Horshoe Lake

I've actually never have been here before so I can't give any details, but my husband took a bunch of scouts there.  Here's a link for directions.  It's pretty close, and the picture looks beautiful, so it must be fun right? 

Craters of the Moon

Craters of the Moon is a National Park located a little over 2 hours from Rexburg.  I could give you directions or you could just google maps it.

You can do almost everything as a day trip or you can camp there.  There is a crater that is an 8 mile hike out that my husband did.  You can camp out there!  Also, for those of you who aren't really into hiking, you should still go because there are plenty of easy walks that you can do.  This small hill is probably the most rigorous that it gets.

Here is the beginning of the 1.4 mile trail.  It's not paved the whole way, but the terrain changes several times.

And if you are a member of a band, it is the perfect place to take your band photos.

My favorite part about this place is the Indian Tunnel and the caves.  I don't think i would take my baby and toddler into the caves, but it is good for kids with assistance from an adult.

Craters of the Moon also offers star gazing beginning (obviously) when it is dark outside.  I haven't done it yet, but it is on my to-do list for this year.  I would update you on it when I do it, but let's face it, I'm pretty horrible at blogging in the first place, so updating isn't really on the schedule.

Check out the website for all you can do there.  Do it.  

Mt Borah-Highest Peak in Idaho

Get your directions on this website.

I have not done this climb.  Elevation is 12,662 feet and word on the street it is ridiculously steep.  My husband tried to summit three times: first with a school group, but nobody reached the summit, then he tried the beginning of June, but there was too much snow, but the 3rd time in August, he reached the summit!

 Chicken Out Ridge

Yellowstone

Yellowstone is less than a two hour drive away and a beautiful National Park. Just take HWY 20 towards West Yellowstone and follow the signs, and you're there. This place is free for us because we have a year round pass. It's $25 for a pass to Yellowstone and Tetons, but just get a year round pass for $80 and visit all the National Parks within a two hour drive. (Tetons, Craters of the Moon) Yellowstone is exactly 100 miles away from the West Entrance and takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive there.

You can visit Old Faithful which is what the park is mostly known for, but I recommend the upper and lower falls:


Most of the roads are closed in the park from November to May, so go in the summer. Pack a lunch and make it a day trip. With a year round pass (free entrance into any National Park) and just a tank of gas, it's a great Saturday family activity.

Cress Creek

25 minutes outside of Rexburg there is a short, mostly paved hike that is fun to do in under 2 hours round trip (including driving). If you want to make it an all day activity, you could do the Cress Creek hike, then go to the Heise Hot Springs just down the road. Then if there is any time left over, you could always walk along the river or raft down it.

Here are some picture of the hike. It is really easy. Less than a mile hike round trip, and most of it is paved. Anyone can do it even if you're super out of shape and the view at the top is pretty. This was the first time I've done the hike in the daytime. I think it is prettier at night, but both are enjoyable.


The beginning: it's paved like this about halfway up, then the trail is pretty clear.

Along the trail:

View from the top (prettier at night)


Directions:
1. From the BYU-I center, follow that road (Yellowstone Highways, parallel to the freeway) towards Idaho Falls.
2. Take the first left after the traffic light towards Archer (Big Judds)
3. Drive about 15 minutes, then turn left on 10000 South
4. Drive to the very end of the road and turn right
5. About 5 minutes later, you will see a cross where someone died, then immediately after, Cress Creek is on the left.

I don't feel safe driving the road in the winter because it isn't plowed (and someone died). It's a great summer hike and if you do do it in the winter, drive slowly and safely.

Ice Caves

Going to the Ice Caves was one of the coolest things that I have ever done. If you live in or around Rexburg, you have to go!

I went when I was 3 months pregnant. I wasn't sticking out, so it was fine, but the ride there wasn't fun. I get really car sick and morning sickness didn't help. To get to the cave, you have to go in an off-roading vehicle or large truck. There is no way a car can get through, but hiking to the cave is very do-able. It's only 3 miles in.

Directions:
Head North on 2nd East.
Drive about 30 miles and turn right at the 2nd cattle crossing. (I don't know what it's called. It's the thing in the middle of the road so cattle don't cross it)
It's not a real road, but you can park right there and walk in 3 miles. That's your best bet if you get really car sick or you don't have a Jeep.

Here's a couple of pictures, but it doesn't do it justice.




Dress warmly and in waterproof clothes. You will get wet and there are parts where you lay down, slide on your back, and kick your feet on the ceiling. I wouldn't take any kids under 4. Other than that, pack a lunch and make it a whole day activity!

Hidden Valley Loop Hike

There is a small trail behind the hospital that is less than a 2 mile round trip hike. My husband calls it a walk because it is really easy, but I call it a hike since the road isn't paved. We just found this recently walking around Rexburg. It's just fun walking around the loop because it feels like we're not trapped in little Rexburg. Here are some pictures:

This trail is actually a loop, so you can start from either end, but I recommend this side first. We took our baby in a jogging stroller. Some parts were harder than others, but it was fun. We'll take her again. I do not recommend taking a regular stroller though.

This is the entrance. If you are heading away from the BYUI campus and head north on 2nd East, turn right on 1st North (Adams Elementary). Go past the old Madison High School until the road makes a sharp left turn. Instead of going left, turn right onto Hidden Valley Road. Go all the way to the end and that is where the trail starts. Here's the sign at the entrance:



The trail:


View from the top:


Towards the end, there is a small fort. Someone actually took time putting steps up to it.


The other end of the trail.


The trail ends at the corner or Centennial Loop and Starview Drive. If you just follow Starview Drive all the way down, it dead ends into Hidden Valley Road. Turn right and you will be back where you started!

This isn't a real hiking trail, but it is fun to walk through!