Summer Activities at Grandma's

• Birdwatching
• Fly Fishing
• Grand Teton National Park
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Mountain Biking
• Shopping
• Water Fun! Rafting/Boating
• Yellowstone National Park

Fly Fishing

Island Park, Idaho is one of the world’s premier fly fishing areas. Henry’s Fork of the Snake River is known for one of the finest trout streams in the lower forty-eight states. Trout Unlimited voted the Henry’s Fork the number one trout stream in the country. Harriman State Park, The Madison, Gallatin, and Missouri Rivers, are some other popular fishing streams in Island Park area. You are literally just minutes from Henry’s Fork and Harriman State Park and Montana’s Madison River is less than 45 minutes from Grandma’s Cabin. Don’t miss Henry’s Lake, Island Park Reservoir or Hebgen Lake just over the border in Montana. If fishing Yellowstone National Park is your dream, The Firehole and Gibbon Rivers are calling your name and less than an hour away in Yellowstone Park! So if fishing is your thing, then Grandma’s Cabin is your destination. We are absolutely your best location for any kind of fishing from fly or boat fishing to just dropping a pole in the neighborhood creek with your kids.

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Yellowstone National Park

While visiting Yellowstone National Park make Grandma’s Cabin and Island Park, Idaho your base for that special Yellowstone vacation of a lifetime. Grandma’s Cabin is only 30 miles or a 45 minute drive from the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Centrally located you can return home from Yellowstone’s adventurous day to the comforts of home.

Be sure to visit Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Everyone is always excited to see Old Faithful, so take the lower loop first. Here is where about a quarter of the worlds’ geysers are found in the area between Madison Junction and Old Faithful.

Explore each of the varied areas that make up America’s first National Park through Montana's eight-part video series. Each downloadable segment will guide visitors through the best areas to explore and reveal a little local knowledge. A downloadable map is available to accompany the videos. Use the in conjunction with Yellowstone Day Trips.

Don’t miss Midway Geyser Basin and Biscuit Basin. Take a hike to Fairy Falls, watch for Grand Prismatic Springs. Mystic Falls is also along the way if you are a water fall buff. On the second day finish the lower loop by visiting Fishing Bridge, West Thumb and the Hayden Valley.

In Yellowstone spend a day at the Hayden Valley or Lamar Valley to watch for wolves and other animals. Always watch for wildlife as Yellowstone National Park is home to moose, bison, elk, mule deer, pronghorn, black and grizzly bears and a host of other animals and birds. Then up to Canyon and back out to the Madison Junction.

Take a day and hike Yellowstone or ask for one of our specific Day Trip itineraries we have available because with 2.2 million acres there is a lot to see!
March 26, 2009 - May 14, 2009
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Grand Teton National Park

Grandma’s location is perfect to visit Grand Teton National Park in a day trip. Take the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway to Ashton and then travel through the beautiful farming areas, this trip through the backcountry of Idaho along the Teton Scenic By-way. The sight is breathtaking as you approach the Tetons from this direction; they just get bigger and bigger!

You will drive the incredible Teton Pass and drop down into the Jackson Valley with Jackson Hole, Wyoming (great shopping and restaurants) and on to Grand Teton National Park. Return to Grandma’s Cabin through Yellowstone to make a circle trip or back through Ashton on highway 20.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming is another great destination for those who want to some great shopping. Make sure to sit in the saddles at the Cowboy Bar before leaving town. It’s a great place to stop on your day trip to the Tetons. Always watch for wildlife as Grand Teton National Park is home to moose, bison, elk, mule deer, pronghorn, black and grizzly bears and a host of other animals and birds.

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Hiking

Hiking trails in Island Park give you a wide variety ranging from easy to difficult. Options include trails right in the Targhee National Forest and Yellowstone National Park. Grandma’s Cabin is a hiker’s paradise. You can pick a trail from the wide variety of books and maps right at the cabin. While hiking be sure to watch for wild flowers and do some wildlife watching along the way. There are plenty of hiking books in the book case at the cabin.

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Birdwatching

Start your CHECK LIST right here at Grandma's Cabin by looking for the Morning Doves, Ruffed Grouse, Sandhill Cranes, Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees, Downey Woodpecker, Steller's Jay,Bald Eagle, Cassin's Finch, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and more of the popular birds in Island Park. Can you find the baby crane in the picture? Baby Cranes are called "colts". Bird Watching for Kids. Look in the book case for the Peterson's Field Guide to Western Birds, print your check list, fill the bird feeder on the porch and count many birds you can see. Birdwatching is fun and challenging for everyone in the family and you can enjoy this fun family activity right from Gandma's Cabin living room, front porch and yard.

Then visit the near by Nature Conservancy's Flat Ranch, Henrys Lake State Park, Harriman State Park and Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge to find even more feathered friends.

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Horseback Riding

If the saddle is where you would rather be or just want to give it a try, Grandma’s Cabin has a wrangler near by. In fact you will find horses right at Grandma’s Cabin to feed an occasional carrot or apple. Be sure to bring some along. Choose from a horse back ride in Harriman State Park, Yellowstone National Park or the Targhee or Gallatin National Forests. The local Idaho and Montana outfitters have horses to fit riders of all ages and experience levels. They will provide an exceptional horse back riding experience that will suit the most eager cowboys & cowgirls. (We’ve left brochures in the bookcase for you to find what you really want!)

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Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking in Island Park will surprise you at the amount of Mountain Biking available, and all right from Grandma’s Cabin. A variety of terrain, from old logging roads to the more technical can be found within minutes of the cabin. Take your bike to Big Springs and ride up to the old rail road bed or keep going into West Yellowstone or for an organized ride you may want to participate in the Spring or Fall Cycle Tours hosted by West Yellowstone’s Chamber of Commerce. Better yet! Ride right from Grandma’s Cabin along the Henry’s Fork River right in Last Chance and for a longer ride take the Mesa Falls scenic byway down to the Upper & Lower Mesa Falls & Bear Gulch. Be sure to see the railroad tunnel on this trip. If you need a rental while your here contact Free Heel & Wheel in West Yellowstone. Your Cycling Headquarters for the Greater Yellowstone Area.

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Water Fun! Rafting/Boating

Island Park has a wide variety of water activities available. You can enjoy a leisurely scenic float trip down the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River on the Big Springs National Water Trail or later in the summer down the Box Canyon. Bring your ski boat and water ski or Jet Ski on the Island Park Reservoir. For real adventure, take a white water raft trip on the Gallatin River from Big Sky, Montana, Gardiner, Montana or Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We’ve got plenty of information for you on our links page or at the cabin.

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Shopping:

YES! There is shopping in the area. You can find some unique gifts in Island Park, but the closest place for real shopping is West Yellowstone, Montana. You will find just about any gift you can imagine in the shops of West. There are several bookstores and countless souvenir shops. For some special gifts, check out the gift shops at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center or the Yellowstone Historic Museum at the Union Depot Building. There are also many great espresso shops and plenty of places to eat. West Yellowstone is just 45 minutes northeast of Island Park, Idaho and Grandma’s Cabin.

For those folks looking for something a little less hectic than West, a drive to Ennis Montana might be a good idea. Ennis is a small town on the Madison River that has a few neat shops that are fun to spend time in. Check out the antique stores, fishing shops, and Restvedt’s for the best jerky in Montana!

Jackson Hole, Wyoming is another great destination for those who want to some great shopping. Make sure to sit in the saddles at the Cowboy Bar before leaving town. It’s a great place to stop on your day trip to the Tetons. - BACK TO TOP