Ready..set…go..here are 50 things to do in Island Park Idaho if you need some ideas! Of course our number one pick is to come visit Last Chance General Store – about 5 miles south of Mack’s Inn in Island park – and get one of our world famous baked potatoes for $1 that we bake fresh in-house 365 days a year available after 8am. Sit out on the porch and enjoy the river or enjoy one of the trails across the street and have a little picnic on the riverbank. Heck you can feed a family of 5 for just $5 bucks. Not an easy thing to do in 2024! Each potato comes with salt, pepper, butter, a fork, and one free premium topping (bacon, cheese, chives, or sour cream). Extra toppings are just .50 cents! With your newfound savings grab an ice cream, save it for your mortgage or rent, or just browse our huge selection of Idaho, Montana, Island Park and yellowstone gifts and find that t-shirt, hoodie, magnet, or unique toy you’ve been looking for.

Potato Hack! pick up a copy of the free local Island Park newspaper at almost any business in Island Park and take a picture of our advertisement or cut it out with your trusty pocket knife to get one extra free topping (1 coupon is fine for everyone in your party and you can even just show us a picture). Talk about a deal!

1. Explore Yellowstone National Park – we have to put this here at the top! In the summer everyday, especially weekends, are crowded so we suggest leaving early (like before 7am) to avoid lines. If you Google Yellowstone West Entrance Web Cam – you will be able to see how many cars are in line at the entrance. There are many hidden gems in Yellowstone and a little bit of research online can take you to some short hikes, geysers, and swimming holes (hint hint the Firehole river) that won’t be crowded even on the busiest of days. We 100% suggest asking for a map when you go in (included in admission but you have to ask now) and exploring a bit! There are a ton of gift shops in Yellowstone but they can cost a lot of $$$$ so come browse our selection of gifts before or after you leave the park. Also we highly suggest going to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery center in West Yellowstone. It is run by the government and actually pretty neat. They have an actual wolf pack you can see, grizzly bears, and a room with an entire river in it behind glass where you can see wild living trout and get a glimpse of what it looks like underwater in our rivers and streams.

2. Visit Mesa Falls (Upper and Lower) – this is truly a spectacular falls about 10 stories tall and there is parking and a ranger station at the top with a cool museum. On your way there stop in and get one of our famous $1 baked potatoes. The scenic drive from our store is only 20 minutes. In the winter the road is closed to cars but open to snowmobiles. Above the falls there are a lot of Crawfish in the rocks!

3. Go fishing in Henry’s Fork of the Snake River – many sections are catch and release for fly fishing only but there are also plenty of good spots to use a bait rod. Just check current fishing regulations or stop in and we’ll give you some advice.

4. Take a scenic drive on the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. There are many things besides Mesa Falls to do along this route. For instance, their is an old ski resort! (research it on Google) but you can still clearly see where it was. There is also a trail that follows the old railroad tracks and is fun for kids and you can visit Warm River Springs (trust us it isn’t warm) but the Warm river offers amazing fishing and the water is almost 100% crystal clear. Conduct further research but this area has a lot of cool things to see and do.

5. Enjoy water activities at Henry’s Lake – big fish, and a great state park with $3 showers (even if you aren’t camping there it is still $3 and hot water and a great place to freshen up).

5.5. Drive to the top of Mount Sawtelle. The road goes all the way to the very top and the view is amazing. We love it in the daytime but the stars are also spetacular on a clear night. Just drive safe the road is gravel and well maintained but a bit steep at the top. 4 wheel drive is usually not required unless weather conditions are bad but ask a local before you head out. This is a great expedition and there are a few hiking trails (like the one to Eagle Mountain) that start right off the road. If you see an area where you could pull off with a bit of parking it is likely a trailhead. The wildflowers bloom up there until late in the summer.

6. Go hiking in Harriman State Park – many visitors overlook this destination but it is well worth the time. Some of the most beautiful trails in Island Park are located here and there is a ranger station with many activities for children. You can check out a backpack for your kids full of cool activities and there are many historical old ranch buildings you can go inside. This is one of our favorites and about a 5 minute drive from our store. They also offer scenic horseback riding. Last time we checked it was $75 and a great outing for kids and parents. We have also seen a lot of e-bikes on the trails lately so if you like biking off road this might be your ticket to a fun day.

6.6 Grab some milk jugs and go Huckleberry picking! These grow wild up here and are delicious. Make sure you know the right berries to pick and if possible try to get a local to tell you where to go but most people guard their secret huckleberry patches like a national secret. They typically are ready starting the 3rd week in July and ripe through mid August. We usually eat all the berries we pick while we are harvesting them but if you are self-disciplined pick a nice jug and then turn it into a huckleberry cobbler with whipping cream. MMMMMMM

6.7 (Expert level activity) Forage wild mushrooms! Island Park is full of them if you time it right – we have a separate article on this just click here.

7. Rent a kayak or canoe and paddle on Island Park Reservoir or float down from Big Springs to Macks Inn. This is one of the most popular activities in the area and you are almost certain to see a moose if you float down from Big Springs. You can rent boats at Mack’s Inn or stop by our store to buy a few inner tubes or a boat. We sell high quality Intex tubes and boats starting at around $29. In the late summer it often rains in the late afternoon so we suggest leaving by 2pm unless you are certain of a clear and sunny day. Also be sure to bring a trash bag or dry bag and stuff it with some towels and jackets before you set off. We are at 6300 feet above sea level and a warm summer day can turn into a cold hailstorm pretty quickly so be prepared.

8. Take a guided wildlife tour or just pick a trail and go. We often see foxes, moose, deer, elk, and the occasional bear! If you need some advice we are happy to help there are sooooo many trails in Island Park along the rivers, to almost every mountain top and everything in-between. Early mornings and around sunset are the best for wildlife watching. Moose are usually near the water so when you drive across a bridge take a second and look upstream and down and you might spot one. Bears also frequent Island park and can be spotted alongside the road or just about anywhere else. Keep your campsite clean and store food away from where you sleep.

9. Visit Big Springs – the water is crystal clear and there are giant trout you can always see (as well as a historical cabin). The Johnny Sacks cabin is worth visiting. It was built by a very short Austrian woodworker and all the furniture and ceilings are small. This is a great laid back trip and great to do between more strenuous activities.

10. Go horseback riding in the beautiful surroundings – Herriman Park offers horseback riding as well as several ranches in the area. No experience needed. Remember to mount the horse on its left side and have fun!

11. Take a day trip to Grand Teton National Park

12. Go snowmobiling in the winter months. We have many articles on this popular activity so we will just leave it here for now.

13. Have a picnic at Island Park Reservoir – early in summer (June) the water level is pretty high so you might want to head to the boat docks. The road to them is about 1 block north of ponds lodge. As summer progresses the water level drops and sandy beaches are exposed! Ask a local or just head on over via Google maps and find your own private beach. The water later in summer is shallow and the beaches are spetacular so on a hot day this is a kid favorite.

14. Visit Johnny Sack’s Cabin. He stood about 4’11” tall and died in 1957 but handbuilt everything in his cabin to match his stature. This unique cabin is located at Big Springs.

15. Go birdwatching in the area. Around the rivers you will find Great Blue Herons, Eagles, and Peregrine Falcons hunting for fish. Many times you will get to see them swoop into the rivers and come up with a 5-10 inch trout.

16. Take a scenic float trip on the Henry’s Fork River

17. Explore the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

18. Go mountain biking on the numerous trails

19. Have a family fun day at Mack’s Inn Playhouse

20. Play a round of golf at Island Park Village Resort

21. Go wildlife photography

22. Take a scenic drive along the Targhee Pass Highway

23. Visit the Island Park Historical Society Museum

24. Go camping in one of the many campgrounds

25. Take a guided fishing trip

26. Go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in the winter

27. Visit the Island Park Reservoir Fish Hatchery

28. Take a scenic helicopter ride

29. Enjoy a relaxing day at Henry’s Lake State Park

30. Go hunting in the surrounding wilderness areas

31. Attend a local festival or event

32. Visit the Big Springs Fish Hatchery

33. Take a guided ATV or UTV tour

34. Enjoy a scenic horse-drawn wagon ride

35. Go boating or jet skiing on the Island Park Reservoir

36. Visit the Mack’s Inn Playhouse Dinner Theatre

37. Go wildlife watching at Grassy Lake Wildlife Refuge

38. Take a dip in a natural hot spring

39. Explore the nearby Caribou-Targhee National Forest

40. Go snowshoeing to see winter wildlife

41. Visit Big Springs Campground and Picnic Area

42. Take a scenic drive on the Island Park Scenic Byway

43. Go mountain climbing or bouldering

44. Enjoy a relaxing day of fly fishing

45. Visit the Island Park Caldera

46. Take a photography workshop in the area – or just pick one of the beautiful trails and look for wildlife.

47. Go snowboarding or skiing at a nearby resort

48. Explore the Island Park Geologic Information Center

49. Enjoy a scenic sunset or sunrise view

50. Simply relax and soak in the natural beauty of the area

These are just a few suggestions to get you started. Island Park, Idaho, offers a wide range of outdoor activities and natural attractions for visitors to enjoy. Make sure to check seasonal availability and plan ahead for any guided tours or activities.