Southwestern - Idaho

SoutheasternCome and plAyin adventure’sBacKyard.« Roam away from your mobile device »American FallsFort Hall| Official Idaho State Travel Guide72When the hills along I-86 begin to emitthe perfume of aromatic juniper trees,you’ll be nearing American Falls andMassacre Rocks State Park, a placewhose history is more than the namesuggests. The great Bonneville Flood,which drained the lake that oncecovered much of Utah, surged throughRed Rock Pass and into the Snake Rivermore than 16,000 years ago. In thosefew months, the flow was four timesthat of the Amazon River, making thiscataclysmic event the second-largestflood in the geologic history of theworld. Eons later, a quarrel betweenemigrants and local Indians happenednear here, leading to the name “MassacreRocks.” Today, it’s the site ofa popular state park, where you canexplore the Oregon Trail, camp, hike,or view wildlife. More than 200 speciesof birds, including Canada geese, blueherons, pelicans, and bald eagles, havebeen spotted here.The pleasant town of American Fallsis peacefully located on the southernbanks of the state’s largest reservoir,American Falls Reservoir. With threeboat ramps north of the dam, the recreationalopportunities are abundant.At the crossroads of the Oregon Trail sitsthe 544,000-acre Fort Hall Indian Reservation,home to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe.If you’re in southeastern Idaho during thesecond week of August, plan to attend theannual Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival,one of the most popular Indian gatheringsin North America. See colorful dancers,Indian pony races, an all-Indian rodeo, andmore than 50 art,craft, and food venues.Check out the new Shoshone-BannockHotel in Fort Hall, and shop for authenticNative American arts at the gift shop.PocatelloThe heart of southeastern Idaho isPocatello, a city born of the railroad.The ease of the community and theconvenience of its visitor services makeit an ideal base from which to explorethe region. The city’s many restaurants,motels, shopping malls, historic neighborhoods,and Idaho State University makeit an appealing stop for visitors. The mostinteresting district is Old Town, 12 squareblocks of the downtown historic district,where you can relive Pocatello’s railroadheritage, while enjoying great restaurantsand casual shopping.Pocatello BenchRainbow trout