RVerDiane
Madison, Wisconsin
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Joined: 07/02/2005
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Thanks for all your suggestions. My rig doesn't travel well on gravel roads when towing.
I love mountains views and historic places pertaining to the Oregon Trail so the park that mentioned the Oregon trail would very much appeal to me.
Diane
Madison, WI
'94 Horizon 21 1/2'
towing '04 Honda CRV
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chuckster11
Idaho
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Look up Massacre Rocks State Park, I believe there are several hikes that include parts of the old Oregon Trail. Try to get into the lower campground--quiet and pretty scenic if you like a wide river running between lava rock canyons. Three Island State Park is part of the old pioneer trail as well and the road in is entirely paved--again quiet and very shady--huge campsites--here I would recommend the upper campground.
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donkeydew
OR
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Joined: 12/14/2009
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if you take oregon 86 just before baker city you can visit the oregon trail interpretive center ,halfway, hells canyon,brownlee dam cross into idaho see new meadows, mccall ,payette lakes,cascade lake,cascade and follow payette river
highway 55 into boise .this is some of the nicest area's in southern idaho.lots to see and do in the boise valley. enjoy
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RVerDiane
Madison, Wisconsin
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THanks everyone. I think I have decided on taking 86 before baker city to see the interpretive center, to McCall, then down to Boise. Then a stop at Three Island SP--how do I tell which is the upper campground if I make reservations? Or do I need them?
Then across the state to Montpelier and up to Jackson. Hope to stop at Bear Lake if I can get in.
Right now I don't have specific enough dates to make reservations but I'm afraid in July I might need them, at least to cover weekends.
Again Thanks.
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chuckster11
Idaho
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The "lower" campground at Three Island is much smaller than the upper one so look at the campground map that Idaho has posted on their State Parks website and both areas should be designated by size if nothing else. You'll certainly know it when you get there because the road drops off to the bottom area. Both areas are nice enough but our experience was that the upper campground has larger sites, plenty of shade, and more breeze. If you want to camp during the week it should be no problem finding a place to hang out on a first come first serve but the weekends are busy--too close to Boise--lots of use.
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Bruce and Sue
Goldendale, WA
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Completely agree with the posts on: Three Island, Massacre Rocks and Bear Lake. Great State Parks and well worth the stops.
Of note, the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker is, at least to us, and emotional stop. Really makes one stop and think about the hardships the emigrants endured to fulfill their dreams. The center at Three Island is somewhat different, more focused on the immediate area and the cultures before and after the "Oregon Trail Travelers".
When at Massacre Rocks be sure to take the short drive to the signature rock area and stop at the visitors center to learn of the geology of the surroundings -- you can look out over the river and see the notch created in the Basalt when the ice dam that formed Lake Missoula broke and flooded a good part of the Northwest.
Bear Lake is somewhat different. Two State Parks there, one in Idaho, Bear Lake State Park (which we like best) and one in Utah, Rendezvous Beach State Park. Bear Lake State Park is a bit further up the lake and off the main highway but is accessible via a paved although, narrow, road.
Final comments: Idaho gives a senior discount Monday through Thursday and many of their State Parks, these three included, have Wi-Fi for a nominal fee.
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RVerDiane
Madison, Wisconsin
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Good to know about a senior discount!!
Thanks for all your information.
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RVerDiane
Madison, Wisconsin
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I had my Idaho route set in my mind and I can't get a site at Ponderosa SP, near McCall -- except a handicapped one--I have the DMV placard but think it would strange for me to need it and then unhitch the car?. Also Bear Lake is full up because that would be around the 4th. I think they have a handicapped one too.
Three Island has lots of opening, mostly in the lower CG. So since I'm really into the Oregon Trail I will go there.
So if there are other suggestions for the McCall area or maybe I'd go near Stanley...suggestions would be welcome.
Suggestions for CG's/RV parks near the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center? How long would you allow to see everything there?
Thanks again.
Diane
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RVerDiane
Madison, Wisconsin
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Ok, I was getting Three Island Crossing and Island Park confused with each other. Now I'm clear but Island Park is farther north than I was going to go to enter into the Tetons.
Thanks.
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paulj
Seattle
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Joined: 06/11/2007
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Ponderosa is one of the state's most popular parks. We stayed there late in May several years ago, when late melting snow delayed opening of the park, and forced them to cancel many Memorial Day reservations. It is worth a stop just to hike and sightsee even if you can't camp there.
There are a number of forest service campgrounds in the area, as well as BLM campgrounds along the rivers. On that same trip we camped at a BLM campground on the Salmon river near White Bird, and near a hot springs on the Banks-Lowman Rd (on the way from McCall to Stanley).
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