Eastern
Idaho offers a variety of diverse recreational activities.
The area's cities and community organizations offer
organized programs in softball, soccer, volleyball,
hockey, basketball, and baseball.
Eastern
Idaho is home to a thoroughbred race rack with pari-mutuel
betting, a new aquatic complex, and a national junior
Olympic whitewater training site. A popular attraction
in Eastern Idaho is the Chukars, a minor league baseball
team with the team's home field located in Idaho
Falls.
Climbers
in Eastern Idaho will find easy access to lava cliffs
that draw enthusiasts from throughout the nation,
as well as an indoor climbing wall located on the Idaho State University campus. Eastern Idaho also has plenty
of opportunity for enjoying a great round of golf.
Pocatello and Idaho Falls each have two public golf
courses and a private country club. Rexburg, Blackfoot,
and Lava Hot Springs each have one private course.
Eastern Idaho communities are full of parks and playgrounds and both Idaho
Falls and Pocatello have municipal zoos.
The Museum of Idaho has recently undergone a major expansion adding
over 20,000 square feet to the facility making it
Idaho's largest museum. The Museum of Idaho regularly
offers entertainment and educational events.
Outdoor recreation abounds, with blue ribbon trout fishing,
hunting, white water rafting, rock climbing, mountain
biking, camping, backpacking, and just plain sightseeing.
The region is a short distance from two national
parks (Yellowstone and Grand
Teton), several national forests, and Craters
of the Moon National Monument. Ten of the top-12,
world-class trout fishing rivers in the U.S. are
located just a short drive away. Visit the Idaho Fish and Game Department for
more information on fishing and hunting in the area.
Other attractions in the region include:
Jackson/Jackson
Hole, Wyoming. About 90 miles
east of Idaho Falls, the Jackson Hole area
includes two ski areas and several galleries,
shops, theaters, motels and resorts. The nearby
historic National Elk Refuge allows visitors
to view winter feeding of migrating elk.
Pebble
Creek Ski Area. Located south of Pocatello,
Pebble Creek is often referred to as Eastern Idaho's best-kept
secret. Travel a few miles south of Pocatello, and take I-15
exit #57 near Inkom. Pebble Creek offers one double and two
triple chair lifts that serve 45 runs on 650 acres. The base
area lodge includes restaurant/cafeteria, lounge, and rental
shop.
Sun
Valley. Sun Valley Ski Resort is rated the USA's
#1 ski resort by Ski magazine. Drawing people from around the
world, the ski area offers 16 lifts and 66 runs. The resort
is located in the Sawtooth Wilderness, about 170 miles west
of Idaho Falls. The wilderness area is home to more than 300
alpine lakes and provides excellent opportunities for fishing,
hiking and backpacking. Area accommodations in Sun Valley include
guest ranches, motels, and resorts.
Lava
Hot Springs. About a 35-minute drive south of Pocatello,
this small community is home to a year-round resort/spa complex,
which includes a free-form Olympic-size pool with a three-stage 10-meter
diving tower, four outdoor mineral water pools, and three private,
whirlpool-equipped indoor pools. The pools are filled from natural
hot water springs that are sulfur-free, odor-free, and chlorine-free.
Yellowstone
National Park. America's oldest and largest national
park is located some 110 miles north of Idaho Falls. Yellowstone
encompasses 2.2 million acres of scenic beauty. It includes sites
such as hot springs, paint pots, geysers, canyons, rivers, waterfalls
and Old Faithful.
Grand
Targhee Ski Resort. About 85 miles from Idaho Falls,
Grand Targhee Ski Resort has the best powder skiing in North America,
according to Ski magazine. The resort proudly records approximately
500 inches of powder a year, and new lifts have expanded the area
to 2000 acres. Summer activities at the resort, coupled with privacy,
a spa, and ample lodging make Grand Targhee a popular getaway year-round.
Bear Lake. This blue 209-foot deep lake is
20 miles long and eight miles wide. Located approximately 130 miles
from Pocatello, it boasts sandy beaches, campgrounds, fishing, swimming,
scuba diving, sailing and wind surfing.
Grand Teton
National Park. Just 124 miles east of Idaho Falls, this
is one of America's most beautiful national parks. Visitors can enjoy
canoeing, mountain climbing, float trips and scenic walks. Lodging
is also available inside the park.
Copper Basin. About three hours northwest of Idaho
Falls, Copper Basin contains the headwaters of the Big Lost River
and offers excellent trout fishing in the river, its tributaries,
and in the high mountain lakes surrounding the area.
Kelly
Canyon Ski Resort. Kelly Canyon
Ski Resort is located in the Targhee National
Forest near the South Fork of the Snake River
and is one of the most beautiful and historic
river valleys of Eastern Idaho. This region
is rich in recreational activities, including
snowmobiling and skiing.