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Winter Retreat - Island Park, ID 1/23-25/26


Itinerary:

Friday:

6:15 AM Carpool Springville

6:30 AM Carpool Lehi

7:00 AM Carpool SLC

Breakfast at home or on your own

Have Lunch on your own before we meet up (we love to go to Smitty's in Idaho Falls - German Pancakes are incredible! Closes between 3-7pm - walking distance to the Idaho Falls)

1:00 PM Meet at Snowshoe Trailhead at Harriman State Park

4:00 PM Back at Trailhead

4:30 PM Check In to Cabin

6:00 PM Potluck Dinner at the house

7:00 PM 2025/26 Adventures Presentation

8:00 PM Presenter - Ember “Intentionally Creating Your Life”

9:00 PM Hot Tub, Sauna, Arcade Games


Saturday:

8:00 AM Yoga

9:00 AM UPDATE- Breakfast Potluck at the Cabin

1:00 PM *UPDATE- Pick Up Lunch from Mountain Mamas Cafe

in West Yellowstone (preorder their famous sandwiches and pastries).

2:30 PM Cross Country Ski or Micro Spike Hike Riverside Ski Trails Trailhead

5:30 PM Dinner in West Yellowstone at Restaurant or on own at cabin.

8:00 PM Hot Tub & Sauna & Play Games


Sunday:

9:00 AM Potluck Leftovers/on your own.

11:00 AM Check Out

Head home

Optional Lava Hot Springs on way home.


Directions:

Mt Mamas Cafe, West Yellowstone


Activities:

Harriman State Park - Bathrooms at the trailhead. Spotty cell service. Can choose to Snowshoe or Cross Country Ski, trails are great for both). Entrance fee $7/per vehicle and no charge for track use fee since it won't be groomed Friday. Pay at the visitor’s center. Rent from Visitor’s Center if needed. $20 Cross Country Skis. $10 Snowshoes. Free hot chocolate at the “ Boy’s House” Warming cabin. Many loops to wander around in XC ski or snowshoes. Be sure to stop and talk to the volunteer ski patrol and rangers, they have so much info about the area.  Massive barn in north side of village makes for good photo ops. Idaho flag with lake & Teton NP in background another fine spot for photos.

  • Cross Country Skiing - about 2 mile out and back from the cabins to the bridge east and back. Trail starts at the north end of the cabins and heads along the left side of the river to a bridge. You can complete the Big Bend Loop which is about 4 miles. Flat and generally groomed. For another short ski, we also went south along the river about 20 min and back - this trail has more small ups and downs and tight turns and is more intermediate.

  • Shoeing/Microspikes - 1.5 mile Ranch Loop starting at the main parking lot (#7). Trail heads through the woods and along the lake and back to the cabins. If you want to extend, it is a pretty trail along the river heading south as well.

       

Tips: Make sure all trips end in the Boys House Warming Hut for FREE hot chocolate and little crafts for the kids. Flushing toilets


Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center - Zoo-like atmostphere with one area for a couple grizzly bears and 2 areas for 2 wolf packs. There are several warming huts and an indoor Otter area. $15.50 per person. Check with schedules to come when they are feeding. Birds not on display in the winter.


Riverside Trail, West Yellowstone - Trail is largely flat. Free. Largely groomed. 4 mi. and 6 mi. loops.

Cross Country Skiing - groomed trail with long straight trail and then 2 loops

Snowshoeing/Microspikes - fun just to play in the snow along the trail or hike along the trail (Do Not walk on the groomed cross country tracks)


Lava Hot Springs, ID - city hot springs. $8/Person weekday. $12/weekend.


Gear (Trip Packing List): Snowshoes (can bring own), Cross-country skiis/poles/shoes (can bring own), gaiters (optional - can rent), (NO COTTON) thermal top and bottom (synthetic yoga pants), wool socks or just not cotton socks, snow pants (if it will be snowing, otherwise they get too hot), long sleeve fleece, light waterproof jacket, gloves, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, headlamp, camelback or regular back pack (with space remaining to shove clothes in when you get too warm), 1 Liters water, 3-4 snacks +road trip snacks and such, toiletries, casual clothing, swimming suit, yoga mat, potluck food item, pre-order your Mountain Mamas Cafe lunch for Saturday (optional) https://www.mountainmamascafe.com/, breakfast for yourself for Sunday.


Rentals:

  • Snowshoes – ($12/day with overboots - UVU Outdoor Adventure Center; $13/day BYU Outdoors; $5 overboots). OR $10/day at Harriman State Park Visitors Center - would just use Friday since rentals need to stay at their park).

  • Cross Country Skis – ($12/day – UVU Outdoor Adventure Center; $11/day BYU Outdoors) OR $20/day at Harriman State Park Visitors Center - would just use Friday since rentals need to stay at their park).


Herriman State Park Map


Riverside Trail Route



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