ROAD TRIP- City of Rocks National Reserve Almo, ID

 I am not a camper.  Like, at all.  In fact if I had to choose between camping overnight and a double colonoscopy, you best believe I would start drinking up for the tush push.   I have only ever been camping one time where it was enjoyable and I loved it.  I was 12, so you can imagine how long ago that was! 

SO the other weekend we pointed to a spot on the map and said "lets try that".  It was City of Rocks National Reserve in Almo, Idaho.  We heard it had great hiking and climbing and was dog friendly.

We set out in the morning and drove the 200 miles. The drive was an easy shot down I-84 , past Twin Falls.  Once we hit the Burley area, we head southeast through some of the most beautiful farmland and hills in the area.   

ALMO Idaho is a little "blink or you miss it" type place, but it is GORGEOUS. As we were driving, more and more scenery started to pop up and we started to get excited.  I kept telling Charles "When we retire lets move out this direction!" City or rocks lies about 2 miles from the Utah border, and this area was used by the California Wagon trains back in the 1840's and 1850's as people emigrated out west.  You can still see some wagon ruts in some of the rock, and one particular area called Register Rock you can see where the people signed their names with Axle Grease.  

This place does not disappoint!  We didn't have a plan, just picked up the brochure from the local visitor center and decided to just drive to whatever looked cool and hiked around. It was AMAZING.  

If you are a hiker there are lots of hiking trails. If you are a rock climber there is some killer climbing spots " with over 1,000^[6] traditional and bolt-protected routes. In the 1980s, it was home to some of the most difficult routes in the US, mostly developed by Idaho climber Tony Yaniro. Climbers in the region refer to the area as simply 'The City'. " (from Wikipedia)

... and if you are a camper there are no bad camping spots.In fact as we were exploring one particularly beautiful area I announced 'WE WILL BE CAMPING HERE!"  We even picked out the spot we wanted to reserve. Me, CAMPING!! Can you believe it? But it was just so beautiful and peaceful and around every corner the scenery changed and got more breathtaking by the mile. It was a crowded day, lots of people out climbing, a few hiking, but lots of people camping.  

So we have it in our calendar for an overnight campout before it is closed for the winter. We really loved City of Rocks, spent all day there driving around and hiking through the different formations. 

If you go to City of Rocks National Reserve, you need to bring your own water.  It is high and DRY there.  The visitors center a few miles from the entrance has a pump with potable water, but thats it.  There are a few porta-potty type rest areas around the different areas of interest, but no drinking fountains or sinks or anything like that.  Make sure you stay hydrated. If it is sunny, there is nowhere to hide, so bring sunscreen and a hat or whatnot. You will get sunburned...and possibly windburned depending on the weather if you arent careful.

I am so excited to head back to City of Rocks and go camping.  It has some of the darkest skies in the country as well, so a great spot to just sit back and watch the stars. 

Road Trip!! Shoshone Falls

About 2 hours outside of Boise is the city of Twin Falls.  I had done some research and saw the love everyone seemed to have for Shoshone Falls.  The last day my mother was here we decided to head over and see what all the fuss was about.
The drive itself was pretty uneventful, easy shot on I-84.  When you get to Twin Falls you follow the signs to the park.
Now, when we pulled into TF, it seemed rather flat and unassuming. In fact I was concerned that all the hype on the Google was an elaborate ploy to punk as many people as possible into coming. However, as we drove it became apparent that was not the case.  The ground seemed to just open up and there it was!  They call it the "Niagara of the West".  It is taller than the famed Niagara Falls, so I had kind of assumed that it would be up in the mountains or something, rather than the flat land and magical appearance.  As we got closer and started seeing the view from the various bridges, we got more and more excited.

Cost to get in is 5$ per car.  They have a little concession stand and restrooms and a few little kiosks with plaques and signs to read, all about the history of the falls etc. 

We parked and walked over the the lookout.   IT. WAS.  STUNNING!!  As you overlook the falls, it is almost dizzying.  We went on a day where water level and flow was high.  We had perfectly sunny skies and a nice 83 degree temperature. Just perfect.

                                    

 

Me and son -yes he IS that much taller than me (I am almost 5.11)

my mom and son

my mommy

me and hubba hubba

In sunny weather there seems to be a permanent rainbow!  Just so beautiful.

someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection

If you continue on in the same park, there is Dierks Lake.  They have a little beach and picnic area, you can fish, kayak, swim etc.  The swimming seems to be contained to the one portion of lake inside the docks, but they have a diving board and everything. The water was a really beautiful blue green. It wasnt too terribly crowded(granted it was a monday morning/early afternoon).

Dierks Lake

Definitely a place we would come back to and spend more time.(bring our swimsuits!) 

Happy Traveling!