visit www.visitidaho.org for more information and vacation ideas.
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Find more state parks inspiration on our National and State Parks page or at trekaroo.com!
How else can we help?
Need a place to stay? Find a vacation cabin at Henrys Lake. Cabins and camping are available at Henrys Lake State Park, or you can find a vacation rental nearby through HomeAway.com or Booking.com.
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NWRoadtrips
Henry’s Lake State Park looks awesome. Definitely putting it on our list for our next trip through Idaho. The photos make the trip look like fun.
Mark
What a fun family adventure! Henry’s Lake State Park looks great but so does the surrounding area. Your photos really help sell it as a destination too. Thanks for the info!