Island Park Idaho - Just Over the Continental Divide From Our Western Montana Lodge

Elk Lake Resort sits just over the Divide from Island Park Idaho. Our Western Montana Lodge makes a great base for exploring Harriman State Park, the Island Park Caldera, and a little Island Park History around Mack's Inn (and other spots). And, fishermen can wet their lines in the Henry's Fork of the Snake or Henry's Lake Idaho.

Less than an hour's drive from Elk Lake Resort, Island Park offers more area to explore. And, best of all, at day's end you get to leave behind the crowds, the cars, the hustle-and-bustle of life and return to the peace, quiet, and serenity of our western Montana Lodge. Here are a few highlights of the area.

Island Park sits in the middle of a volcanic caldera located in eastern Idaho, just southwest of the Yellowstone Caldera. The Island Park Caldera is 18 miles long and 23 miles wide. Volcanic calderas are large basin-shaped depressions which are more or less circular in form. The Island Park Caldera may be the largest symmetrical caldera in the world. The southwestern rim of the Island Park Caldera stands about 1200 feet about the plane. Scientists speculate eruptions of the scale which produced the Island Park Caldera occur perhaps once every hundred thousand years.

The "Sections" of Island Park

• "Last Chance": Coming from the south, Last Chance is your 'first' chance to explore Island Park. This area tends to be warmer and drier - more like the high desert - than other areas of Island Park. However, it offers two unique features worth stopping to take a look at - Harriman State Park (more on this below) and Henry's Fork of the Snake. In fact, in the winter, the river can be practically covered with Trumpeter Swans!
• "Ponds": The 'next' 45 mile per hour speed zone you'll reach is what we call "Ponds" - named after "Pond's Lodge", one of the original Lodges in the area. This little 'business' district is also home to the Targhee National Forest Ranger Station (great place to pick up a map or get general information) and the local medical clinic (hopefully you won't have to darken its door). This is also the easiest place to access the Buffalo River. Access to the Island Park Reservoir is also nearby.
• "Elk Creek": Keep heading north and you'll come to Elk Creek Station. This 'section' of town offers a US Post Office, a gas station (they're great a fixing flats - unfortunately we've had the chance to try them out), and is the 'gateway' to the North side of the Centennials. In fact, if you take the road starting at Elk Creek, you can drive the back roads all the way from Highway 20 (through Kilgore - no more than a 'spot' in the 'road') to Interstate 15 - traversing the South side of the Centennial Mountains.
• "Mack's Inn": Perhaps the most 'famous' section of Island Park, Mack's Inn sits on the banks of Snake River. Now how's this for 'unique'. Mack's Inn boasts its own US Post Office. So, does that make it a town inside of a town? One way or the other, Mack's Inn has at least a couple of interesting things to offer. The summer 'dinner theatre' is well worth an evening trip. And, while you're there, take the Big Springs Loop Road to see a whole river coming right up out of the ground!
• "Island Park Village": Just before reaching the next 'speed zone' you'll have the opportunity to turn west and visit the library. Or, continue on to Island Park Village. One of only two grocery stores can be found here - at Robin's Roost (aka the Chevron Station). The other, Hungry Bear, being about 1 mile further north - on the right side of the road. This area is bordered by the 'flats' and offers beautiful views of Sawtelle Peak (or 'dome on the mountain' as some of the locals call it).
• "Valley View": As you continue north you will pass through the Henry's Lake Flats - passing the turn off to Elk Lake Resort at mile post 398. Notice the gates - one as you leave the Island Park Village section of 'town'. There are another set of gates at the north end of this large, flat area. This area offers some of the most expansive views of the Henry's Lake Mountains, Sawtelle Peak, and Mount Jefferson. It also gets the most wind and blowing snow - thus the gates -  for closing the road at times in the winter. Highway 87 takes off to the west at the north end of the Valley View section - taking you up over Reynolds Pass into Montana. Henry's Lake is the 'crowning' point of this part of Island Park.

A Little Area History

Island Park's first settlers were members of the various tribes of North American Indians. They left behind evidences of their hunting and fishing - spearheads, arrowheads, and broken utensils - along the banks of the Snake and around the shores of Henry's Lake.

The first documented white visitor was Andrew Henry. Henry brought an expedition of trappers into the area in 1810. Westward expansion and the Montana gold strike attracted more people to the area over the next 30 years.

The first known settlers arrived in the 1870's. Gilman Sawtell, Richard 'Dick' Rock, and George Rea came to live, trap, and farm in the area. Life was hard, but they persisted. In 1895 George Rea started the first known fish farm to supply the lucrative fish markets in Utah and Montana.

Chicago lawyer, A.S. Trude, built a guest ranch in the area in the 1890's. Nestled on the banks of the Snake River, Trude's guest ranch was visited by the likes of late President Howard Hoover. In 1935, when Island Park Reservoir was completed, it covered the Trude ranch with water. However, several ranches which began during that time period are still in operation today. These include the Bishop Ranch, Elk Creek Ranch, 7-Ranch, Wild Rose Ranch, and Sheridan Ranch.

It didn't take long for Island Park to gain the reputation of an outdoor paradise. Over the next 75 years several inns and lodges were built to facilitate the growing tourist industry. These included Mack's Inn (which burned down in 1989), Pond's Lodge, Island Park Lodge, Phillips Lodge, Big Springs Inn, and Sunset Lodge.

Today Island Park is known as an outdoor mecca with exceptional fishing, hunting, water sports, and snowmobiling.

Harriman State Park

No 'review' of Island Park would be complete without at least a mention of Harriman State Park. This park lies within an 11,000 acre wildlife refuge. Several species of wildlife are regularly seen in the Park. Henry's Fork meanders for eight miles through Park lands. There are over 20 miles of trails available for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. Guided horseback rides are also offered.

Originally owned by Union Pacific Railroad investors (from 1902 to 1977), the area served as a cattle ranch and private retreat for the Harriman and Guggenheim families. Take advantage of one of the regularly scheduled summer tours of the Railroad Ranch buildings to learn more about the area and its former residents.