Big Springs/Johnny Sack Cabin:

The spawning grounds of some of the best trout in the world, Big Springs is the head waters of the Henry's Fork of the Snake River.  The water temperature at Big Springs is a constant 52 degrees and is crystal clear.  One hundred and twenty million gallons of pure water a day -- enough to meet the water needs of a million people -- surge out of the ground here.  Toss bread crumbs into the water from the bridge and feed the trout, ducks, and muskrats that live in the area year round.  Big Springs' trout get BIG. Leave your fishing pole in the car, though: No fishing is allowed until below the outlet to Henry's Lake, several miles away.  Also located at Big Springs is the Johnny Sack Cabin.  On the National Register of the Historic Places, this cabin has many unique features and is open to visitors during the summer.  Johnny was a German immigrant who built his cozy cabin and its furnishings by hand out of local trees. He also built a water wheel turned by spring water tumbling out of the hillside. The wheel provided electricity and brought water uphill to the cabin. Johnny's old place is now a visitor center and an attraction in its own right.

Grand Teton National Park:

Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park protects stunning mountain scenery and a diverse array of wildlife. The central feature of the park is the Teton Range — an active, fault-block, 40-mile-long mountain front. The range includes eight peaks over 12,000 feet (3,658 m), including the Grand Teton at 13,770 feet (4,198 m). Seven lakes run along the base of the range, and more than 100 alpine lakes can be found in the backcountry.

www.nps.gov/grte

Harriman State Park:

In 1902, several officials of the Oregon Shortline Railroad and other investors purchased what is now Harriman State Park. Called the “Railroad Ranch,” the property was the private retreat of the Harriman's of Union Pacific Railroad fame and the Guggenheims, then prominent in copper.

   www.dryridge.com

Hebgen Lake, Montana:

The recreation area of Hebgen Lake is one of spectacular scenery, camping, boating, fishing and water activities. Located in Montana, it is a short 10 miles northwest of West Yellowstone and draws much of its visitors in the summer months. Aside from recreation, Hebgen Lake is an example of the natural forces of our planet. In 1959, the Hebgen Lake earthquake produced a shocking 7.5 magnitude quake, the strongest ever recorded in the Intermountain West and the Rockies.

  

    www.westyellowstonenet.com/attractions

Henry's Fork River:

Named for Andrew Henry, a fur trader, Henry's Fork of the Snake River is acclaimed by fly fishing enthusiasts as the best trout fishing stream in the United States.  The river is also a favorite for rafts, canoes, kayak, and inner-tubes.  Float casually from Big Springs to Mack's Inn or hit the rapids at Coffee Pot and Box Canyon.

Henry's Lake State Park:

Located just 15 miles west of Yellowstone National Park, this high-mountain lake is surrounded by 8-10,000 foot mountains and Targhee National Forest which provide spectacular scenery.  The fishing in Henry's Lake is a trout anglers dream and is a world renowned fishery. Cutthroat trout, averaging three to five pounds; cutthroat-rainbow hybrids of up to 12 pounds; and brook trout up to three pounds abound in the waters of Henrys Lake.  The lake, named after explorer Andrew Henry, opens the Thursday before Memorial Day and closes October 31, or as weather conditions warrant. 

www.idahoparks.org

Island Park Reservoir:

The Island Park Dam was completed in 1939 and was the first source of electricity for the Island Park's resort businesses.  It was developed with farmers and spring flood control in mind.  The reservoir is a popular for boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports of all kinds.  This large reservoir has various spots for public access to the ramps/docks as well as overnight camping spots.  Visitors may also drive on top of the Island Park Dam for scenic views of the Centennial Mountains and Box Canyon.  The reservoir is open to fishing year round.  Ice fishing on the reservoir is a treat.

Madison River, Montana:

Mesa Falls (Upper and Lower):  

The Snake River created the Upper and Lower Mesa Falls as it departs from the Island Park caldera.  The Upper Mesa Fall is a majestic fall of 105 feet.  Downstream, the river is squeezed into a gorge that drops 65 feet creating the Lower Mesa Fall.  Secluded spots along this stretch of Henry's Fork offer excellent trout fishing and camping in the summer.  In the winter it is accessible by snowmobile or cross-country skis.  Stop by the visitor center and learn about the history of the falls and the wild life that live in the area.

www.westyellowstonenet.com/attractions

Mount Sawtell:

Located on the west side of Henry's Lake Flats, the elevation at the top is 9,902 feet.  This radio facility is accessible by vehicle or ATV during the summer and offers a spectacular view of three states, Teton Mountain Range, and Yellowstone National Park.

Quake Lake, Montana:

The 1959 earthquake at Hebgen Lake, near West Yellowstone, is the largest in Montana's history. The resulting landslide and the lake it formed are still an impressive sight and a grim reminder of nature's awesome power.  The most spectacular and disastrous effect of the earthquake was the huge avalanche of rock, soil and trees that cascaded from the steep south wall of the Madison River Canyon. This slide formed a barrier that blocked the gorge and stopped the flow of the Madison River and, within a few weeks, created a lake almost 53 meters deep. The volume of material that blocked the Madison River below Hebgen Dam has been estimated at 28 - 33 million cubic meters.

Yellowstone National Park:

Yellowstone National Park is the first National Park.  The commanding features that initially attracted interest, and led to the preservation of Yellowstone as a national park, were geological: the geothermal phenomena (there are more geysers and hot springs here than in the rest of the world combined), the colorful Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, fossil forests, and the size and elevation of Yellowstone Lake.  Ninety-nine percent of the park's 3,400 square miles (2.2 million acres) remains undeveloped, providing a wide range of habitat types that support one of the continent's largest and most varied large mammal populations. Yellowstone is a true wilderness, one of the few large, natural areas remaining in the lower 48 states of the United States. Here, you meet nature on its terms, not yours.

www.yellowstoneparknet.com     www.nps.gov/yell

Virginia City/Nevada City:

The very much alive ghost town, Virginia City, Montana, is frozen in time. It is a remarkably well preserved old west Victorian gold mining town just 20 miles west of Yellowstone National Park (90 miles by road). When the gold ran out, there was still enough left so that homes and businesses were occupied, but there was not enough wealth to remodel the buildings. So it froze, and now represents the whole Victorian era. It is a true and original Old West. It is a gem, held within an incredibly rich area of natural beauty, recreation and history. Adjacent to Virginia City is Nevada City, filled with buildings and artifacts that will impress you. For many years Virginia City, Montana was a Rebel town in Union territory.

www.virginiacity.com