Southeast Idaho's Lodging & Recreation Guide

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OREGON TRAIL-BEAR LAKE SCENIC BYWAY

Southeast Idaho, from the Utah border, through Soda Springs and west to McCammon, has been traversed by travelers since before recorded history. First by various tribes of natives on their way to “Po-Ha-Ba,” the healing waters of the hot springs at Lava Hot Springs, later by fur trappers, then emigrants on the Oregon Trail.  The Union Pacific Railroad opened the area to freight and passengers circa 1880, McCammon was a stop on “The Gold Road,” the stagecoach and supply road from Salt Lake City to the gold mines in Montana.

 In 1849 Benoni Hudspeth pioneered a cut-off on the Oregon Trail, west from Soda Springs to a point south of Malta, Idaho.  This route, eliminating the trek north to Ft. Hall, saw extensive use.  Highway 30, between Lava Hot Springs and McCammon, parallels a stretch of this important portion of the Oregon Trail.  

Over 100 years ago, in 1903, in the first coast-to-coast auto trip, Horatio Jackson traveled from Pocatello to Soda Springs on the roads developed from these trails. Idaho Byways Oregon Trail/Bear Lake Scenic Byway with interactive map.

1.  Bear Lake
Bear Lake is often called The Caribbean of the Rockies for its intense turquoise blue water. Bear Lake is home to several species of fish found nowhere else in the world, such as the Bonneville Cisco. During pioneer times, Bear Lake was the site of Mountain Men Rendezvous' and fur trading. Year round recreation includes swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, biking, and snowmobiling.
2.  Gutzon Borglum Monument
Gutzon Borglum was a prolific American sculptor best know for his presidents' sculptures on Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. Borglum was born in St. Charles, Idaho in 1867. His marble head sculpture of Abraham Lincoln is on display in the Capitol Rotunda. Two stone monuments honoring Borglum are located in St. Charles.
3.  North Beach State Park
At 5,900 feet elevation, North Beach State Park offers offers over two miles of sandy beach for day use. The park sits on the north end of Bear Lake which is 20 miles long and 8 miles wide with half of the lake in Idaho and half in Utah. The lake is a water sports Mecca attracting boaters, water skiers, and beach lovers from all over the country. The gradual slope of the lake bottom provides an enormous swimming area. Ramps are available for boaters and water skiers who want to enjoy the water, too. Anglers can try for a native cutthroat or lake trout in the summer. In the winter, they can come back with buckets and nets when the Bonneville cisco run. The fish is found nowhere else on Earth.

4.  Minnetonka Cave
Minnetonka is the largest limestone cave in the state. Located near the town of St. Charles, the cave is a geologic wonder dating back nearly 320 million years. Breathtaking passageways extending more than 2000 feet into the hill side contain nine rooms of fascinating stalactites, stalagmites and banded travertine.
5.  Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Established in 1968, the refuge encompasses 18,000 acres of marsh, open water and grasslands. The refuge provides a vital nesting area for a variety of waterfowl such as Mallards, and Sandhill Cranes.
Photo by Jim Parker
5.  Paris Tabernacle & Historic District
Paris has a remarkable architectural legacy. One of which is the Paris Tabernacle, a Romanesque Revival style red sandstone church built between 1884 and 1889. Other architecturally significant local buildings include the Paris Hotel, the Pendry Drug, and the Bear Lake Country Courthouse
6.  Oregon-California Trail Center
The National Oregon-California Trail Center is located in Montpelier. The center has on display the "Living History," a dramatic recreation of the pioneers' journey from Missouri to Clover Creek. Located on the actual Clover Creek Encampment site, the center offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience pioneer life as it was more than a hundred years ago.
7.  Oregon-California Trail Portal
Emigrants by the thousands entered present day eastern Idaho at this location traveling along the Oregon-California Trail. Emigrants on the trail encountered Big Hill, thought to be the steepest and longest descent found on the trip west. Wheel ruts are still visible today from the locking of wagon wheels. Photo by Jim Parker
8.  Georgetown Relief Society Hall
This small log and wood frame building over 125 years old, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In Georgetown’s early settlement, it functioned as a local chapel, schoolhouse and general meeting hall. For many years it was a focal point for the female society of this small community
9.  Bear River Overlook
This location along US 30 provides a spectacular view of the Bear River. Sherman Peak, at an elevation of 9,682 feet, can be seen in the distance. The 300-mile river is one of the most circuitous in the United States. Originating on the north slope of the Uinta Mountains in Utah, Bear River travels north into Wyoming and then curves south in a horseshoe through Idaho and back into Utah and the Great Salt Lake.
10.  Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs was noted in numerous early explorer and emigrant diaries. It was the first of several notable springs encountered in the Soda Springs area. When the wind is right, the distinct rotten egg odor can still be easily detected along Highway 30 east of town. The cold water and bare ground continues to emit sulphur smelling gas in a bubbling "plip-plop" manner reminiscent of hot pots in Yellowstone Park. Travel one mile east of US 30 on the Sulphur Canyon road to the first road junction. A National Park Service interpretive sign is one hundred yards east on the left hand "primitive" road.
11.  Soda Springs Geyser
Soda Springs was a landmark on the Oregon Trail attracting pioneers to its mineral springs. The town also boasts having the world's only captive geyser. On November 30, 1937 in an attempt to find a hot water source for a local swimming pool, a well driller set free the natural geyser at a depth of 317 feet.
New Byway Extension Take the 55 mile Scenic Byway Extension to McCammon from the Soda Springs park.  Set odometer to 0.0 miles. 
12.  Portal Entry for Oregon Trail-Bear Lake Scenic Byway
Mile 0. Located along US 30, in the middle of the block of Corrigan Park, this site provides information about the Pioneer Historic Byway, the Oregon Trail - Bear Lake Scenic Byway, things to see and do in the Park and other parts of the community, information on phosphate mining, the Caribou National Forest, and maps of the region. 
13. Dinkey Engine - Soda Springs City Park
Mile 0.1, 1st traffic light.  Head north ½ blocks on right-hand side of the street, the Dinkey Engine was used in 1924 to build the Alexander Dam west of Soda Springs.  It lay at the bottom of the reservoir until 1976 when it was removed and restored by Union Pacific Railroad.

 

14.   Wagon Box Grave
Fairview Cemetery in Soda Springs - Mile 0.2, Located in the Fairview Cemetery one block west of downtown Soda Springs, the grave marks the burial site of an Oregon-bound emigrant family allegedly killed by Indians and buried here in their wagon box by other emigrants.
15.  Morrisite Settlement
Mile 0.6, Access this area by turning south on 3rd , West going one block off US 30 and turning into the back of the LDS  Church parking lot.  The story of Soda Springs’ first settlement in 1863 is told on interpretive signs to be installed in 2006 and with a panoramic view of the abandoned town site area.

 

16.  Camp Connor Historical Marker
Mile 1.5, on Hwy. 30 heading west, left- hand side, great pullout area to view Alexander Reservoir.  Interpretive signs about General Patrick Connor and the part he played in protecting emigrants on the Oregon-California Trail are also located off of 3rd West in the LDS Church parking lot.

17.   Natural Area
Mile 2.0, one mile west of Soda Springs is property held by the Idaho Transportation Department as a Natural   Area.  The Oregon-California Trail emigrants passed through this  area along the banks of the Bear River.

18.  Oregon Trail Marina on Alexander Reservoir
Mile 3.0 on the left, off Hwy. 30. Oregon Trail Park and wagon ruts, located on the Bear River. 

The marina provides water recreation, fishing, restrooms, and picnic  facilities.  View actual wagon ruts left by the Oregon Trail emigrants.   

  

19.   Alexander Power Plant and Points of interest
Mile 6.0 on the left. One of several electric generation plants along the Bear River providing power and irrigation.  The Bear River once flowed northward into the Snake River.  Lava flows diverted the Bear River into the Great Salt Lake.  

 
20.   Alexander Townsite remains
Mile 7.6, Heading west on the right side of the highway.  The town site no longer exists but at one time there were over one hundred homes where workers and their families lived while building the Dam in the very early 1900’s.  Turn into the dam site left off US 30 approximately four miles west of Soda Springs.  Historic information is provided at this site.
21a.   Sheep Rock
Mile 7.8, Heading west on the left side of the highway - Rocky outcrop above the Bear River where the river turns south and Oregon trail departed to the northwest towards Chesterfield and Fort Hall. This was an important landmark to Oregon Trail emigrants.   

21b.  First Division of Oregon-California Trail via Hudspeth Cutoff
Mile 8.3, Heading west on the right side of the road.

 
22.   Volcanic Cinder Cones
8.7 miles, turn right at blinker light toward City of Bancroft.  A remnant of volcanic activity and a prominent feature to Oregon Trail users.

 

23.   City of Bancroft
Mile 17.9, Turnoff to Chesterfield town site

24.   Chesterfield town site
Mile 28.2, A Mormon ghost town plus camping and trophy trout fishing at 24 Mile Reservoir.  Just 14 miles off the proposed route.

25.  Lime Mine and Brick Factory
Mile 42.1 on the right used for years as  a source of agricultural lime and later brick manufacturing.  Remains of several buildings and foundations present.

 

26a.   Caribou
Mile 42.8, on the right Targee National Forest.  Access to Big Springs Campground (7 miles up Pebble Creek Road) Fishing, Camping, Recreation etc. 

 

26b.   Upper Portneuf River Sportsman’s Access
Mile 45.4, on the right.    

 

26c.   Lower Portneuf River Sportsman’s Access
Mile 51.0 on the right.      

27.   Portneuf River Natural Area
Mile 48.0, both sides of Blazer Hwy...Beautiful scenery.

 

28.   Blazer Townsite
Mile 49.0, on the right – Original Settlement

29a.  City of Lava Hot Springs
Mile 53, Turn right heading west 1 block to tourist destination.

Idaho’s World Famous Hot Pools

Olympic Swimming Complex – Built in 1969

Portneuf River tubing, hiking trails, fishing, hunting, skiing and snowmobiling

Shopping, dining, night life and Senior Citizen Center

Formerly part of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.  The springs were sold to U.S. Government, then later ceded to the State of Idaho.  Owned and operated by the State since 1902.

29b.  South Bannock Co. Historical Center & Information Center
Lava Hot Springs walking tour – Mile 53.4, 3 blocks west on right.
30.   Bob Dempsey’s 1st Campsite
Mile 55, on the left hand side, 1.5 miles out of Lava Hot Springs.

 

31.   Portneuf Wetlands
Mile 57.9, on the right hand side off Highway 30 turn right at Topaz Rd.
22.    Hudspeth Cutoff Landmark – Mile 64.0, left on East Sublette Road drive 1.5 miles and to the left is part of the Hudspeth Cutoff Trail.

 

23.    City of McCammon – Mile 76.4, left over bridge to City of McCammon.
Idaho Byways page of the Oregon Trail/Bear Lake Scenic Byway with interactive map.
Idaho Byways page of the Pioneer Historic Byway with interactive map.

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