Beautiful Green Idaho

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We left Heyburn on Hwy 30 driving through beautiful farmland through towns with names like Burley, Murtaugh (the little town with the big heart,) Twin Forks, Buhl (trout capitol of the world,) to Hagerman. At Hagerman we stopped at the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument visitor center, which, as it turns out, is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. So we got on I-84 and drove to Boise.

In Boise we found Hwy 55, the Payette River Scenic Byway. The Payette is wonderful, climbing over rocks and speeding down through the valley. We watched 3 guys launch their kayaks into the river and paddle their way through the rapids until out of sight. The farther north we went, the greener the landscape became, a nice change after the earth-toned sand and rocks of Utah.

I called ahead to make reservations at the campground in Ponderosa State Park at McCall. I wanted to make sure they were open as the Trailer Guide listed the opening date as May 25, today. I spoke with someone at ReserveAmerica, who handles reservations for Idaho's state parks, and he assured me they were open. Of course when we got there, we found that they won't open until Thursday. So we came on to New Meadows and a small, older campground with plenty of space available. We saw fox kits as we came up the driveway to the campground. The owner told us there were six of them, and they were in and out of their hiding place in a culvert under the driveway.

We're having a great time. We appreciate all your comments.

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Photos

Payette River
picture postcard beautiful

near Hagerman, ID
there are fossils on the bluffs

north of Boise
rolling green hills

Payette River
rapids and waterfalls

Payette River
kayaker

red fox kit
at the campground

Comments

[Laurie Gray]

we were there!
This is just too strange. We drove up hwy 55 from Boise on Sunday, took the scenic drive on hwy 13 and hwy 12 all the way to Lewiston as I worked one summer as a seasonal for the National park Service at Nex Perce NHS and I hadn't been back there in over 30 years! Our journey took us into Washington and south to a fun park Fields Springs SP for Sunday night. Then yesterday we drove to Vantage near Ellensburg and then home today. I feel like we're following each other. Remember you just aren't that far away from us and we'd love to come and find you before you head to Canada and Alaska.

[mary saylor]

hagerman
Charlie and Kerry-- DOn't know if you knew this, but Skip and I spent the summer before we got married as interns at the Presbyterian Church in Hagerman. It was nice to see the picture--looked familiar. What beautiful country! Mary