Discover Bonneville: Water, Culture and Nature

Bonneville combines waterscapes, trails along the Snake River, nature experiences and cultural destinations into a trip with many different ideas for day outings. At Ririe Reservoir, fishing, swimming and time by the water take center stage; in Idaho Falls, you will find museums, a zoo, parks and the River Walk. The region also offers specific points of reference when choosing a suitable holiday rental or holiday home, whether you are travelling with children or want to vary the focus between activities and discovery.

Ririe Reservoir and trails along the Snake River

Ririe Reservoir is a 1,500-acre reservoir with 32 miles of shoreline. The fishing season lasts from late May to November. On site, there are restrooms, a boat ramp with a dock, a campground, swimming areas and a visitor center. If you like to plan your travel days around time by the water, you can take these details into account when choosing your preferred area to stay.

In Idaho Falls, the Idaho Falls River Walk extends for five miles along both sides of the Snake River. In addition, Idaho Falls has more than 50 parks and 26 miles of multi-use trails. This allows you to add walks and trails in the city to your itinerary without making a single activity the focus of the entire trip.

Culture and family experiences in Idaho Falls

The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho has five galleries. It also includes an interactive art-learning area for children, as well as an art room for classes and workshops. The museum is located along the Greenbelt trail overlooking the Snake River in Idaho Falls. If you would like to combine culture with activities for different age groups, this location offers several specific opportunities for conversation and discovery during a shared day out.

The Idaho Falls Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is home to around 130 species from around the world. It covers approximately 10 developed acres within Tautphaus Park. For families, the Wes Deist Aquatic Center is another possible weather-independent activity: it has a heated indoor pool with a 25-yard pool, eight swimming lanes, three slides and a whirlpool.

The Museum of Idaho also adds a cultural highlight. It is associated with a former Carnegie library building in Idaho Falls, Bonneville County. This building was constructed between 1909 and 1916. This allows you to combine current museum experiences with a specific architectural connection when planning your trip.

Nature, views and summer activities

The South Fork of the Snake River is home to the largest native cutthroat trout fishery outside Yellowstone National Park. Other notable landscape features include Fall Creek Falls, where the water plunges 60 feet into the Snake River below, and Morgan Meadows on the southern border of Bonneville County. There, a viewpoint offers views of the changing landscape.

Hell's Half Acre Wilderness Study Area, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, is located in Bonneville County. In summer, camping at McCoy Creek Campground offers opportunities for hiking, wildlife watching, fishing and swimming. These different nature-related themes can help you decide, before looking for accommodation, whether water, scenery, wildlife watching or physical activity should be the focus of your trip.

Taking the season and arrival arrangements into account when planning your trip

For a trip focused on snowmobiling, Bonneville County Parks and Recreation maintains more than 400 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. The network runs through the Brockman, Skyline Ridge, Fall Creek, Bear Creek and Wolverine Canyon areas. This specific focus differs significantly from a stay centered on water, museums or walking trails.

If you arrive by plane, rental cars are located on the arrivals side of Idaho Falls Airport, on the way to the baggage claim area. When searching for a holiday rental or holiday home, you can therefore first decide what kind of trip you want and then check which location best suits your planned days in Bonneville. For further orientation, you can also visit the pages on Idaho Falls and Swan Valley.

Further destinations for regional orientation: Lemhi County, Nez Perce County, Lewis County, Blaine, Madison County, Latah County.

For the overview of the wider region: Idaho.