One of the of the biggest attractions of eastern Idaho—and a reason people love to live here—is the abundance of outdoor recreation. And no discussion about outdoor recreation would be complete without including motorized recreation of the wheeled kind. We’re talking ATVs, side-by-sides and dirt bikes.
From wide open deserts to sweeping mountain vistas, motorized recreation offers the full spectrum of off-roading. Some four-wheeling can be done year-round but it doesn’t really hit full stride until late spring and summer.
When and where you can ride depends on the elevation. At lower elevations where the snow recedes in April (and the temperature finally inches up), you can find spots to dust off the cobwebs and open up the throttle. Once the snow finally fades away from the higher elevations, there are even more riding opportunities over hundreds of miles of trails.
An excellent online resource for finding not only great places to ride in eastern Idaho but various rules and regulations relating to ATVs, side-by-sides and dirt bikes is www.stayontrails.com. The website is sponsored by several federal and state organizations.
In addition to the locations listed on the Stay On Trails website, there are hundreds of miles of forest service roads where you can legally ride. Where you have to pay attention is what you can ride where. Not all roads and trails are open to ATVs are open to side-by-sides, for example. You need to do some research before heading out.
Here are three riding spots (which was tough to narrow down because there are dozens of excellent choices) that should be near the top of your to ride list when heading out in eastern Idaho.
St. Anthony Sand Dunes – This is at the top of list for off-roaders for good reason. The Dunes are something you really need to experience. These dunes are world famous and off-roaders come from all over to ride here. Located west of St. Anthony, the area is about five miles wide and 35 miles long and is one gigantic motorized sandbox. And all it takes is a gentle wind to keep it fresh.
You can read a full report on the St. Anthony Sand Dunes in the summer issue of Dirt Toys Magazine (www.dirttoysmag.com), a new motorized recreation magazine catering to ATV and side-by-side enthusiasts.
Almost 11,000 acres of white quartz sand that is constantly shifting and moving amongst the rolling foothills in eastern Idaho make up the St. Anthony Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
This vast sandy landscape has an interesting mix of sagebrush and dunes that has created some unique geographic features that offer hillclimbing, jumping, touring and trail riding.
If you ride motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-sides and sand rails, then this is your spot. The best riding is from April through October. A big chunk of the area is closed during the winter and early spring for wildlife management.
Info: www.blm.gov/id/st/en.html and navigate to the St. Anthony Sand Dunes section.
Railroad Right-of-Way – This trail takes you through the forest, along the Warm River, across creeks (via bridges) and across the Henry’s Fork River. You’ll even go through the old railroad tunnel along the way. The trail is the old railroad bed that follows the same route the passenger and freight trains did years ago when passengers would travel to West Yellowstone to visit Yellowstone National Park. The trail begins at Warm River Campground, about 10 miles northeast of Ashton and ends at Reas Pass, a trip of about 38 miles one way. The trail is open to OHVs less than or equal to 50 inches wide. This is a beautiful mountain ride.
Info: http://www.fs.fed.us/ and navigate to the Targhee National Forest in Idaho.
Mackay Mine Tour – This self-guided tour takes off-roaders through some historic mining areas west of the small eastern Idaho town of Mackay, located about 95 miles west of Idaho Falls on U.S. Highway 20/26 and then U.S. Highway 93.
The mines, located in the White Knob Mountains, produced gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc. Quoting the Stay On Trails website, “This is a cool riding area because it features riding across high trestles and ATV-width trails in a forested environment.” There are lots of riding options in the area, including loop trips ranging from 20 to 24 miles long with 20 interpretive sites that can viewed along the way. You can get a feel for what’s available by viewing the trip map on the www.stayontrails.com website.
Info: http://mackayidaho.com/mackayminehilltour.asp