Camping in Island Park

The Hincks and Borens at their campsite (Buffalo Campground)

  

At least once a year our family enjoys a camping trip.  This year was no exception as we just returned from our outing where we camped at Buffalo Campground in Island Park, Idaho.  (Just over an hour north of Rexburg and about 20 minutes from the west entrance of Yellowstone.)  Joining us for part of the stay was Aunt Suzanne Boren, (Dave's youngest sister), and her three children, Jasper (13), Jenacie(10), and Ethan(7).

Some of us were a bit apprehensive to tent camp due to a recent unprovoked Grizzly bear attack near the east entrance of Yellowstone.  We mustered up our courage and followed all the guidelines outlined when camping in bear country and then tried to have the attitude that the chance of another attack was very slim.

One activity we enjoyed was an inner tube float down a five mile stretch of the Henry's Fork River.  Tourists are allowed to float this section of the river because it is fairly shallow and very slow moving.  The float begins near the source of the river, Big Springs.  It has beautiful scenery.  When we neared the end, we enjoyed looking at a big moose on the river's edge feasting on it's dinner.  Because the river is slow moving, floating with inner tubes can be fairly laborious.  We had little control of our speed and our direction except when we used our flip flops as paddles.  If we were to do this again, we most assuredly would use canoes where the speed and direction can be easily controlled.

Dave and I both enjoy delicious meals served in the "roughin" it style."  We cooked with our dutch ovens where we tried all sorts of dishes including potatoes, pork chops, poppy seed cake with a blueberry topping, breakfast muffins, omelet and of course more potatoes.

Mesa Falls

Today we visited a beautiful water fall found on a scenic byway between Ashton and Island Park. The water fall is part of The Henry's Fork River which weaves its way down from Island Park towards Rexburg where it eventually converges with the South Fork River to form the Snake River.  It certainly is beautiful country and we very much enjoy visting the sights.

We then stopped at our traditional ice cream cone spot. Here we pay just 99 cents for a very large serving of hard ice cream.  A delicious stop!