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Swan
Valley, Idaho |
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A
Recreational Paradise for all Four Seasons |
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Fly Fishing
Snowmobiling
Lake Recreation
Hiking
Trail Rides
Wildlife Viewing
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Snowmobiling Swan Valley |
Swan Valley has over
400 miles of groomed snowmobile trails yet remains a virtual
unknown playground for winter recreation. Two primary
accesses to the snowmobile trail system, which takes riders to
the upper reaches of Bonneville and Bingham Counties are Fall
Creek on the West end of the valley on Snake River Road at the
Swan Valley Bridge and the Palisades Dam access at the East
end. Both access are just off Highway 26. The
pristine trail system is home to trumpeter swans, sand hill
cranes, moose, elk, white tail and mule deer, osprey, and bald
eagles.
Although the trails are groomed, conditions can change
quickly. For trail conditions call Bonneville County
Parks and Recreation at 208-538-7285.
View a map of the Trail System ►
Printed maps
are available at the Sleepy J Cabins |
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Snake
River Road Trail - The Snake River Road Trail
runs 10.3 miles to eventually cross Calamity Point to the
Palisades Dam trail head. From Calamity Point, riders
can continue in a Southeast direction past the Calamity Guard
Station and onto Bear Creek Road, which is a fair groomed
trail. The 15.4-mile trail from Calamity Point to McCoy
Creek Road, however, changes from a fair groomed trail to a
“run at
your
own risk” trail at the intersection of Bear Creek Road and
Jensen Creek Road. This segment that runs through Jensen
Meadow and along Jensen Creek until it intersects McCoy Creek
Road is to the West of Poker Peak and the Palisades
Reservoir. |
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McCoy
Creed Road - Upon
reaching McCoy Creek Road, riders can bear to the left and
continue along the reservoir and down to the Alpine, WY parking lot
(11.4 miles) or head West up McCoy Creek Road for 9.1 miles to the
trail head at Keenan City.
Along the
way to Keenan City, riders will pass the Bald Mountain and Caribou Basin
Guard Stations and Old Baldy Peak to the South.
The
junction at Keenan City provides an opportunity to head Northwest on
Brockman Road for 8.8 miles to the trail head that leads to Mann
Road and Sawmill Canyon Road.
Dan Creek
Road, King Creek, Castle Rock and Lava Creek are just a few points
of interest and trails that can be accessed at that intersection,
all of which are on good groomed trails.
The final
10.3 miles of Dan Creek Road that leads to Fall Creek Road as well
as the 6.6 miles of Skyline Ridge Road that intersects at the Lava
Creek trail head, and also leads to Fall Creek Road, both are fair
groomed trails.
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Grays Lake - If riders chose to bypass Brockman
Road at Keenan City and continue southwest, a good groomed
trail leads to Grays Lake between the Herman trail head and
the other Brockman Road junction. Another trail head 1.7 miles
up the road forks off to Cranes Flat Road and Southwest for
12.1 miles to the Paradise Road trail head and a 5 mile loop
around Blackfoot Reservoir.
At the
Paradise Road trail head, riders can access Blackfoot Reservoir
Road, and 17.9 miles later, along a good groomed trail, eventually
find themselves at the Bone Store. Heading North along Blackfoot
Reservoir Road from the reservoir for 11.8 miles brings riders to
the trail head at the intersection of Cellars Creek Road where a
left turn and a westerly heading for 18.8 miles puts a sled in the
Wolverine parking lot.
Taking the
other fork in the road at Cranes Flat Road trail head puts riders
on Long Valley Road for 14.6 miles of a good groomed trail. At the
Horse Creek trail head, riders have a variety of choices that range
from continuing West toward Wolverine; heading Northwest to the Bone Store, or
bearing Northeast past Pine Mountain and King Creek for 7.1 miles to
a quaint warming hut at the Grays trail head, approximately 15 miles
Northwest of Grays Lake.
At the
hut, working Northwest leads to Dan Creek Road and on to
Kepps Crossing Road where a right turn at that intersection heads
sleds back to Fall Creek Road.
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Skyline
Ridge Road - Traveling
Southeast at the hut works riders back to the Lava Creek and
Sawmill Canyon Road intersection, and a 2.7 mile ride down Lava
Creek intersects with Skyline Ridge Road and 6.6 miles of a fair
groomed trail that again leads to the trail head of Kepps Crossing
Road and Fall Creek Road where a right turn puts riders 13.8 miles
from the Fall Creek parking lot.
For
those who want to forego the ride along the Snake River Road
and climb westerly along Fall Creek Road, the first 13.8 miles are a
good groomed trail.
The trail
head at that point permits a left turn onto a fair groomed trail on
Skyline Ridge Road for 6.6 miles to the good groomed trail at Lava
Creek trail head or bearing to the right (northwesterly) on Kepps
Crossing Road for 15.4 miles on a fair groomed trail.
The Dan
Creek Road trail head is 6.3 miles from the Skyline Ridge Road trail
head, and riders need to realize that all of Dan Creek Road and
Kepps Crossing Road and the first 6.6 miles of Skyline Ridge Road
from this western access only are fair groomed trails.
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Palisades Dam Trial Head - Departing
from Palisades Dam trail head allows riders to head across the dam
and then Northwest along the Snake River Road or to venture
Southeast along Bear Creek Road and down to Alpine, WY or up McCoy
Creek Road and on to Blackfoot Reservoir, Wolverine or a variety of
other destinations.
Regardless
of point of departure or destination, remember that trails can
change status in a matter of minutes, so local inquiry for the
latest conditions is very important. For trail information, call
208-538-7285.
Also, make
sure friends and family are aware of your sledding destination and
expected time of return, and while snowmobiling, observe all safety
precautions, and, lastly, always snowmobile with another person.
Don't miss our winter package
rates - a great deal for your snowmobile club weekend
►
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Sleepy J
Cabins |
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sleepyjcabins@hotmail.com |
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P. O. Box 239 ♦ #19
Highway 31 |
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Swan Valley, Idaho
83449 |
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Toll Free
1-877-CABIN77 ♦ (208) 483-0411 |
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