Lake Barstow

If you have never been whitewater rafting, you should definitely go for the first time to the Grand Canyon of the Snake River. It's an amazing experience, and you can float the river in about two hours depending on the water levels. Afterwards, you can spend the rest of the day at nearby Jackson Hole for the tourist attractions and then head out to Grand Teton National Park.Whitewater Rafting: ...

Whoever said pools are only for summer has never been to Granite Hot Springs in the winter. Nestled in the Gros Ventre Mountains a few miles from US-191, Granite Hot Springs is a naturally-heated spring with a large manmade pool and onsite changing facilities. TO be fair, the pool is accessible in the summer (in fact, much more so, as you can drive right to the pool during the summertime), but ...

Hippie Hot Springs is definitely one of the better kept secrets in the area. In fact, locals will probably get mad that I am even letting others know about it. Recently the Park Service has really cracked down on people illegally bathing in the more popular hot springs up near Flagg Ranch. The good news is that those northern hot springs are far inferior to these beautiful southern ones anyway....

If you're heading to Grand Teton National Park from Idaho Falls and are looking to take the most scenic route, make sure to take US 26 E through Palisades Reservoir. The fall colors light up the mountain sides for 20 miles as you drive along the windy road. There are multiple pull offs to capture the colorful foliage, so take your time to enjoy the scenery.  The best time to catch the fall colo...

Winter is a special time in Grand Teton National Park.  The landscape is transformed into a winter wonderland, and there is a stillness and quiet that you won't find in the busier tourist seasons.  It is also a prime time for spotting wildlife as many species move down from the surrounding mountains to congregate on the valley floor. In winter you can only access the park by vehicle via U.S. hi...

Back in college I was a rafting guide for the daily section of the Green River in Utah. I spent many a weekend in the summer sleeping out under the stars by night and navigating the rapids by day. Naturally I've been anxious to introduce my kids to rafting and this summer we were able to do just that! While we *probably* could have rented gear and navigated this 8 mile section of the river ours...